Missions to the 10/40 Window After September 11th

by Chacko Thomas

This article comes from the Mission Mobilization Network. Reprinted with permission.

As a Missions Mobiliser, I have had to address the subject of "Missions to the 10/40 window after Tuesday, September 11th" in several meetings in the last few weeks.

Humanly speaking this attack and the events that followed could not have happened at a worse time for Christian mission. It looked as though they would cause a major setback to the momentous progress of mission in many nations. Great concern has been shown for the safety of the many mission workers and national believers in the window. Many Christians all over the world have been praying. God is answering those prayers and it seems that, once again, what was meant for evil is being turned around for good.

What a group of people believe in one part of the world affects another part of the world. The recent events have shown us clearly the importance of Christian beliefs and values to our world. Evangelical Christianity is not only a relationship with the Living God but also a world view which is needed everywhere, even here in the West. We have the maker's manual, the Bible, which is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Ps 119:105). Christianity is a way of life.

Just days before the attack on the twin towers in New York, I bought copies of the new Operation World. I have one by my bedside and another in the office, which travels with me wherever I go. I have been poring over its pages with great delight, reading of the phenomenal progress the Kingdom of God has made in many nations, especially in the 10/40 window, and in the nations which are impacting this window, such as USA and South Korea. Having been to more than seventy of these nations, I feel a personal affinity with every nation on earth.

History shows that politics, economy, the state of the church etc. have direct effects on the mission of the church. It also shows that often, when an oppressive regime has sought to hinder and even destroy the church and its mission, God has instead caused His church to flourish under persecution. Nations such as China and Sudan are proof of this.

As we see in Acts 8, great opposition to the church is usually God's call to a change of missions strategy and a call for greater obedience to God's plan. How blessed we are with the recent developments in missions, such as: short term mission trips; the huge increase in tentmakers; early retirees (finishers); Joshua Project; prayer walks; and two-thirds world missions agencies and missionaries.

I am praying that the steps we now take will result in even greater fulfilment of the Great Commission than in the last ten years. This is possible. When I consider the recent events, here is what I believe God is saying through it all.

1. We can no longer ignore the Muslim world. Although the terrorist act was carried out by extreme fanatics, the whole world has been confronted by the challenge of Islam. Most of us are now learning about Islam, the names of Muslim countries and who the people are. Our politicians are learning names and politically correct terms they did not know existed. One sixth of humanity is now staring us in the face. There has to be a response. People are now praying even for Osama Bin Laden to be saved. While the Governments will act within their parameters, the whole church will have to respond as salt and light. There is no middle road here.

We have to know what Muslims believe and why, and their resultant worldview. What they believe is already affecting us. Understanding Islam and Muslims has become the theme of many emails circulated and seminars conducted now in the Western world. No more are they "out there somewhere" to be ignored; our attention is now focussed on them.

In spite of greater efforts in the Muslim world in recent years, still only about 6% of all foreign missionary efforts are concentrated there. Yet out of every three non-Christians in the world, one is a Muslim. "Love your neighbour" must now also refer to Muslims. We cannot ignore their physical, humanitarian or spiritual needs. Thank God for the way these needs are being addressed by our Governments, and by Christian charities.

2. Reach out to the millions of Muslims in the West. Educate the church and our world about the difference between Islam and the Christian faith. Booklets like "Muslim and Christian Beliefs: A Comparison" published by CLC should be widely circulated, taught and talked about.

Build bridges and send workers to the more than 50 million people from 10/40 window countries, living in North America and Europe. Let them know by our love that we are His disciples. As I look through the latest Operation World, I am staggered to see the number of 10/40 people in the West:

USA alone has nearly 15 million of them: 3.2 million Arabs, 2 million Iranians, 2.1 million South Asians, 1.2 million Japanese, 1.2 million Vietnamese, 1.9 million Chinese etc. See the huge number of them in Canada, more than 5% of the population.
In Europe the numbers are just as overwhelming. France has 10% Muslims, nearly 6 million people, making Islam the second religion. 5% of the UK population (over 2 million people) come from 10/40 window countries. Germany has 1.6 million Turks; 500,000 Kurds; 290,000 Arabs; 115,000 Iranians; and 70,000 Afghans. Every European country has people from the 10/40 window.

