“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.’” – Matthew 28:18-19
We all know the Great Commission. But I think most of us have heard it so many times that it’s begun to lose its meaning.
The world is getting smaller and smaller every day. We can learn anything we want to know with the click of a button. With that in mind, it’s easy to think that if someone isn’t a Christ-follower, it’s because of an active choice they made. Surely they’ve at least heard the Gospel, right?
People understand the Gospel better when they receive a Bible in their native language
But did you know that 42% of the world’s population has never even heard the name of Jesus? That’s right, 42% — let that sink in for a moment.
Despite our technological and social advancements, almost 3.4 million people haven’t heard the Gospel.
The majority of these people, unknown as unreached people groups, live in what we call the 10/40 window.
The 10/40 Window is a rectangular geographic area that encompasses 68 countries in North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
Within this region, there are 6,150 unreached people groups. They account for 3.2 million of the 3.4 million that have never heard the Gospel.
So why does the 10/40 window still exist? It should be easy to access the Bible, right? It should be … but unfortunately, that’s not always the case.
Countries located here are living in spiritual darkness for several reasons.
In some countries, owning a Bible can lead to torture, imprisonment, or death
They are war-torn countries overtaken by terrorists … like Afghanistan. In countries like North Korea and China, people experience extreme government censorship.
Some countries located in the 10/40 Window have geographical barriers … like the Himalayas in Nepal, which make it nearly impossible to reach people nestled in the mountains.
The fact is, most of the “easy” places to spread the Gospel have already been reached. Now, most of what’s left are the most dangerous and remote regions of the world.
But the people in the 10/40 Window aren’t just spiritually poor. They’re also suffering from extreme poverty.
In fact, on a global scale, the majority of people living below the poverty line fall within the 10/40 Window.
Can you imagine? These people are experiencing physical hardship with no hope for a better future.
But even though the need for help and hope here is so great, only 2% of American mission donations go to the 10/40 window.
Each Bible given to someone in need will impact up to five people
That’s why World Help partners with organizations working to transform lives in unreached people groups … and you can, too!
For just $24, you can provide essentials like God’s Word, food, clothing, and medical care for TWO people in the 10/40 Window or another community in need.
I know I’ve thrown a lot of statistics at you today, but remember — behind each number is a real life.
It can be hard to fathom what these numbers represent. When we’re so far removed from the situation, our brains can’t comprehend the gravity of the situation.
So, stop for a minute and think about this. If Jesus were to come back tomorrow, almost 50% of the population wouldn’t have had a chance to respond to the Gospel.
Did your heart sink into your stomach at the thought? Mine did.
We can no longer be passive about the Great Commission. Lives are literally on the line … and spreading the Gospel in the 10/40 Window starts with you and me.
Please, give your best gift now to help persecuted believers, people living in the 10/40 Window, and others in need worldwide.
Your gift will not only provide life-changing aid … it will also be the hands and feet of Jesus to people who may have never heard of Him before.