Share this page:
In terms of where we should focus our world missions efforts, some global missions strategists talk about how much access people in given countries have to the Gospel. Other lists will be based on the percentage of a nation's population that identifies as born-again Christian. Here is a list based on perceived "readiness."
"He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus -- Philippians 1:6
"See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut." -- Revelation 3:8
"Gospel-ready" countries are places where, even though the current Christian presence there is small, there may be favorable conditions for evangelism and Christian missionary work.
The seventeen countries marked with an asterisk are those where the Church of the Nazarene is officially present in ministry.
"I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." -- Exodus 9:6
From the Window International Network:
"By Gospel ready, we mean countries that previously seemed closed to the Gospel, but where people are now showing some interest. In some cases, for example, authorities have asked Christians to help set up literacy programs or assist with medical clinics. In other cases, Christians have been asked to teach moral values to school children, give humanitarian aid, or even help draft new constitutions. Note: Some of these countries are very open to the preaching of the Gospel. A few have recently elected Christians into positions of national leadership.
"We identified some of the countries on the list as a result of research that Beverly Pegues and co-author Nancy Huff did for Call to Prayer for Children, Teens and Young Adults of the 10/40 Window. Others were derived from information about current conditions as described in Operation World, 21st Century Edition."
-- Howard Culbertson, hculbert@snu.edu