Areas of Service
We serve:
- Among the poor and marginalized people of the world (8 out of 10 of the poorest peoples live in the 10/40 window area)
- Cross-culturally — intentionally crossing cultural barriers so that both spiritual and physical needs may be met
- Alongside national churches which may need the resources of larger communities of believers
- Partnering with other agencies, networks, programs and people which are like minded for greater effectiveness
- In and through the the 10/40 Window. (We do stretch it a bit to include immigrants to other countries)
Arab World
Regional Profile
The Arab World includes 22 countries covering parts of two continents (Africa and Asia) and their islands – from Morocco in North Africa through the Arabian Peninsula.
Three of the world’s major religions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam have been birthed in this area. Holy sites for all three religions are found in these countries presently dominated by Islamic rule.
Arab refers to people who speak the Arabic language and adhere to an Arabic way of life. There are many differences among these people but they have a common bond of history, culture and tradition. Arab peoples love to read and hear their language.
These scenic countries have lovely seacoasts, rich costal plains and cool mountains, which vie with nearby deserts. Concerns include the environmental scarring due to wars and improper use of resources.
Service Focus
Opportunities in the Arab World include:
- Personnel for hospitals, particularly those that target specific diseases for which the local population is vulnerable
- Teachers both for local children and for expatriate children
- Environmental development
- Media – quality television programming for Christians and creative language videos, print materials and radio programming for people wanting to know about the Lord Jesus
- Partnering with other organizations to increase effective youth work
- Theological Education by Extension
- Church ministry
Prayer Focus
- Pray for the Christian minority, that they would be strong in their walk with the Lord and increase in numbers.
- Pray for creativity in developing meaningful media projects and good distribution of these materials
Service Opportunities
Central Asia
Regional Profile
Central Asia is a group of countries which achieved independence from the USSR in late 1991.
Most areas are arid or mountainous and do not support a large populations. The 50 + million people continue to be in economic and social crisis. Rising immorality and alcoholism creates a sense of despair.
Large Russian minorities throughout each of the countries contain many Christians mostly from Orthodox Christian traditions. However, more indigenous fellowships are being planted. Historically Islamic before communism, many people are searching for spirituality and are also turning to Islam with many new mosques being built. Other new religions are also finding a following.
Service Focus
Opportunities in Central Asia include:
- Educators both for expatriate children as well as local schools and universities
- Partnering with other organizations to increase effective student work
- English as a Foreign Language
- Medical and Dental educators and practitioners
- Nursing educators and practitioners
- Community development
- Business education
- Youth work
Prayer Focus
- Pray for the Christians to develop a strong sense of integrity so that they may be salt and light.
- Pray the young people that they would continue searching to find true spirituality.
Service Opportunities
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East Asia
Regional Profile
This area includes all of eastern Russia, China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan some small countries sandwiched between Russia and China, some countries on China’s southern border and all of the islands related to those countries. It includes high deserts, major river valleys and deltas and some of the highest mountain ranges in the world.
- Some areas are extremely overpopulated and other areas have a very low population density.
- The major religions of this area are Shamanism, Buddhism, and Taoism.
- In some areas Christians are persecuted but in other countries the church has freedom to worship openly.
Service Focus
Opportunities in East Asia include:
- Educators both for expatriate children as well as local schools and universities
- Partnering with other organizations to increase effective student work
- English as a Foreign Language
- Medical and Dental educators and practitioners
- Nursing educators and practitioners
- Community development
- Business education and development
- Creative and modernized literature and other media
Prayer Focus
Pray for the Christians to develop a strong sense of identity with Christ and a willingness to suffer.
- Pray that countries that now persecute Christians would relax their concerns and that the church would have freedom to worship openly.
- Pray that existing churches would develop a vision to reach out to serve other people groups near them.
Service Opportunities
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South Asia
Regional Profile
This area includes some of the most populous countries of the world with over a billion people.
More information about South Asia:
- Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism are the major religions with Christians being a small minority
- In some cases there has been an upswing in the number of cases of persecution of Christians
- Many of these countries are characterized by political unrest due to ethnic conflicts
Service Focus
Opportunities in South Asia include:
- Educators both for expatriate children as well as local schools and universities
- Partnering with other organizations to increase effective student work
- English as a Foreign Language
- Medical and Dental educators
- Nursing educators
- Community development and Micro-enterprise especially with marginalized peoples
Prayer Focus
- Pray for the Christians to develop a strong sense of integrity so that they may be salt and light.
- Pray the young people that they would continue searching to find true spirituality.
- Pray for unity among the believers.
- Pray to restore 4 properties to serve the poor and marginalized. Contact Satya C (country representative) for more information.
satyavir.chakrapani@interserveusa.org
Service Opportunities
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South East Asia
Regional Profile
The beautiful, tropical countries lying between the Indian and Pacific oceans vary in their level of development. Some are recovering from war; others have areas that have become tourist hot spots. Hundreds of people groups each with their own language fill these regions. Many suffer from poverty, injustice and great spiritual need. In some countries Buddhism predominates, in others Islam. Although in isolated areas the church has grown dramatically, Christians can face severe persecution.
Service Focus
Opportunities in South East Asia include:
- Partnerships with NGOs assisting at-risk children and women who have been trafficked, and AIDS victims
- Education
- Community development including agriculture, clean water and sanitation projects
- Business development
- Media and communications
- Training of medical professionals
Prayer Focus
- Pray for the growth of religious tolerance and the end of ethnic cleansing
- Pray for those suffering from the effects of natural disasters.
- Pray for freedom and for new opportunities for those who are trafficked or who are refugees
- Pray that believers will have courage, wisdom, and a vision for making plain the love of Jesus
Service Opportunities
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West Asia
Regional Profile
Known for its warm hospitality, West Asia once cradled the early church. This bucolic region has a strong agricultural sector, good infrastructure and growing urban centers. Though many are secularists, the majority religion is Islam. Christians are very scarce and few people have ever met one.
Conflict from nearby areas has caused an influx of 4.8 million refugees and created a grave humanitarian crisis which has strained local resources. There is opportunity for Christians to partner with local people to assist refugees and to bring a message of hope.
Service Focus
Opportunities in West Asia include:
- Business support and development, including web and IT
- Personal, marriage and family counseling
- Education, including special education, for international schools or for refugee children
- English teaching
- Community development
- Refugee work of all sorts
- Trauma recovery treatment
Prayer Focus
- Pray for hope and practical assistance for refugees
- Pray that those working with refugees will have resilience and creativity.
- Pray for government stability and for peace in the region.
- Pray for God to protect and nurture his church
- Pray for humility for Christian leaders and the ability to work together
Service Opportunities
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