Standing only 4’ 3”, Lottie Moon, Baptist missionary to China in the early 1900s, had a large heart for the unreached. Concerned with the lack of Baptist missionaries, she wrote in the mission magazine of her day, “It is odd that a million Baptists of the South can furnish only three men for all China. Odd that with 500 preachers in the state of Virginia, we must rely on a Presbyterian to fill a Baptist pulpit here. I wonder how these things look in heaven. They certainly look very queer in China.” (Quoted in Shandong: The Revival Province by Paul Hattaway.)

In answer to Lottie’s question, we have Jesus’ reaction to the lack of gospel workers in His day. “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest’” (Matt. 9:37, 38).

Gospel Geography is a fun Sabbath-afternoon activity. Just pick a city in the 10/40 window, read a little on the Internet about it, and then pray that God will send more workers there. It is also a wholesome alternative to evenings in front of the TV, Netflix or Amazon Prime Video. Take the ancient city of Iconium where Paul preached in the book of Acts. Today it is the Turkish city of Konya. How will the 2 million people there hear the gospel when there are no workers? What about Taegwan, North Korea? Or Ashgabat, Turkmenistan? Or 10,000 other cities in the 10/40 window that you have never heard of? Paul asks, “How will they hear without a preacher?” (Rom. 10:14).
As an alternative to tea and crumpets, invite your friends over to play Gospel Geography. When traveling on business, instead of turning on the TV in the hotel room, spend some time playing Gospel Geography and pray for the unreached. And while you are praying, please remember us as we plan and prepare to serve in Surat Thani, Thailand. Your earnest prayers will make a difference as your own soul is refreshed. And who knows? Perhaps God will call you to be a missionary in answer to someone’s prayers while playing Gospel Geography.

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