Pray for the World

1. The Urgency of Prayer: Partnering with God for His Kingdom

We do not merely pray about the many points in this book, we pray toward something – the fulfilment of the Father’s purposes, and His Kingdom come.

Prayer's transformative power. This book is a tool for passionate, informed prayer, aiming to multiply intercession for world evangelization. It emphasizes that prayer is not a dry duty but an awesome privilege, enabling believers to come before God on behalf of nations and expect His action. The goal is to pray Satan-defeating, Kingdom-taking, people-reaching, captive-releasing, revival-giving, Christ-glorifying prayers.

Global prayer movements. Today, millions of Christians, particularly from Africa, Asia, and Latin America, gather regularly to pray. Technology connects these gatherings globally, fostering unity across denominations. Tens of thousands follow the Operation World prayer calendar, creating a daily wave of focused prayer for specific nations, demonstrating the unifying and reconciling work of intercession.

Beyond the impossible. While news often highlights global evils, God is actively answering prayers and doing wonderful things, often unseen. The book encourages believers to persist in prayer for seemingly impossible situations, remembering that "nothing is impossible with God." The ultimate goal of all prayer is the glory of God and the return of Jesus as King.

2. Global Christianity's Remarkable Growth and Shifting Center

Evangelical Christianity grew faster than any other world religion or global religious movement.

A remarkable generation. The past 50 years have witnessed astonishing growth in the global Church, particularly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Evangelical Christians surged from 89 million (2.9% of the world) in 1960 to 546 million (7.9%) in 2010, largely through conversion. This growth occurred even in lands with strong persecution, demonstrating that Christianity is a global faith, not a "white man's religion."

Pentecostal and charismatic impact. The Pentecostal movement and charismatic renewal have profoundly touched thousands of denominations in nearly every country. This renewal has revived or renewed the faith of almost half a billion people, despite human flaws, contributing significantly to the overall growth of Christianity worldwide.

Church in every nation. Today, Christians live and fellowship in every country, a testament to world mission, migration, and globalization. The majority of Christians are now Africans, Asians, and Latin Americans, marking a significant shift in the geographical center of global Christianity.

3. The Unfinished Task: Millions Still Await the Gospel

Yet, even with all this activity, probably 24-27% of the world’s population have not had the good news presented to them in a way they could understand and receive.

The vast unreached. Despite significant progress, the Great Commission remains unfinished. The Joshua Project lists 6,645 out of 16,350 peoples as unreached or least-reached, totaling 2.8 billion individuals. These groups often remain hidden or overlooked due to various barriers:

• Geography and language
• Culture and religion
• Politics and economics
• Spiritual darkness

Dominant religious systems. The 21st century is marked by a resurgence of religion, not secularism. Christianity, Islam, and the non-religious are set to dominate global faith. While Islam grows rapidly through birth rates, Christianity's global spread and conversion growth are notable. Other religions, like Hinduism and Buddhism, remain largely regional but are also growing.

Spiritual strongholds. Ethnic religions and animism are also experiencing renewed growth, often mixed with other faiths. This reveals humanity's spiritual nature and the ongoing spiritual war. Many who identify with major religions, or even Christianity, still need to hear the true gospel and be freed from unbiblical beliefs and practices.

4. Africa's Paradox: Revival Amidst Deepest Human Need

When I went out to Africa in 1962, evangelical Christians were a marginalized minority in the worldwide Church.

Astonishing growth. Africa has experienced an astonishing spiritual awakening since the 1960s, with evangelical numbers quadrupling in many countries. This growth often occurred amidst war, poverty, and political instability, demonstrating God's power to build His Church in challenging environments.

Profound human needs. Despite spiritual growth, Africa remains the continent with the greatest human needs and widespread poverty. Decades of aid have yielded too little progress, and issues like corruption, tribal favoritism, and poor economic policies persist. Countries like Angola, Burundi, and the Central African Republic bear deep scars from conflict and humanitarian crises.

Challenges and opportunities. The Church in Africa faces challenges like:

• Lack of trained leaders and discipleship for new believers.
• Syncretism with animistic practices.
• Rapid growth of Islam.
  Yet, it also presents immense opportunities for holistic ministry, Bible translation, and indigenous mission movements, with many African nations now sending missionaries globally.

5. The Americas: Spiritual Harvest Confronts Deep Social Scars

Evangelical Christians grew from less than 1 million in 1980 to 3.7 million by 2010.

