80% of the world’s evangelical Christians live in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Over the last 50 years, God’s church has grown exponentially in these areas.

These regions have tremendous mission sending potential to help bring the gospel to unreached peoples, but they currently send only 20% of the world’s cross-cultural missionaries!

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Total Number of Evangelicals

Cultural Bridges to UPGs

Regional Access to UPGs

Religious Freedom

Prosperity

Current Sending Abroad

Mobilization Potential

Custom Mobilization Potential

Number of Evangelicals

Cultural Bridges

Strategic Access

Religious Freedoms

Current Sending

This infographic provides a visual score for seven data points ranked on a 0 to 100 scale. Faded icons show scores for other countries on the mobilization index. See below for actual scores and country-specific insights.

ADDITION

FINANCIAL DEPENDENCY

INACCESSIBLE

LIMITED MISSION FORCE

DISTANT AND FOREIGN MISSION FIELD

THE WORLD IS THE MISSION FIELD

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I am not so dissimilar to other fundraising professionals of my baby boomer generation. Most of us fell into our fundraising positions because we had a huge heart for our organization&rsquo;s mission, a deep call to serve God, and frankly, we did not have the heart to say no. When I look back at my progressive fundraising and marketing career, I can honestly say I would have been ahead of the game if I had known several fundamental realities before jumping in. I wish I knew . . .
<ul>
<li>A biblical mandate exists for fundraising activities. &ldquo;Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good deeds . . . (1 Timothy 6:17-19)</li>
<li>When a givers&rsquo; heart and will are involved, it becomes an act of spiritual transformation rather than a financial transaction.</li>
<li>How many times I would see the miraculous happen expanding my view of God. My belief in the kindness and generosity of God&rsquo;s people grew as I witnessed transformative, sacrificial giving occur time and again.</li>
<li>How critical it is to measure and test fundraising strategies. But abandoning new methods too soon can be detrimental. It can take three attempts to mature a new approach.</li>
<li>Fundraising is an equal mix between science and art, analytics and creativity, relationships, and methodology. It can be intuitive and, at the same time, calculated. A highly functioning development office consists of people with various talents and skills willing to collaborate and work towards a common goal.</li>
<li>There must be a voice for fundraising at the executive level. Ministries ride on the back of charitable income and the generosity of donor&rsquo;s investments. The person who leads development must be involved with strategic organizational decision-making and scenario planning.</li>
</ul>
Thankfully, I quickly learned to seek God&rsquo;s discernment, rely on others who were differently gifted, and not be afraid of making mistakes. I can promise you that there is never a dull moment!

Via Generosity

What I Wish I Knew Before Becoming a Development Professional

What I Wish I Knew Before Becoming a Development Professional

By: Barb Bowman

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