In the last thirty years the greatest migration in human history has occurred. One billion people have moved in the last ten years from rural poverty to the mega-city slums, squatter areas, favelas and bustees. These migrant poor now make up 40% of the world's cities and their numbers will double in the next ten years. Existing missions strategies have largely ignored both these burgeoning cities and the urban poor.

In the year 2000 A.D. there were:

Of these, we have classified 1734 as "least evangelized" (without movements of churches sufficient to reach them). Most fall within the "10/40 Window" a geographical region between Morocco and Japan, covering North Africa, the Middle East, Northern India and China.

History shows that the key to reaching a city is to begin with the poor. Beyond the poor of these cities, one finds the political and social elite who determine the nature and structure of the cities.

For real and long lasting transformation to occur, we must challenge the leadership structures of these cities. Inspiring and resourcing indigenous leadership is a central element in evangelizing and transforming these cities. Enlightened leadership brought together from different cities or within cities, encouraged to define a vision, and equipped with knowledge, networks and resources can rapidly accelerate the process of bringing the Kingdom of God.

If we reach the cities ,we reach the nation. But if we fail in the cities ,
they become a cesspool that will infect the entire country." D.L. Moody

Last modified: 05/06/07