Evangelical explosion. Latin America, in particular, has seen a massive spiritual harvest since the 1970s. Countries like Argentina, Brazil, and Guatemala experienced rapid evangelical growth, often fueled by prayer movements and a hunger for God amidst political and economic turmoil. Brazil alone saw its evangelical population surge from 2 million in 1960 to over 50 million in 2010.

Deep social wounds. Despite spiritual awakening, the Americas grapple with profound social problems:

• Widespread poverty and inequality (e.g., Bolivia, Honduras, Peru).
• High rates of crime, drug trafficking, and gang violence (e.g., Colombia, Mexico).
• Legacies of colonial oppression and discrimination against indigenous peoples.
• Challenges of urbanization and large populations of street children.
  These issues create immense opportunities for the Church to demonstrate Christ's love through compassionate action and advocacy for justice.

Indigenous and diaspora missions. Many indigenous peoples, like the Quichua in Ecuador, have experienced significant movements to Christ. The Americas also have large diaspora communities (e.g., Mexicans in the USA, Haitians in the Dominican Republic) who often encounter the gospel abroad and become agents of change upon returning home. The region is increasingly becoming a mission-sending force.

6. Asia: Epicenter of Persecution, Breakthrough, and Unreached Billions

The survival and growth of the Church in China are awesome events in our generation!

Miraculous growth. Asia is the continent of fastest and most miraculous Christian growth, from Iran to China and Mongolia to Indonesia. China's evangelical population exploded from 2.7 million in 1975 to over 75 million in 35 years, despite severe persecution. Iran, too, saw its Muslim-background believers grow from 500 in 1979 to over 100,000, often through dreams and visions.

Intense persecution. Asia is also where religious oppression is most intense. Countries like North Korea, Afghanistan, and Saudi Arabia have some of the world's worst human rights records, with Christians facing imprisonment, torture, and death. In India and Myanmar, Hindu and Buddhist extremists persecute Christians, yet the Church continues to multiply.

Vast unreached populations. Asia holds more unreached individuals than any other continent. The Bengali people (240 million globally) remain the largest unreached group. India alone has 159 people groups with over 1 million people, 133 of which are unreached. Millions of Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists across Asia have little to no access to the gospel, presenting an immense challenge for global missions.

7. Europe: A Continent's Spiritual Decline and Hope for Reawakening

Few realize that this was a global awakening of staggering size and extent because it was also a time of stagnation and decline especially in Europe and also in the wider Western world.

Secularization's grip. Europe, once the heartland of Christianity, is experiencing significant spiritual decline. Many nations, like the Czech Republic and Sweden, are predominantly non-religious, with low church attendance and a growing embrace of secular and New Age worldviews. This decline creates a moral vacuum, leading to increased social problems like substance abuse, suicide, and family breakdown.

Traditional churches in crisis. The Catholic and mainline Protestant churches across Europe are losing members and influence. Clergy shortages, liberal theology, and past scandals contribute to this decline. Many Europeans view the Church as irrelevant or traditional, rather than a source of life and community.

Immigrant-fueled hope. Despite the overall decline, evangelical and charismatic groups are growing, often revitalized by vibrant immigrant churches from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. These new congregations bring fresh passion and diverse expressions of faith, offering a potential catalyst for re-evangelization. Prayer movements are also emerging, signaling a hunger for spiritual awakening.

8. The Pacific: Christian Heritage Faces Modern Secularism and Social Ills

By the end of the 19th century, most of the Pacific region followed Christianity through the work of early Protestant missionaries.

A strong Christian legacy. The Pacific Islands boast a glorious history of missions, with early Protestant missionaries bringing Christianity to most islands by the late 19th century. Countries like Fiji and Papua New Guinea experienced mass movements to Christ, and many islanders identify as Christian, with some even sending missionaries to other islands.

Modern challenges. Despite this heritage, the region faces significant modern challenges:

• Secularism and individualism erode traditional faith, especially among youth.
• Economic dependence on foreign aid and industries leads to social problems like alcohol abuse and health issues.
• Environmental threats like rising sea levels endanger island communities.
• Discrimination against indigenous peoples (e.g., Australian Aborigines) and ethnic divisions persist.

Re-evangelization needed. Many Pacific Islanders are Christian in name only, mixing faith with tribal superstitions. Churches often struggle with discipleship, unity, and adapting to modern culture. However, evangelical groups are growing, and there's a renewed focus on leadership training, Bible translation, and reaching diaspora communities, offering hope for a deeper spiritual impact.

9. Discipleship and Leadership: The Urgent Need for a Maturing Church

The Church grew so fast that many new believers have little chance to be discipled.

