Spotlight: 10-40 Window

[NB: 'Spotlight' here refers to a segment we run at church, and has nothing to do with a certain Apple search technology.]

The 10-40 window is a term used by certain people involved in Christian mission, referring to the belt of countries lying between 10° and 40° North of the equator, stretching over Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

About two thirds of the world’s population live in the 10-40 window. Of the poorest people in the world (late 1980’s data: GNP below US$500), 82% are in this window.

Mission organisations reckon about 95% of those living in this part of the world have no significant connection to Christians, yet only about 10% of world-wide mission resources find their way to these countries.

There are, of course, significant exceptions to the above statistics, but as a generalisation these are sobering statistics.

What can we do?

Pray. Go to Operation World and get data on these places, and ask God for his mercy.

Give. Support mission agencies, give to your local church’s mission fund.

Go. Contact a mission organisation and go on a short term mission, take a holiday and check places out, find out what it’s like.