Central and Southern Asia

· Countries and Peoples

This is a region that stretches from Siberia, Russia in the North, to India and Sri Lanka in the South.  The countries that fall in this area include Afghanistan, Azebaijan, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and parts of Russia.  More significant, however, are the many, many people groups that are not necessarily limited to borders of these countries, the majority of which are classified as unreached.  Some People Groups can trace a common cultural heritage and others have a heritage all of their own.  Over 400 People Groups live in India alone.

· Recent History

This region has had a relatively high profile in the media in recent years, going back to the fall of Communism in the early 1990’s, and coming forward to the current crisis in India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.  It is a region that is trying to come to grips with changes in many areas of life that were set for many years.  Technological advances and "Westernization" are welcomed by some and rejected by others.   This has resulted in tension and a drifting apart in most of the People Groups.  A number of the countries within this region face political and economic uncertainty and instability.

· Major Religions

The major religions of Central Asia are Islam, Hinduism, and Animism.   Religious beliefs and practices operate on two levels with the priests and religious leaders practicing a formal and purer form of religion with strict adherence to a system of beliefs and practices, while the ordinary people adapt and add to the formal system to suit their individual situations.  This latter situation has given rise to what is known as "Folk" Islam among the ordinary people.  Religion pervades all areas of life in Central Asia, from simple decision making to serious illness.

· Status of Evangelization

Central Asia has truly become a field that is "white unto harvest."  Because of its recent history and the climate of change, there are now unprecedented opportunities for the Gospel.  Many people who are hearing the Gospel for the first time are finding the Truth in their search for God and religious meaning.  Churches are being planted at an amazing rate and missionaries are going out in greater numbers.  Many People Groups in this region have not yet been adopted and this is an exciting opportunity for your church to get involved.

East Asia

· Countries and Peoples

This region is overwhelmingly comprised of the people of China and includes the countries/areas of Hong Kong, Macao, Mongolia and Taiwan.  China has a population approximately four times that of the USA and is home to numerous People Groups, many of whom are unreached.  Missionaries like Hudson Taylor have opened the church’s eyes to the many interior "hidden" peoples that are desperate for a Savior.

· Recent History

China is perhaps the last real stronghold of communism, and there are even signs that this may not be the case in the future.  Because of its vast size, China plays a significant role on the international stage, which has not left it unaffected by an overall move towards ‘westernization’ throughout the world.  Relations with non-communist Taiwan remain tense, and uncertainty still remains regarding the takeover of Hong Kong by China in 1997, and the proposed takeover of Macao in 1999.  Mongolia renounced communism in 1990 and this has placed it in the precarious situation of being surrounded by communist China and a Russia in crisis.  Mongolia finds itself in its own economic crisis with its various peoples in desperate need of spiritual and social aid.

· Major Religions

Despite official claims of Atheism, a number of religions are fairly widely practiced and these include Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Animism, Islam, Christianity, and folk religion.  Most of these religions exist on two levels, one being the official government regulated level, and the other being the underground level.  Many of the common people blend various aspects of the different religions to suit their People Group.

· Status of Evangelism

Although there are still many unreached People Groups in this region, the Lord has been opening their field in amazing ways with many people coming into His kingdom on a daily basis.  The growth of the church in China (underground) has been unparalleled after years of prayer and seed sowing.  However, China is still the country that is known for the greatest persecution of religion, and the great growth of the church has come at a great cost to many.  Prospects in Mongolia are great with a young church that desperately needs mentoring.  Freedom of religion in Taiwan has created numerous opportunities, however their need is an urgent need for revival of the church.  Adoption of a People Group in this region will provide you with an excellent opportunity to see the Gospel taken where it has never been before.

North Africa and the Middle East

· Countries and Peoples

This region is also known as the Final Frontier and includes countries such as Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, Sudan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Yemen, Oman, Israel, Lebanon, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.  Many of the People Groups are from an Arab heritage and transcend national boundaries such as the Berber People Group.  This region is known as the Final Frontier as it has the most People Groups with NO known Christians or missionaries.  It is the most "Unreached" region of the world.

· Recent History

Conflict seems to have characterized this region for some time.  There is conflict between Arabs and non-Arabs as seen in the Israeli area, and there is even conflict between Arabs themselves as is the case with Iran and Iraq.  There is currently what can best be described as an anti-Western sentiment in this region, yet there is a reliance on financial aid and technological advancement from the West.

· Major Religions

Islam is the dominant religion in this region.  Islam is practiced and promoted in its purest form here.  As Christians seek to reach Muslims with the Gospel, Islam is also making inroads into Christian areas.  Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all find their roots in this region, which explains much of the conflict.  Two major branches of Islam, Sunni and Shi’a, compete for power and proof that each is the purest form of Islam.  There is little or no tolerance of other religions.   As a result, this is a region where we encounter a high degree of religious persecution.

· Status of Evangelism

There is growing excitement and an expectancy that this region is opening up to the Gospel.  Although much of the evangelism is done undercover, there are reports of unprecedented harvest fields which are ripening and even being reaped.  Christians are realizing that there are means of access into this region and that the ordinary people have a desire for the saving truth of Christ.  There is hardly a more vital opportunity than to adopt a People Group in this region and be a part of reaching the Final Frontier.