Growth outpaces training. Rapid church growth in many parts of the world, particularly Africa and Asia, has created an urgent need for mature, biblically trained leaders. In countries like Nigeria and Cambodia, the lack of discipleship leaves new believers vulnerable to false teachings, moral compromise, and shallow faith.

Challenges in training. Theological education faces numerous obstacles:

• Poverty limits the number of full-time ministers and students.
• War and instability force Bible schools to close or operate underground.
• Traditional training models may not suit rapidly growing, often rural, congregations.
• Government restrictions hinder the establishment of new religious schools.
  Creative, affordable, and culturally relevant training models, like Theological Education by Extension (TEE), are vital to equip the hundreds of thousands of lay leaders needed.

The cost of commitment. Many young people, especially in developing nations, face pressure to pursue lucrative careers rather than full-time ministry. This drains the Church of potential leaders. Pray for God to call and provide for a new generation of godly men and women, committed to serving the Church and society with wisdom, holiness, and spiritual power.

10. Persecution and Suffering: Catalysts for Faith and Growth

The Church suffered persecution both during the Italian occupation (1936-1941) and under the Marxist regime (1974-1990), when Western mission agencies withdrew. Many became martyrs, but millions turned to follow Christ.

Refined by fire. Throughout history, and especially in recent decades, persecution has often served as a powerful catalyst for church growth and spiritual deepening. In countries like China, Eritrea, and North Korea, severe oppression has refined believers, fostering unity, passionate prayer, and bold evangelism, even leading to martyrdom.

Suffering's spread. Persecution takes many forms:

• Government bans on religious activity, church building, or evangelism.
• Social exclusion, threats, and violence from family or community.
• Imprisonment, torture, and even death for converting from Islam or other dominant faiths.
• Discrimination in employment, education, and access to basic services.
  These trials, while horrific, often drive believers to total dependence on God and strengthen their witness.

A call to Christ-like response. The book highlights instances where Christians, despite suffering, responded with love and forgiveness, attracting their persecutors to Christ. This Christ-like response is crucial for the gospel's advance. Pray for believers to stand firm, to forgive, and for their persecutors to encounter the transforming love of Jesus.

11. Strategic Tools: Media, Translation, and Holistic Ministry

Christian satellite-TV broadcasts and Christian websites in Persian languages have an incredible impact, and even reach to remote villages with the gospel.

The power of media. In an increasingly connected world, Christian media plays a vital role in evangelism and discipleship. Radio, satellite TV, the Internet, and digital media reach millions in "closed" countries and isolated communities where traditional missionaries cannot go. These platforms provide:

• Gospel messages in local languages.
• Training opportunities for leaders.
• Connection for scattered believers.
• Answers to spiritual questions.

Bible translation's urgency. Access to Scripture in heart languages is fundamental for church growth and maturity. Despite significant progress, hundreds of languages worldwide still lack a complete Bible, or even portions of it. India alone has 456 languages, with many still needing translation. The challenge is immense, requiring more translators and accelerated efforts.

Holistic ministry's impact. Practical demonstrations of Christian love, through aid, development, healthcare, and education, break down prejudices and open hearts to the gospel. In nations like Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Nepal, Christian NGOs and local churches address:

• Poverty and malnutrition.
• Disease and lack of clean water.
• Trauma from war and natural disasters.
• Exploitation of women and children.
  This "love in action" prepares the ground for spiritual transformation and earns respect for the Christian message.

12. The Global Mission Force: From Every Nation to Every Nation

The Majority World nations together already send more missionaries than Western countries.

A shifting mission landscape. The face of global missions has dramatically changed. Majority World nations (Africa, Asia, Latin America) are now leading mission-sending movements, surpassing Western countries in the number of missionaries sent. Countries like Brazil, South Korea, and Nigeria are mobilizing thousands of workers, demonstrating a truly global commitment to the Great Commission.

New challenges and opportunities. This global shift brings unique challenges:

• New mission movements may repeat old mistakes.
• Workers from the Global North must learn to partner with and serve under Global South leadership.
• Financial and logistical support for Majority World missionaries is often limited.
  However, it also creates unprecedented opportunities for cross-cultural collaboration and reaching previously inaccessible people groups.

The call to go. The book emphasizes that the global Church should function as a missionary agency, involved in the Great Commission. It calls for believers to embrace a world vision, to be prepared for cross-cultural ministry, and to support missionaries through prayer and resources. The ultimate goal is to see churches multiplying among every people, preparing the Bride for the Bridegroom's return.

Last updated: December 8, 2025