FROM SEED TO FRUIT: Surprising developments in Christian missions

By Mike Burnard
“The world of cross-cultural missions has changed dramatically over the past decades. The command of Jesus to reach that world has not! To obey this commission, we must understand both the Gospel AND a changing world! And understanding the world means adjusting our missiology so that the Gospel penetrates the multitude of avenues God has opened up for us at this critical juncture in human history!” Joel Rainey
GENERAL INFORMATION (numbers rounded off)
Global total
- Population: 7,8 billion
- Christians: 2,5 billion
- % Christian: 32%
This means there is one Christian for every 2 non-Christians on earth
- Missionaries sent: 396,000
- Missionaries sent per million Christians:158
This means every 6,300 Christians support 1 missionary
- Missionaries received: 396,000
- Missionaries received per million people: 51
- 60% of all non-Christians live in least reached areas
This means there is one missionary for every 12,000 unreached people on earth
BIGGEST CHRISTIAN NATIONS by numbers
- USA
- Brazil
- Mexico
List of top 25 biggest Christian nations by numbers
Country Population Christians
- United States 331,003,000 245,299,000
- Brazil 212,559,000 192,935,000
- Mexico 128,933,000 123,651,000
- Russia 145,934,000 119,890,000
- China 1,439,324,000 106,018,000
- Philippines 109,581,000 99,307,000
- Nigeria 206,140,000 95,186,000
- Congo DR 89,561,000 85,061,000
- Ethiopia 114,964,000 67,902,000
- India 1,380,004,000 66,316,000
- Germany 83,784,000 56,377,000
- Colombia 50,883,000 48,543,000
- South Africa 59,309,000 48,512,000
- Italy 60,462,000 46,862,000
- United Kingdom 67,886,000 45,726,000
- Kenya 53,771,000 43,554,000
- France 65,274,000 42,468,000
- Spain 46,755,000 40,526,000
- Argentina 45,196,000 40,439,000
- Uganda 45,741,000 38,624,000
- Ukraine 43,734,000 36,995,000
- Poland 37,847,000 36,183,000
- Indonesia 273,524,000 33,409,000
- Tanzania 59,734,000 33,050,000
- Peru 32,972,000 31,808,000
OBSERVATION
- Only 9 of the top 25 Christian nations are located in Europe or North America.
- The major Christian nations in the world are now based in the “developing world” and not in the “western” world anymore. This will have a profound effect on the future of missions, cultural theology and faith experience.
- 7 top Christian nations are based in Africa, 5 are based in Latin America, and 4 in Asia
- 3 Nations, China, India and Indonesia, are countries where Christians constitute less than 12% of the population, yet they rank as 3 of the biggest Christian nations in the world
BIGGEST CHRISTIAN NATIONS by percentage
(Population more than 500,000)
- Romania
- Guatemala
- Moldova
List of top 25 biggest Christian nations by percentage
Country Population Christians % Christian
- Romania 19,238,000 18,959,000 98.6
- Guatemala 17,916,000 17,441,000 97.4
- Moldova 4,034,000 3,920,000 97.2
- El Salvador 6,486,000 6,271,000 96.7
- Peru 32,972,000 31,808,000 96.5
- Mexico 128,933,000 123,651,000 95.9
- Puerto Rico 2,861,000 2,741,000 95.8
- Honduras 9,905,000 9,485,000 95.8
- Poland 37,847,000 36,183,000 95.6
- Paraguay 7,133,000 6,810,000 95.5
- Ecuador 17,643,000 16,842,000 95.5
- Colombia 50,883,000 48,543,000 95.4
- Costa Rica 5,094,000 4,859,000 95.4
- Solomon Islands 687,000 654,000 95.3
- Nicaragua 6,625,000 6,297,000 95.1
- Congo DR 89,561,000 85,061,000 95.0
- Cabo Verde 556,000 528,000 94.9
- Dominican Republic 10,848,000 10,296,000 94.9
- Papua New Guinea 8,947,000 8,482,000 94.8
- Armenia 2,963,000 2,798,000 94.4
- Haiti 11,403,000 10,748,000 94.3
- Croatia 4,105,000 3,850,000 93.8
- Burundi 11,891,000 11,102,000 93.4
- Bolivia 11,673,000 10,836,000 92.8
- Angola 32,866,000 30,504,000 92.8
OBSERVATION
- Only one nation, Poland, is located on the European continent. The rest are now all based in the “developing world”
- The center of Christian gravity has shifted from West to East
COUNTRIES SENDING THE MOST MISSIONARIES
- USA
- Brazil
- South Korea
List of top 25 countries sending the most missionaries
Country Christians Send
- United States 245,299,000 121,000
- Brazil 192,935,000 35,000
- South Korea 17,013,000 30,000
- Philippines 99,307,000 15,000
