Asia Church Planting Priorities

West Asia

South Asia

Southeast Asia

China

East Asia

Tel Aviv

Mumbai

Yangon

Beijing

Seoul

Dubai

New Delhi

Phnom Penh

Shanghai

Manila

Colombo

Kuala Lumpur

Guangzhou/H.K.

Tokyo

Dacca

Jakarta

Nanjing

Ho Chi Minh City

Dalian Ulaanbaatar

Tel Aviv, Israel

Tel Aviv has become the gateway city to the Middle Eastern region, especially for European and African immigrants. Its financial opportunities and varied ethnic demographics make Tel Aviv a strategic city for God’s Kingdom. From here, Jewish and Muslim Palestinian populations could be reached all over the region. Yet, since the formation of Israel in 1947, not much has been done in this city for the Lord. There are only small bodies of believers in Tel Aviv. One of these, a small church made up of African immigrants, is asking for help in outreach and church planting. For additional information: Wikipedia article on Tel Aviv MRN’s Israel Nationscan contains many resources for further study.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Due to the huge cultural differences and even hostility toward conversion to any other religion, the Muslim World is largely untouched by the Christian mission. As the most populous city in the Persian Gulf region, Dubai is very strategic in reaching the Muslim World. With its commercial and business opportunities, vocational missions or business as missions would be ideal in this unchurched city. Successful outreach into the Muslim world may indeed begin in Dubai. There is a small body of believers meeting in this city, but much more needs to be done. For additional information: Wikipedia article on United Arab Emirates MRN’s United Arab Emirates Nationscan contains many resources for further study.

Mumbai, India

With India on the rise as a strategically important world power, the Gateway City of India, Mumbai, must be a high priority to the Kingdom of God. India is the world’s second largest nation, but not for long. It is poised to overtake China in the next decade as the most populous country on the earth. This necessitates greater attention to India for the Kingdom. Mumbai is of vital importance in reaching India’s millions with the Gospel. Its influence and impact on the country as a whole cannot be ignored. The church is growing in Mumbai, but more efforts are needed in light of its booming population and economic importance. For additional information: Wikipedia article on Mumbai MRN’s India Nationscan contains many resources for further study.

New Delhi, India

The subcontinent of India is still largely unreached with the gospel of Jesus. The Hindu majority of India (82%) resists conversion attempts, and has even tried to pass anti-conversion legislation in parliament. The Muslim minority (12%, which makes India the second largest Muslim country in the world) is vocal and strong. The Christian population of India (3%) is dominated by the Roman Catholic Church, but boasts a long history of Protestant work and a modern trend of growing Pentecostal groups. The churches of Christ have been active in India for about 50 years, but have primarily focused their work in only one (Andhra Pradesh) of the 28 states. Though many preachers have gone to India in recent decades for short evangelistic campaigns, only a handful of missionaries from churches of Christ have actually lived there since 1960. Delhi is the key to reaching the unreached northern areas of India. It is the center of the Muslim influence which pinnacled four centuries ago, and is the western edge of the Ganges Valley, home to 33% of the one billion Indians and the heart of Hindu India. Its political influence as the nation’s capital adds to its strategic importance for the church to have a launching point from this city. For additional information: Wikipedia article on New Delhi MRN’s India Nationscan contains many resources for further study.

Colombo, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, part of the South Asian cultural region, is often neglected in evangelistic outreach, overlooked in part to its proximity to India and because there has been a recent history of civil strife between the Sinhalese and Tamil populations of the country. Colombo, the capital and most influential city in the country, is in great need of a new influx of a witness for Jesus. Sri Lanka is the heart of Buddhism in South Asia, and is one of the most devastated regions from the tsunami of December, 2005. Buddhism has been irrelevant to a growing population and modernizing culture, and has not helped as people continue looking for spiritual answers to life’s difficulties and crises. This, coupled

with the aftermath of the tsunami (and the wonderful Christian response to the disaster), has prepared Sri Lankan people to be receptive to the Gospel of Christ. Colombo is the most important place in reaching the people of this country for Jesus. There are small churches in Colombo, but a new evangelistic spirit and more efforts are needed. For additional information: Wikipedia article on Sri Lanka MRN’s Sri Lanka Nationscan contains many resources for further study.

Dhaka, Bangladesh

For additional information: Wikipedia article on Dhaka MRN’s Bangladesh Nationscan contains many resources for further study.

