The 10/40 Window spans the territory between 10 and 40 degrees latitude north of the equator, and covers West Africa all the way to East Asia. Most of the world's poor, and most of the world's unevangelized people live in this area, and Praying Through the 100 Gateway Cities of the 10/40 Window is designed as a guide to help Western Christians pray intentionally and wisely for the region.
Particular needs in each of the 100 cities (many of which are huge, yet nearly unknown in the U.S.) are addressed in each page-long entry. A few vital statistics are mentioned (like population and religious demographics), followed by the city's significance and brief history, and at the bottom of the page are several prayer points specific to that city which are intended to guide and encourage prayer.
Some of the statistics might be a little outdated, but for the most part they remain accurate. The 10/40 Window remains a largely godless part of the globe, and despite the religiosity of its inhabitants (mostly Hindu and Muslim), there is little justice practiced. This book's editors hope that not only prayer, but decisive missional action on the part of churches, is the result of their effort.
A number of Christian leaders have written brief essays to introduce the book, explaining the parameters of the 10/40 Window, the reason for and nature of missions-oriented prayer, and the nature of spiritual warfare. While most of the doctrine in these essays is broadly Christian, the authors are mostly on the charismatic side, and parents from different traditions will want to discuss these essays with their children.
This is a great way to introduce both intercessory prayer and world geography to kids. They'll love learning about far-off places, and yet it won't be an end in itself—they'll see from early on that the main purpose of learning about the world around them is to see God's Hand in it, and to pray that that Hand would reach even to those places that seem most remote from His goodness and mercy.
Did you find this review helpful?