The Mission

Week 13, 2026

Missions Research

A small number of groups have worked for many years to build a global picture of Christianity. They put together thousands of denominational reports, surveys, census data, news reports and on-the-spot reporting. Their findings inform the whole Church and play a critical role for many mission agencies around the world, who plan their missionary activity according to these findings. Good research enables global missions to allocate more strategically their financial and human resources, and cooperate and coordinate more effectively. These organizations include:

The Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in the US. They produce the World Christian Encyclopedia and annual summaries.

Operation World, a ministry of WEC International, who produce the prayer handbook of the same name, along with an app, an abridged version called Pray for the World, the children’s book Window on the World -- and this Praying For The World bulletin.

Cartomission helps visualize statistics in maps.

Ethnologue, a ministry of SIL International, is the definitive compilation of the world’s languages, and their needs of Bible translation, updated annually.

Joshua Project, a ministry of Frontier Ventures, tracks the state of religion and Christian mission among each of the world’s peoples.

• Pray these groups will continue to make inspiring, useable information available to the whole Church.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

Democratic elections in 2016 were a step forward for this impoverished African state of 4.7 million people, but peace and development remain elusive, especially outside the capital, Bangui. Muslim and Christian militias kill, rob, and rape and keep the nation fragile and insecure. Six hundred thousand people have been chased from their homes.

The large majority profess Christianity. A purified and strengthened Church could be a great force for good in the nation.

• Pray for the healing of this conflict-torn nation.

• Pray for the Church to take a lead in Christlikeness, integrity, justice, and peacemaking.

CANADA

The century-long marginalization of Canadian Christianity continues. Evangelical Christians were 25% of the population in 1900, but are only 8% of Canada’s 37 million people today. As in many Western countries, Canada’s churches face the task of incarnating the gospel afresh for a post-Christian progressive rising generation.

Some evangelical and charismatic groups continue to thrive. Immigrants are bringing new life. Urban churches can be multicultural and lively.

• Pray for a fresh work of the Holy Spirit to see Christ worshipped and followed by all groups and generations in Canada.

• Canadian indigenous peoples suffered shameful treatment in the past. The injuries and suffering continue. Pray for the continuing efforts to foster truth and reconciliation and respect among Canada’s peoples, and for healing and unity in Christ.

• This nation of immigrants continues to welcome migrants and refugees. Pray for Canada’s migrants (Chinese, South Asians, Afghans, Kurds, Somalis, Sudanese and others) to embrace the gospel.