Is FGCU in the 10/40 Window?
Ben*: Hey, Matt, guess what?
Matt: What?
B: I went to Ignite (another FGCU campus ministry) last night!
M: You did?! That’s great! What did you think?
B: I liked it; they sang a bunch of songs I didn’t know, and he talked on something from Ephasians or something.
M: Ephesians, yeah. That’s great. Now, I know you don’t have a church background, but tell me exactly what that means.
B: Well, the only time I’ve ever been inside a church was when my sister went to a Christian school, and I came to watch her in a play.
M: And how much of the Bible have you read?
B: None.
M: What can you tell me about Jesus?
B: (Blank stare) Uh… isn’t God his Son?
M: Well, something like that; it’s actually reverse.
M: What about the gospel; if I said the word ‘gospel,’ do you know what that means?
B: Nope.
Last semester, Ben worked in the building where our weekly Dinner & Devotion took place. This allowed me and some of our students to befriend Ben and sometimes bring him dinner. Wouldn’t you know it that this semester, Ben is again working in the same building where we meet?
After the above mid-September conversation with Ben, God gave me an opportunity to share the gospel with him! I told him how refreshing it is to talk to him because he is a blank slate. I told him it’s a lot easier to teach someone about Jesus and the church when they don’t already have false notions about who he is that have to be unlearned first. Since that conversation, I’ve been thinking some about the 10/40 Window.
If you are not familiar with the term “10/40 Window,” it is a missionary term referring to the part of the globe situated between 10 and 40 degrees north latitude. Geographically, it represents the part of the world most plagued with socioeconomic problems. Spiritually speaking, this region has the least access to the gospel and the majority of those who have never heard the name of Jesus reside.
Ben is seeking Jesus. For the first time. He started reading the book of John at the suggestion of a fellow RA in his group; she is a Christian. Some of his residents are also Christians. Our treasurer is in the same accounting class. God has surrounded Ben with his followers to show him love and share the gospel with him. He is close to believing in Jesus. As I continue to pray and think about Ben, I can’t help but wonder how many other Bens are waiting for a disciple of Jesus to care enough to share his truth and love. The 10/40 Window may be bigger than we think.
* Not his real name
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