4-14 in the 10-40....What do all these numbers mean?

4-14? 10-40? Am I stuck in a bad trucker movie from the 1970's? (I actually loved all those cheesy movies) What are all these codes about? What do they mean? These numbers are sadly two windows that are very important, but often overlooked.

The 4-14 is a demographic window. It represents the 1.2 billion children between the ages of 4-14. Do you realize that here in the United States, 85% of conversions to Christ happen between the ages of 4-14? The 4-14'ers are the most ready and reachable "people group". Right now only 15% of global missions giving goes to the efforts of reaching children. 70% of children in the 4-14 age bracket (nearly a billion children) live in an area that is called the 10-40 Window.

The 10-40 window is not a demographic window, but a geographic window. This is an area found between the latitudes of 10 degree north to 40 degrees north spanning from North Africa, and covering much of Asia.

This window is where 2/3rds of the worlds population lives. This is the region that the worlds poorest live and where the three largest non-christian religions are most highly concentrated (Islam, Hindu, and Buddhism). This area is starving, both physically and spiritually. Millions are dying without ever hearing the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Here is the part that shocked Amy and I. Less than 2% of missionaries sent out today are sent to the 10-40 window. Only 1% of missions giving goes to this area of the world. The need is great! The workers are few.

He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.     -Luke 10:2

Quick break down.....
We are going to a place where 2/3 of the worlds population lives in the most unreached area of the world, then realize that 2% of all missionaries are sent there with 1% of missions giving, and only 15% of that is usually spent on reaching the most receptive and "ready" demographic in the world. We have a God sized task! If the children of Burkina Faso are reached for Christ, then an entire nation can be reached in just one generation. Your prayers, your support, and your encouragement will directly impact the 4-14 in the 10-40!


God Bless You!
Mike