The 10/40 Window is an imaginary window that stretches from the 10th to the 40th parallels north of the equator and includes the area from the west coast of Africa to the east coast of Japan.
Around 2/3 of the world's population live within the 10/40 Window, which includes the least evangelised peoples and the top 50 least evangelised cities in the world.
The 10/40 Window is also the poorest region in the world with over 90% of the poorest of the poor, the most deprived and abused children, and the world's most illiterate. Over 2.4 billion people, 40% of the world's population, live on less than 90 pence per day in the 10/40 Window.
At the centre of the 10/40 Window is the Persian Gulf, the area where civilization began and where Satan planted seeds of rebellion and took over as the god of this world. Since then he has been actively seeking to keep all people in darkness and in the bondage of sin.
Every major non-Christian religion - Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Animism, Sikhism, indigenous religions, and Atheism - has its headquarters in the 10/40 Window.
This geographical region has been described as the "Resistant Belt", as most of the 10/40 nations are resistant to the claims of Christ, resistant to the advance of the Gospel, and intolerant of those proclaiming the Gospel. These nations that are the least accessible for any overt mission endeavour, particularly when due to antagonistic political and religious systems, are referred to as 'Creative Access Nations' (CANs). Such nations not only present the challenges in presenting the Gospel, but also in identifying creative ways of entering and residing in the country.
Outside the 10/40 Window not everyone has received the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but they probably have had a chance to hear who He is. Inside the Window, however,most people know nothing of Jesus as Saviour, and Satan is doing everything in his power to make sure they never do. Not only does he seek to keep these people in spiritual darkness, he continues his attempts to convince God's people that these "unreachable ones" don't matter, that they are beyond the realm of God's grace, or that someone else must be doing something to try and reach them so we don't have to bother.
However, the love of God expressed through Jesus Christ is irresistible and can melt even the hardest hearts. God loves the people who reside within the 10/40 Window. May we love them too and do what we can to help those inside the 10/40 Window have the opportunity of hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
For different reasons, many of the unreached peoples from within the 10/40 Window are coming to the UK. With the freedom that we enjoy in this country,this is our God-given opportunity to reach out to them with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
10/40 Window Countries
Afghanistan Algeria Azerbaijan Bahrain Bangladesh Benin Bhutan Brunei Burkina Faso Cambodia Chad China Djibouti Egypt Ethiopia Gambia Gaza Strip Gibraltar Greece Guinea Guinea-Bissau India Iran Iraq Israel Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Lebanon Libya Maldives Mali Malta Mauritania Mongolia Morocco Myanmar Nepal Niger North Korea Oman Pakistan Philippines Portugal Qatar Saudi Arabia Senegal Somalia Sudan Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Thailand Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan United Arab Emirates Uzbekistan Vietnam West Bank Western Sahara Yemen
ACTION STEPS
What YOU can do...
PRAY for the people groups within the 10/40 Window
MAKE CONTACT with international students or refugees (asylum seekers) from 10/40 Window countries in your area
SUPPORT Christian ministries working among 10/40 Window peoples
Make the most of any OPPORTUNITY you have to model the life of Christ and share the irresistible love of God with those from 10/40 Window countries
PRAY for persecuted Christians living within the 10/40 Window nations
BE AWARE and STAY INFORMED of developments taking place within the 10/40 Window, not forgetting that Jesus is Lord and that the forces of darkness will not prevail over the advancement of God's Kingdom.