They are now our neighbours. They come to us from many countries where the Gospel cannot be preached openly. We need to love them; see ourselves as missionaries to them; seek to understand and appreciate them; look for the positive aspects of
their culture. Why else would God bring them to us?

3. Empower the national believers in the 10/40 countries. The church now exists in every single country in the 10/40 window. Celebrate our oneness in Christ. There is only one body, made up of all believers from all corners of the world; and one Lord of the harvest, the Holy Spirit, who is empowering us to be Christ's witnesses to the ends of the earth. Seek to understand and appreciate the believers in the 10/40 window and work with them. They can plant churches that multiply. They are key to the evangelisation of their region. Support the vision of the mission agencies and the denominations in the region. Filipinos are powerfully affecting the Muslim world. Indian and Pakistani believers are changing the face of the 10/40 window. Africans have a huge role to play in this.

4. Continue to support tools and strategies which have proved their effectiveness over the years among these peoples. Continue, and increase, the mass distribution of the Scriptures and other Christian literature, Jesus videos, Gospel recordings; and of course the very effective radio and TV broadcasts. Get behind God's navy, the ships of OM, YWAM, and other Christian ministries.

5. Christians must take our positions in the civil and political life of the nations. Islam is a "political-religion". I know that in the UK Muslims are heading for every possible place of power, locally and at national level. See how God used Joseph in the Government to save the Jewish nation and the Egyptians. We are aware of the influence of Daniel in Babylon, on its King and the people. Nehemiah on the other hand enquired, envisioned, engaged the Government, enrolled in the work, enlisted the local people, and equipped the people of God. God needs the church to prepare His people, and His people running the country. Christians need to play an important role in the development of national and international economies.

6. Tentmakers. God is opening hundreds of ways to get into every nation on earth. This is a great open door for labourers, domestic helpers, students, Embassy workers, professionals, business people, early retirees and many others. Teaching English as a second language is a great way to bless the world with the Gospel. Christian sports ministries need to go into every unreached town and city.

7. Pray. This is the most important strategy. Pray for moderate Muslim governments, which are trying to keep the fanatics from seizing power in their nation (Ps 67:4-5). Pray for open doors for the Gospel in these countries (Col:4:3). Pray for the safety and witness of the Muslim Background Believers in these nations (Col 4:12). Pray to the Lord of the harvest, to send out workers into all these nations (Matt 9:37-38). This is still God's plan for the Christian church. How shall they go unless they are sent? (Romans 10:13-15). Pray for the honour of God's name on earth as it is in heaven and for His kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven (Matt 6:9-10).

I thank God for the way He has so far prevented a world war. The tremendous efforts to differentiate between terrorists and ordinary Muslims, and to provide for the refugees, have won tremendous admiration, sympathy and support for the western nations and Christianity. God in His sovereignty, has answered many prayers of Christians - especially those in the 10/40 window, and those of us who have thousands of workers (both expatriates and nationals) involved in those countries. We thank Him for this! There is not yet a massive exodus of western expatriates from most of these 10/40 countries.

In fact I am amazed at the number of workers who are already heading back to Pakistan, Tajikistan and even Afghanistan. The wide open door that was there for the Good News of Jesus before September 11th is still there and it is opened wider. Coupled with it is the Christmas season which is generally a season of goodwill even among non-Christians. May God give us wisdom to redeem the time and to act wisely to bless the world, through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Yours to finish the task,

Chacko Thomas
Co-ordinator, Missions Mobilisation Network

MMN@L.ict.om.org

Data taken from "Operation World", edited by Patrick Johnstone, 2001.

Other resources, including Urbana 2000 speaker responses, to help you process September 11th.