- United Kingdom 45,726,000 15,000
- France 42,468,000 15,000
- Italy 46,862,000 15,000
- Spain 40,526,000 15,000
- Germany 56,377,000 12,000
- China 106,018,000 10,000
- India 66,316,000 10,000
- Nigeria 95,186,000 10,000
- South Africa 48,512,000 8,000
- Canada 23,941,000 8,000
- Mexico 123,651,000 6,000
- Ireland 4,550,000 6,000
- Colombia 48,543,000 4,000
- Australia 14,682,000 4,000
- Netherlands 9,514,000 4,000
- Bolivia 10,836,000 3,000
- Portugal 9,228,000 3,000
- Poland 36,183,000 2,700
- Argentina 40,439,000 2,000
- Chile 16,868,000 1,900
- Belgium 7,384,000 1,500
OBSERVATION
- America is by far the greatest ‘exporter’ of the Gospel – sending as many missionaries as the next 7 countries combined
- Missions has turned from seed to fruit in many nations. Nations who were once receivers of missionaries have now transformed into sending nations
- 12 Nations from the developing world are now ranked in the top 25 sending nations
COUNTRIES SENDING MOST MISSIONARIES per million people
(Population more than 500,000 and missionaries more than 250)
- Palestine
- South Korea
- Ireland
List of top 25 countries sending the most missionaries per capita
Country Population Christians % Chr Sent Per million Christians
- Palestine 5,101,000 45,100 0.9 270 5,986.2
- South Korea 51,269,000 17,013,000 33.2 30,000 1,763.4
- Ireland 4,938,000 4,550,000 92.2 6,000 1,318.6
- United States 331,003,000 245,299,000 74.1 121,000 492.4
- Singapore 5,850,000 1,209,000 20.7 560 463.0
- Netherlands 17,135,000 9,514,000 55.5 4,000 420.4
- Hong Kong 7,497,000 1,136,000 15.2 450 396.0
- New Zealand 4,822,000 2,624,000 54.4 1,000 381.1
- Spain 46,755,000 40,526,000 86.7 15,000 370.1
- Puerto Rico 2,861,000 2,741,000 95.8 1,000 364.9
- France 65,274,000 42,468,000 65.1 15,000 353.2
- Japan 126,476,000 2,629,000 2.1 890 338.5
- Canada 37,742,000 23,941,000 63.4 8,000 334.2
- United Kingdom 67,886,000 45,726,000 67.4 15,000 328.0
- Portugal 10,197,000 9,228,000 90.5 3,000 325.1
- Italy 60,462,000 46,862,000 77.5 15,000 320.1
- Taiwan 23,817,000 1,442,000 6.1 440 305.2
- Bolivia 11,673,000 10,836,000 92.8 3,000 276.9
- Finland 5,541,000 4,354,000 78.6 1,200 275.6
- Australia 25,500,000 14,682,000 57.6 4,000 272.4
- Norway 5,421,000 4,685,000 86.4 1,200 256.1
- Sweden 10,099,000 5,857,000 58.0 1,500 256.1
- Switzerland 8,655,000 6,554,000 75.7 1,500 228.9
- Uruguay 3,474,000 2,209,000 63.6 500 226.3
- Germany 83,784,000 56,377,000 67.3 12,000 212.9
OBSERVATION
- These statistics probably paints the most exciting and most satisfying picture of modern-day missions. Missions has turned from seed to fruit.
- 10 of the top 25 sending nations who were once receivers of missionaries, are now transformed into sending nations
- Of the top 25 sending nations, 6 are countries where Christians are the minority
COUNTRIES RECEIVING MOST MISSIONARIES
(Population more than 500,000)
- USA
- Brazil
- Russia
List of top 25 countries receiving the most missionaries
Country Population Christians % Chr Receive
- United States 331,003,000 245,299,000 74.1 32,500
- Brazil 212,559,000 192,935,000 90.8 20,000
- Russia 145,934,000 119,890,000 82.2 20,000
- Congo DR 89,561,000 85,061,000 95.0 15,000
- South Africa 59,309,000 48,512,000 81.8 12,000
- United Kingdom 67,886,000 45,726,000 67.4 10,000
- France 65,274,000 42,468,000 65.1 10,000
- Argentina 45,196,000 40,439,000 89.5 10,000
- Chile 19,116,000 16,868,000 88.2 8,500
- India 1,380,004,000 66,316,000 4.8 8,000
- Mexico 128,933,000 123,651,000 95.9 8,000
- Japan 126,476,000 2,629,000 2.1 8,000
- Philippines 109,581,000 99,307,000 90.6 8,000
- Germany 83,784,000 56,377,000 67.3 8,000
- Italy 60,462,000 46,862,000 77.5 8,000
- Colombia 50,883,000 48,543,000 95.4 7,500
- Canada 37,742,000 23,941,000 63.4 7,500
- Peru 32,972,000 31,808,000 96.5 7,000
- Indonesia 273,524,000 33,409,000 12.2 6,000
- Nigeria 206,140,000 95,186,000 46.2 6,000
- Kenya 53,771,000 43,554,000 81.0 6,000
- Venezuela 28,436,000 26,344,000 92.6 6,000
- Tanzania 59,734,000 33,050,000 55.3 4,500
- Ukraine 43,734,000 36,995,000 84.6 4,500
- China 1,439,324,000 106,018,000 7.4 4,000
OBSERVATION
- Many traditional sending nations have now become receiving nations.
