As I wrote yesterday, I first learned of the 10-40 Window almost 20 years ago. However, about 4-5 years ago I began hearing about another window. It was the 4-14 window. Huh? Was this an even more specific area where even less evangelized people lived? Not quite. I’m sure that a lot of what I’ve written this week during missions week hasn’t appealed to everyone in kidmin, but this post probably will.

Where the 10-40 window is a geographic window in the world, the 4-14 window is a demographic window in the world. Here are some stats taken from the International House of Prayer website:

  • The 4/14 Window describes a demographic frame—a life season comprising the ten years between the ages of 4 and 14
  • There are 1.2 billion children in the 4/14 WindowAt least two-thirds of these children do not know Christ. Many have not heard about Him even once
  • In the U.S., nearly 85% of conversions to Christ happen between the ages of 4 and 14
  • 70% (833,378,570) of the 4/14 Window live in the 10/40 Window, which describes the geographical area with the greatest need and opportunity
  • 4/14ers are the most ready and reachable “people group”. Children are a strategic part of mission efforts, the world’s ripest mission field

What we know is true is that children between the ages of 4-14 are incredibly receptive to the Gospel, regardless of where they live in the world. Since nearly 1 billion 4-14ers live in the 10-40 window, a strategic shift is in the making. If we truly want to reach the unreached, then the most strategic efforts lie in ministry to children within the 10-40 window.

Here are some more statistics for you:

  • Right now, only 15% of global missions giving goes to efforts reaching children
  • 60-80% of all responses to the gospel are made by children

It’s another injustice, right?

Knowledge is power and even missionaries working among the unreached are beginning to see these truths. If the children are reached for Christ, then entire nations can be changed in one generation. Not only is this possible, it’s already happening. My good friends Joel and Heidi Hayslip in Burkina Faso, West Africa have retooled their entire ministry to reach children. They have agressive plans in motion to preach the gospel to 1 million children before 2020. This is the effort of just one couple in this nation.

We all know that kids love kids. When teaching your kids about the unreached and God’s heart for the world, tell them about the kids in the 4-14 window. Tell them stories about kids just like them who live in a totally foreign culture. Get your kids paying for other kids and giving towards initiatives to reach them.

For more information on the 4-14 window, visit the official website here. You can read through a lot of material about efforts to engage the kids in this strategic window.