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10/40 WindowThe 10/40 Window refers to countries located between 10° and 40° north of the equator. These countries generally make up northern Africa, the Middle East, India (and neighboring countries), Southeast Asia, and southern China. (The Western Hemisphere is not included within the purview of this term.) The 10/40 Window is considered the most unevangelized region in the world. Within this area are 865 million Muslims, 550 million Hindus, 275 million Buddhists, and 150 million Chinese. Only 8% of missionary workers minister in these regions, and only $5 of every $10,000 for missionary work are spent in this Window. The governments in many of these countries have sought to bar Christian missionaries and to greatly restrict the religious freedoms of national Christians. The reigning religious cultures in these countries are also very antagonistic towards Christianity – even violently so in some cases. Though American missionaries are not permitted to emigrate to many of these countries, there are national pastors who are faithfully serving Christ and seeking to build His Church in these hostile environments. There is little opportunity for seminary level training for these men and women. However, there are some programs which have been and are being developed by seminaries in the USA whereby these Christian leaders can attend short-term modular Bible courses in their own countries. Qualified teachers are able to enter these countries under visitor visas for a few weeks at a time. In some cases the students are able to earn accredited seminary degrees; in other situations, the attendees receive certificates of course completion. |
Ted teaching the Bible 
Bible Student working on a test |
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Ted & Marla AllstonTed and Marla both grew up in South Carolina and both were raised in Christian homes. Ted spent the first two decades of his life in coastal Charleston. As a college student he decided to experience the things of the world, but found them to be vain in bringing true happiness and purpose to life. Ted gave his heart and life to Christ in 1973. Shortly after he earned a BS in biology at the College of Charleston, Ted enrolled at Bob Jones University where he earned a BS in secondary education followed by an M.A. in Bible. It was during those university years that Ted and Marla met. Marla was raised in Greenville, where her parents worked at BJU. She graduated from Bob Jones Academy and the University. Having been saved at a very young age, Marla had the desire from her childhood to serve the Lord full-time. When Marla was in high school, her father became the pastor of Hampton Park Baptist Church in Greenville. Ted and Marla were married in 1979. Believing the Lord would have them teach God’s Word in West Africa, the couple became missionaries to Togo in 1987 and served there for the next eleven years. Returning to Greenville for their three sons’ education, the Allstons had the intent of returning to Togo someday. Ted became an assistant pastor at Hampton Park Baptist Church during those intervening years. However, rather than return to Togo, the Lord led Ted into the ministry of modular teaching in "closed" countries. The Allstons joined EMU International in 2008.
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Ted & Marla Allston |
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