- Of the top 25 nations receiving missionaries, 20 are Christian nations and only 5 are countries where Christianity is not the majority.
- Most missionaries are working in Christian nations
COUNTRIES RECEIVING MOST MISSIONARIES per million people
(Population more than 500,000 and missionaries more than 200)
- Puerto Rico
- Solomon Islands
- Eswatini (Swaziland)
List of top 25 countries receiving the most missionaries per capita
Country Population Christians % Chr Received Missionaries per million people
- Puerto Rico 2,861,000 2,741,000 95.8 2,500 873.9
- Solomon Islands 687,000 654,000 95.3 600 873.5
- Eswatini 1,160,000 1,025,000 88.3 890 767.1
- Suriname 587,000 299,000 51.0 440 750.0
- Fiji 896,000 573,000 63.9 660 736.2
- Uruguay 3,474,000 2,209,000 63.6 2,500 719.7
- New Zealand 4,822,000 2,624,000 54.4 3,000 622.1
- Namibia 2,541,000 2,309,000 90.9 1,400 551.0
- Panama 4,315,000 3,887,000 90.1 2,000 463.5
- Chile 19,116,000 16,868,000 88.2 8,500 444.6
- Guyana 787,000 425,000 54.0 340 432.3
- Slovenia 2,079,000 1,732,000 83.3 890 428.1
- Papua New Guinea 8,947,000 8,482,000 94.8 3,600 404.6
- Trinidad & Tobago 1,399,000 888,000 63.4 560 400.1
- Croatia 4,105,000 3,850,000 93.8 1,500 365.4
- Bolivia 11,673,000 10,836,000 92.8 4,000 342.7
- Lesotho 2,142,000 1,974,000 92.1 730 340.8
- Albania 2,878,000 1,082,000 37.6 890 309.3
- Nicaragua 6,625,000 6,297,000 95.1 2,000 301.9
- Costa Rica 5,094,000 4,859,000 95.4 1,500 294.5
- Réunion 895,000 784,000 87.5 260 290.4
- Bhutan 772,000 17,200 2.2 220 285.1
- Mauritius 1,272,000 420,000 33.1 340 267.3
- Jamaica 2,961,000 2,504,000 84.5 780 263.4
- CAR 4,830,000 3,526,000 73.0 1,200 248.5
OBSERVATION
- Of the top 25 nations receiving missionaries (per capita), 15 have a Christian presence of more than 80% of the population
- Only 3 are countries where Christianity does not form the majority of the population.
