Western churches either do not know or know very little about the large Christian movement occurring in Asia’s 10/40 Window, said hip hop artist and pastor Jaseon Ma.
Ma wants to change that.
His new documentary film, “1040,” takes viewers on a journey through Asian countries located in the 10/40 Window – the regions between 10 degrees and 40 degrees North Latitude where the core of the world’s unreached people live.
Within these perimeters lie the world’s largest church, a surprisingly sizeable Christian population in the world’s most populous Muslim country, and more than 100 million believers living under China’s communist rule.
“I’ve been traveling back and forth between Asia and the U.S. for the last ten years as a pastor and as a motivational speaker and evangelist,” said Ma to The Christian Post. “I saw God move in such a dramatic way in Asia. … I truly believe that the greatest movement of God is happening in Asia today.”
Christianity’s Growth in Asia
A hundred years ago, Christians made up less than one percent of the population in South Korea, Ma pointed out. Today, the largest church in the world, Yoido Full Gospel Church with nearly a million members, is located in South Korea.
In Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim country, local church leaders say more than 20 percent of the population is Christian. U.S. statistics usually say only 10 percent of Indonesia is Christian, he noted.
And in China, the Christian population grew from about a million to more than 100 million within about 50 years.
“These are stories, these are statistics that most people who are followers of Jesus and lovers of God have no idea that these things are happening,” Ma emphasized. “I want to tell that story.”
The fast-talking and passionate, young pastor from Northern California stated that the 10/40 Window has changed. No longer can Asian countries be seen only as a mission field because some have turned into a “mission force.”
The tiny nation of South Korea, slightly larger than the state of Indiana, he pointed out, is on track to send more missionaries than North America within about 15 years.
“I truly believe it is not just a political or economic shift from the West to the East,” Ma said. “But it is also a spiritual shift. …The Eastern church that is rising up with radical faith is going to mobilize and inspire the rest of the body of Christ around the world to get the Great Commission done.”
1 comment:
I LOVE this article! As someone who's been involved in missions for the past 15 years, it simply reminds me that God is continuing to move in and through the nations! For the past 15 years (probably longer) missionaries have focused their efforts on the 10/40 window, and are now able to see the fruits of their labor. Not only that, but the prayer has always been that those in the 10/40window would rise up and become missionaries themselves. This article just goes to prove that the Word of the Lord does not return void!
The only sad part is that these new missionaries will be targeting North America. For years America has been the largest sender of missionaries to the nations, but now we are becoming the largest receiver. I think part of that is due to the increase in immigrants coming to our nation, but more than likely it is due to the fact that this generation is the first "pagan" generation since America's birth.
Though it's sad, there is still hope! Believers around this nation need to rise up and be missionaries right where they are! Be a light to your family, friends, co-workers, whomever... And pray! Pray for revival in America. Pray for change. BE the change.
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