Southeast Asia and Oceania

· Countries and Peoples

The many countries of this region include Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and various smaller islands.   With approximately 20 thousand islands in this region, the makeup of the various Peoples is diverse.  There are five major groups of Peoples, each with many People Groups of their own.  They are Asian, European, Polynesian, Micronesian, and Melanesian.

· Recent History

Much of this region has been hard hit by a recession and this has caused economic and political instability for some of the countries.  The economic and technical development of Australia and New Zealand have set them at contrast to the largely subsistence economies of the other countries.  Many of the countries and islands remain in relative obscurity and in general, rely on the well-being of the larger countries for their own well-being.

· Major Religions

Christianity has had a large presence in the Oceania region over the years and much less a presence in the countries of Southeast Asia, such as Cambodia and Vietnam.  As a result, many in Oceania would call themselves Christian.  Although many religions are represented, other major religions of significance are Buddhism, Islam, and Animism.  As in other regions of the world, many People Groups here come to blend various aspects of different religions to suit their own culture.

· Status of Evangelization

There are still many unreached People Groups in this region, a number of which were "hidden" until recently.  As these People Groups are being penetrated with the Gospel, we are finding a great openness.  Where Islam has a strong presence, such as in Indonesia, there is some opposition, but this is outweighed by the great desire for an experience of the one true God.  The many years of missionary effort in Oceania has left strong roots for the Gospel, but unfortunately stagnation and secularism has set in in many places.  This has left the door open for an alarming influx of cults such as Mormonism.  Revival is desperately needed in countries such as Australia and thankfully, there are signs of this in New Zealand and other areas.  Adoption of a People Group in this region will involve your church in taking the Gospel to the Unreached, or in helping to revive a Christian faith which is in stagnation.

Western Pacific

Countries and Peoples

The countries of Japan, North Korea, South Korea, and the Philippines make up this region and each is home to a number of People Groups.  There is a mix of both reached (especially in South Korea and the Philippines) and unreached (especially in North Korea and Japan) among the People Groups.

· Recent History

This region has recently been plunged into a deep economic recession that has caused some political uncertainty, however nothing traumatic.  Tensions continue to run high between North and South Korea, with North Korea still trying to hold on to a seemingly doomed form of communism.  Japan has developed a strong free-market economy and has emerged as an economic force in both this region and the world.  South Korea, despite its current difficulties, has also made significant economic strides.  In contrast, North Korea and the Philippines remain in desperate economic difficulty with alarming levels of poverty.

· Major Religions

Shintoism, Buddhism, Roman Catholicism, Atheism, and Christianity are all well represented in this region.  As with the other regions, there is the purer, official form of religion as well as the more blended form that exists at the grassroots level.  There seems to be a new interest in religion as a result of the difficult economic times.

Status of Evangelism

The growth of Christianity in South Korea has been amazing and is a testimony to what the Lord is able to do in any nation.  Not only has there been numerical growth, but also growth in spiritual maturity so that South Korea now sends its own missionaries all over the world.  In contrast, Christianity in North Korea has suffered under the communist government where it is looked upon with suspicion because of its success in South Korea.  However, just in the last year or two, there have been indications that the Lord is opening the harvest fields of North Korea.  Materialism has had a rapid growth in Japan, and unfortunately the growth of Christianity has lagged far behind.  However, this strong materialistic focus has left a spiritual vacuum and the time will soon come when the Japanese will begin to seek the true meaning of life.  Although Roman Catholicism is widespread in the Philippines, many Catholics are practicing animists and spiritists.  Evangelicals have made great strides since the 1970s and many churches are being planted.  The Lord is clearly at work in this region, both in opening up new harvests as well as bringing in a ripe harvest.  Adoption of a People Group in this region will give your church the opportunity to be on mission with God.

Western Europe

Countries and Peoples

The countries in this region include Austria, Belgium, England, Ireland, France, Denmark, Iceland, Holland, Germany, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Norway, and Sweden.   Europe has become a region of great ethnic diversity where its economic strength has attracted migratory movements from all areas of the world.  Most people live in cities and many have achieved a relatively high level of affluence.  Most people have a strong national pride and with some exceptions, the people groups are closely linked to national boundaries.

Recent History

The fall of Communism has impacted various countries to a greater or lesser degree.  Russia’s current economic crisis has led to a feeling of uncertainty and a fear that economic recession will become widespread.  There is a strong desire to develop mutual trust and cooperation between nations, however fulfilling this desire is proving difficult.

· Major Religions

Economic affluence has brought a focus on self, and as a result, the dominant religion (or lack of religion) is Secular Humanism.  God is seen as mythical, as are other religious ideas and beliefs.  However, under the surface is a desire for spiritual fulfillment that manifests itself in various forms of religious expression and even occultist practices.  This region has a great Christian tradition and is the birthplace of Protestantism.  Roman Catholicism has a strong presence in many of the countries.  In fact, just about all of the Protestant denominations can be found in one of more of these countries.  The younger generation is moving away from its Christian heritage to the New Age and a way of thinking that sees truth as relative.  There is freedom of religion and as a result, the ethnic diversity has brought religious diversity.

· Status of Evangelism

Despite the overall religious decline in this region, there are new signs of growth among evangelicals.  Evangelicals are also making inroads into the mainline denominations which is creating many opportunities for the Gospel.  There are a number of Unreached People Groups in this region as a result of immigrant and refugee peoples.  Outreach specifically geared towards the youth is a desperate need.  Adoption of a People Group in this region will help restore its vibrant evangelical heritage.

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