Yangon, Myanmar (Burma)

Myanmar has had its share of political strife recently, making it more difficult for the church to openly propagate the Christian faith. However, due to economic as well as religious poverty, the Burmese people are open to the saving grace of Christ. Yangon, formerly Rangoon, is the cultural and political epicenter of Myanmar and therefore, key in reaching this remote area of Asia. Situated between Thailand and India, Myanmar has a great need for more Kingdom work. Yangon is the city that is strategic to this area of unreached people. Having a stronghold for the Lord in Yangon could mean even greater work throughout Myanmar, Laos, Northern Thailand, Bangladesh, and Northeast India. The church there is small and starving for training and an evangelistic boost. For additional information: Wikipedia article on Yangon MRN’s Myanmar Nationscan contains many resources for further study.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

For additional information: Wikipedia article on Phnom Penh MRN’s Cambodia Nationscan contains many resources for further study.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

For additional information: Wikipedia article on Kuala Lumpur MRN’s Malaysia Nationscan contains many resources for further study.

Jakarta, Indonesia

For additional information: Wikipedia article on Jakarta MRN’s Indonesia Nationscan contains many resources for further study.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

For additional information: Wikipedia article on Ho Chi Minh City MRN’s Vietnam Nationscan contains many resources for further study.

Beijing, China

For additional information: Wikipedia article on Beijing MRN’s China Nationscan contains many resources for further study.

Shanghai, China

One of the largest cities in the world, the sprawling metropolis of Shanghai is a world class city in a traditionally communist country. The largest and most modern of all the cities of China, Shanghai becomes the launching point to the rest of China. A strong work in Shanghai is vital to the huge populations situated along the eastern and central corridors of the largest country in the world. House churches exist and are growing, but much more needs to be done. Leadership training, evangelism, and church planting are necessary in the very near future. For additional information: Wikipedia article on Shanghai MRN’s China Nationscan contains many resources for further study.

Guangzhou/Hong Kong, China

For additional information: Wikipedia article on Guangzhou Wikipedia article on Hong Kong MRN’s China Nationscan contains many resources for further study.

Nanjing, China

Nanjing has been an important city in China throughout its long history. It served as the national capital at different times, even during the twentieth century. It is very influential to the country as a whole, located in the center of the masses of China’s population. Nanjing needs workers for its harvest. The Kingdom of God needs a strong city in the heart of China. Nanjing is the city that would fill that need. There are house churches in Nanjing, but much more work is needed immediately. For additional information: Wikipedia article on Nanjing MRN’s China Nationscan contains many resources for further study.

Dalian, China

For additional information: Wikipedia article on Dalian MRN’s China Nationscan contains many resources for further study.

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Mongolia is very isolated from the rest of the world, surrounded by Russia’s Siberia and the People’s Republic of China. It is a rugged area with harsh climates and a lack of development. Ulaanbaatar, the capital and only major city, is struggling to develop a modern urban infrastructure for its growing population. A few Christians live in this remote city, but very little has been done to reach the masses. Ulaanbaatar would be significant in reaching Mongolia, but also important in reaching southern Siberia, northern China, and even Kazakhstan and beyond. For additional information: Wikipedia article on Ulaanbaatar MRN’s Mongolia Nationscan contains many resources for further study.

Seoul, South Korea

For additional information: Wikipedia article on Seoul MRN’s South Korea Nationscan contains many resources for further study.

Manila, Philippines

The overcrowded, yet thriving city that is Metro Manila demands attention in order to reach Lausanne island, the Philippines and Southeast Asia. Since World War II, Manila has been vital to American interest in Asia. It also holds great interest to the Lord’s church in reaching the region with the message of Christ. Its huge population of over ten million, placing it in the category of the world’s mega-cities, is challenging. With only ten small congregations in the metro area, there is much to be done within. Yet, the Filipino Christians are also beginning to look outward. They sense their place in God’s work of reaching Asia. They are in need of being empowered and mobilized. Manila is strategic in reaching out to other areas of East Asia. It is open, receptive, and its people are interested in serving others throughout the region. Just north of Manila is Taiwan and China; west of Manila is Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos; south of Manila is Malaysia and Indonesia. Manila is the centerpiece in a strategy for reaching East Asia and Southeast Asia.

For additional information: Wikipedia article on Manila MRN’s Philippine Nationscan contains many resources for further study.

Tokyo, Japan

For additional information: Wikipedia article on Tokyo MRN’s Japan Nationscan contains many resources for further study.