Does Missions Work? Worldwide Evangelical Explosion from 1960 to 2010

Ever wonder if that $10, $50, $100/month actually does anything? Since WWII, thousands of missionaries have left family and language to make a home in places like S. America, Africa, and East-Asia.

These two images* confirm the fruit of their radical sacrifices for Jesus… and point us toward the coming fruit of current ambassadors for Jesus Christ scattered across the globe:

Each blue dot represents 50,000 Evangelicals

Each blue dot represents 50,000 Evangelicals

And here are the two photos layered one on top of the other… take a minute and breathe in the radical changes in S. America, Africa, China, and S. Korea:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

QUESTION: Is every blue dot 100% accurate?

ANSWER: I’m sure many of the blue dots, as individuals, are the subject of much debate. No one, however, can question the overall explosion… especially the movement of the center of evangelicalism from Europe and N. America to S. America, sub-Saharan Africa, and East Asia.

QUESTION: Do all of these dots have a true comprehension of the “evangile” (gospel), or are there other aberrant movements and theologies mixed in?

ANSWER: Many different radically pentecostal and prosperity-oriented theologies are most likely somewhat mixed into these results. However, again, one cannot deny the overall movement taking place. For more info, check out the Mission, Vision, and Ethos of Operation World. 

*These maps are a slight re-working of the material found in the 2010 edition of the Operation World DVD. In my humble opinion, every Christian should own a copy.