Lesson 4
The 10/40 Window

“The 10/40 Window”, by Piper Black

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The 10/40 Window is the area of the world between 10 and 40 degrees latitude north of the equator in the Eastern Hemisphere, covering North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The window contains most of the world’s areas of greatest physical and spiritual needs, most of the world’s least reached peoples, and the most anti-Christian governments in the world. Two-thirds of the world’s population is located in the 10/40 window. In areas of the 10/40 window, there is only one missionary for every one million people. In the year 2000 there will be over one billion Muslims and Hindus in the 10/40 window. Some or the problems of the 10/40 window are starvation, disease, economic disaster, religious persecution, government and political breakdown, and insufficient living conditions. But far above all of these, is the need of the gospel of Christ. The gospel is the hope for all nations, including the ones in the 10/40 window. Out of every $1,000 given in North American churches, five cents is given to reach the one billion Muslims of the 10/40 window who will die and spend an eternity in hell, apart from their only hope, Jesus Christ. Jesus said to His disciples during His time on earth, “ The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few” (Matt 9:37). As we can see, His statement is no less true today...

1. More than 95% of the world’s unreached peoples live in this area.

2. The 10/40 window outlines the heartlands of the major non-Christian
religions of the world - Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism,
Confucianism, etc...

3. About 80% of the poorest of the world’s poor live in this region,
enduring humanity's lowest standards of living

The above illustration shows the ratio of missionaries to the population of the people to whom they are ministering. We know what God’s desire is for the nations: “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, that your ways may be known on the earth, your salvation among all nations” (Psalm 67). But what does this illustration and our practices say about our desires? America is one of the most evangelized countries on the planet. It is also one of the wealthiest nations on the planet. The 10/40 window, on the other hand, is home to the east
evangelized and poorest nations on the planet. Currently, for each missionary in the 10/40 window there are between 10,000 and 1 million people in the area they serve. This number is grossly disproportionate. Our funding missions is also askew. “Out of every $l,000 dollars given by North American Christians, the amount going to ministries reaching Muslims in the Middle East is five cents” (B. Stearns). We give five cents out $1,000 dollars to share the gospel to the billion Muslims in the 10/40 Window who will spend eternity in Hell apart from Christ. Jesus said, “ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt 6:21). God’s heart is with the nations... where is ours?

The Global Quiz

Think about the following questions for a moment then look at the answers below.

If the world’s population were reduced to 100 people...

Lesson 4 Follow-Up Questions