WHY COMPEL
More than 3 billion people live and die without ever hearing the good news of Jesus. This isn’t just a statistic—it’s A spiritual crisis that demands A faithful, focused response.
The Problem
Jesus commanded His followers to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). While the global Church has taken this to heart in many regions, vast areas of the world still lack any access to the gospel.
Nearly half of the world’s population—approximately 3.38 billion people—are considered unreached, living in communities without believers, churches, or Christian resources. Most reside in the 10/40 Window, a region stretching from North Africa to Southeast Asia, where spiritual darkness, persecution, and government restrictions make gospel access incredibly difficult.
At the same time, 96 percent of Christian financial giving supports ministry among those who already have access to the gospel. As a result, the majority of global missions efforts are not reaching the unreached. In these regions, Western missionaries are often unable to live or serve due to political restrictions, economic instability, and the risk of persecution.
The Church must find a better way.
Why Compel?
Compel International has a proven track record of church planting among the unreached. Originally part of World Challenge, we became a separate ministry to focus exclusively on reaching those with no gospel access. That focus is bearing fruit.
In the past year alone, thousands have chosen to follow Jesus in difficult and dangerous contexts, and hundreds of new house churches have been planted. We now work in 36 countries and among 65 unreached people groups.
Our model is intentionally:
Low-dollar, high-impact – our largest partnerships average $30,000 per year, compared to $120,000+ for many Western missions.
Locally led – we invest in near-culture partners who are equipped to disciple their own communities.
Highly efficient – we emphasize sustainability, local ownership, and reproducibility.
What is the 10/40 Window?
The 10/40 Window refers to the rectangular region of the world between 10 and 40 degrees north of the equator, stretching from North Africa across the Middle East and into Asia. This area is home to the vast majority of the world’s unreached people groups—communities with little or no access to the gospel, where Christianity is often restricted or persecuted.
The Solution
We believe the most effective solution is to send out devoted Christ-followers from the nearest community of believers to live and serve among the unreached. These local leaders make disciples who make disciples, and plant churches that plant churches.
House churches are a practical and biblical model in places where public Christianity is restricted. These small, simple churches allow the gospel to flourish without attracting unwanted attention.
Near-culture believers—those who live nearby, speak a related language, or share cultural understanding—can access places where outsiders cannot. They begin ministering immediately, without needing years of preparation. This model is cost-effective, fast-moving, and fruitful.
At Compel International, we mobilize, train, and resource near-culture partners to plant churches in unreached communities. We believe that when the Church where it exists is equipped and mobilized, it can plant the Church where it doesn’t exist.
We also uphold rigorous accountability through regular reporting, leadership visits, and continual training. When persecution arises—and it often does—we stand with our partners, offering support, advocacy, and prayer.
Our work leads to transformation that is:
Transferable – adaptable to any context or culture
Sustainable – supported locally over time
Transformational – bringing holistic change to people and communities
Indigenous – resulting in churches that reflect their own culture, not Western forms
Why Now?
Every day, more than 60,000 people in the 10/40 Window die without Christ. This cannot wait. Gospel witness is illegal or suppressed in many of these places, but like Peter and John in Acts 4, we cannot remain silent.
We believe that God is already at work among the unreached. Though they have not yet heard the gospel, He is stirring spiritual hunger and preparing hearts. Local leaders are ready to go—they simply need our partnership.
Missionary pioneer William Carey once said, “I’ll go down the hole, if you’ll hold the rope.” At Compel, we and our partners are willing to go. Will you hold the rope?