- Most missionaries are working in Christian nations
NATIONS RECEIVING THE LEAST MISSIONARIES
(Population more than 500,000)
- Qatar
- Western Sahara
- Maldives
List of top 25 countries receiving the least missionaries
Country Population Christians % Chr Missionaries received
- Qatar 2,881,000 410,000 14.2 10
- Western Sahara 597,000 920 0.2 10
- Maldives 541,000 1,600 0.3 10
- North Korea 25,779,000 99,000 0.4 20
- Tajikistan 9,538,000 65,900 0.7 40
- Oman 5,107,000 185,000 3.6 40
- Comoros 870,000 4,400 0.5 40
- Luxembourg 626,000 474,000 75.7 40
- Macao 649,000 45,600 7.0 50
- Somalia 15,893,000 4,200 0.0 60
- Kyrgyzstan 6,524,000 286,000 4.4 60
- Turkmenistan 6,031,000 68,000 1.1 60
- Mauritania 4,650,000 10,900 0.2 60
- Armenia 2,963,000 2,798,000 94.4 60
- Bahrain 1,702,000 205,000 12.1 60
- Djibouti 988,000 10,900 1.1 80
- Laos 7,276,000 198,000 2.7 90
- Timor-Leste 1,318,000 1,157,000 87.8 100
- Kosovo 2,096,000 129,000 6.2 110
- Montenegro 628,000 498,000 79.2 110
- Saudi Arabia 34,814,000 2,102,000 6.0 120
- Guinea 13,133,000 463,000 3.5 120
- Azerbaijan 10,139,000 246,000 2.4 120
- Libya 6,871,000 36,000 0.5 120
- Kuwait 4,271,000 508,000 11.9 120
OBSERVATION
- 21 of the 25 nations receiving the least missionaries have a Christian population of less than 15%
- These are the nations that should be receiving the most missionaries, not the least
NATIONS RECEIVING THE LEAST MISSIONARIES per million people
(Population more than 500,000)
- North Korea
- Iran
- China
List of top 25 countries receiving the least missionaries per capita
Country Population Christians % Chr Received Missionaries/ mil WWL as restricted
- North Korea 25,779,000 99,000 0.4 20 0.8 1
- Iran 83,993,000 579,000 0.7 220 2.6 9
- China 1,439,324,000 106,018,000 7.4 4,000 2.8 23
- Saudi Arabia 34,814,000 2,102,000 6.0 120 3.4 13
- Qatar 2,881,000 410,000 14.2 10 3.5 27
- Somalia 15,893,000 4,200 0.0 60 3.8 3
- Myanmar 54,410,000 4,311,000 7.9 220 4.0 19
- Tajikistan 9,538,000 65,900 0.7 40 4.2 31
- Afghanistan 38,928,000 7,500 0.0 200 5.1 2
- Pakistan 220,892,000 4,188,000 1.9 1,200 5.4 5
- Yemen 29,826,000 16,500 0.1 170 5.7 8
- India 1,380,004,000 66,316,000 4.8 8,000 5.8
- Bangladesh 164,689,000 879,000 0.5 1,000 6.1 38
- Uzbekistan 33,469,000 348,000 1.0 220 6.6 18
- Turkey 84,339,000 176,000 0.2 560 6.6 36
- Sudan 43,849,000 1,974,000 4.5 320 7.3 7
- Oman 5,107,000 185,000 3.6 40 7.8 42
- Guinea 13,133,000 463,000 3.5 120 9.1
- Kyrgyzstan 6,524,000 286,000 4.4 60 9.2
- Turkmenistan 6,031,000 68,000 1.1 60 9.9 22
- Syria 17,501,000 672,000 3.8 200 11.4 11
- Kazakhstan 18,777,000 4,891,000 26.0 220 11.7 35
- Azerbaijan 10,139,000 246,000 2.4 120 11.8
- Laos 7,276,000 198,000 2.7 90 12.4 20
- Iraq 40,223,000 186,000 0.5 500 12.4 15
OBSERVATION
- 23 of the 25 nations receiving the least missionaries per capita, have a Christian population of less than 10%
- These are the nations that should be receiving the most missionaries, not the least
- These are also the nations on the World-Watch list of Open Doors, listed as the top countries with the most persecution
CONCLUSION
At the heart of the Church is an interdependent community of people with a world-wide vision. This commitment to live with an open Bible on a large open map makes an important contribution to global missions.
But the global faith community has transformed. The Gospel seed that was faithfully sown through centuries of sacrifice is not only bearing fruit, but being multiplied. Receiving nations have now become sending nations. This should thrust us into new initiatives and new strategies
Sadly, the opposite has also been exposed; Western Christians nations are now facing the challenges of secular societies and faith is declining.
The missions model that was faithfully duplicated from generation to generation was to send missionaries to unreached nations. BUT: Today, 40% of the world’s non-believers now have access to the Gospel through the many Christians in their own people-groups who can reach out to them. Wouldn’t it make sense to partner with those who already know the culture, the language and the customs.
This is called TWINNING, and is the new initiative in Christian missions.
The immediate challenges of COVID-19 have thrusted traditional missions into a new direction.
TWINNING is not a new concept in global missions, but it is a neglected concept. For too long missions was a one-way street where there was a ‘sender’ and a ‘receiver’. Developing partnerships is the new norm and “twinning” churches with churches, and believers with believers, will take missions beyond traditional limitations and will allow all role-players to play equally significant roles.
SOURCE
Statistics of missionaries sent and received was released by the World Christian Database (Leiden/Boston: Brill, accessed September 2020), edited by Todd M. Johnson and Gina A. Zurlo. The World Christian Database provides comprehensive statistical information on world religions, Christian denominations, and people groups. Extensive data are available on over 9,000 Christian denominations, 13,000 ethnolinguistic peoples, as well as data on 5,000 cities, 3,000 provinces and 234 countries.
For more information and to subscribe visit: https://www.worldchristiandatabase.org/