After nearly 20 years of steady decline, the share of Americans who identify as Christians shows signs of leveling off, according to a recent 2025 Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults. Yet, across many regions of the world, such as Africa, Asia and Latin America, Christianity continues to grow at unprecedented rates with a projected global faith population of nearly 3 billion by the year 2050.
The growth of Christianity is notably strong in countries with higher population growth rates.
According to Global Christian Relief, “The growth of Christianity is notably strong in countries with higher population growth rates and in regions where the faith is newer and often embraced by the youth.”
At the same time, millions of people still live in places where the gospel has not yet been widely shared, and where Christianity is illegal or effectively banned, making it dangerous or impossible to share the good news.
Understanding what Christianity looks like today beyond of much of the Western world helps believers see both the progress of the gospel and the opportunities that still exist for Christian missions worldwide, particularly in regions where access to scripture and Christian teaching remains limited or restricted.
Nearly half the world’s population may not have opportunities to hear the meaningful message of Christ.
Globally, the Church is far from stagnant. Today, there are more than 8 billion people on earth, and an estimated 3.42 billion live in so-called "unreached people groups" with little or no access to the gospel of Jesus Christ. That means nearly half the world’s population may not have opportunities to hear the meaningful message of Christ. For Christians who care about the the mandate that Jesus left us with, this reality highlights why global Christian missions activity remains so important.
Yet despite these challenges, the gospel continues to spread through churches, missionaries, and ministries serving around the world. One of the most significant opportunities in Christian cross-cultural missions is reaching children.
"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
There are an estimated 2 billion children in the world today, making them one of the largest and most significant mission fields. Some Christians mistakenly believe that children are too young to understand or accept the gospel message, but Jesus reminds us that we must “become like little children” in order to enter the kingdom of God (Matthew 18:2). He also declared, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these (Matthew 19:14).”
Children are often open to learning about God’s word and understanding the message of salvation. When they hear the gospel clearly, it can influence their lives—and extends to the lives of their families.
That is why ministries focused on child evangelism play such an important role in global missions. Particularly in regions where formal religious instruction may be limited, inconsistent, or restricted by government policy.
Organizations such as ours, Child Evangelism Fellowship®, work in more than 190 countries, partnering with local believers to share the message of Christ with children in age-appropriate and culturally sensitive ways.
Even in environments where public evangelism is restricted... relational and grassroots approaches often open doors for long-term spiritual engagement.
In many parts of the world, these efforts are carried out in simple but powerful ways, utilizing after-school programs, Bible clubs, and training local leaders who can faithfully teach children in their own communities. Even in environments where public evangelism is restricted, like India or the Middle East, these relational and grassroots approaches often open doors for long-term spiritual engagement.
The story of Christianity in new contexts is still being written. In of these contexts, the Church is growing. In others, believers are working faithfully in difficult circumstances to share the message of Christ.
The gospel continues to transform lives across every culture, language and generation.
What remains clear is that the gospel continues to transform lives across every culture, language and generation. And as ministries work toward the goal of reaching every child with the good news, believers everywhere have the opportunity to be part of something far bigger than themselves, a global movement that spans borders and outlasts generations.
Because the mission of the Church has always been global. And the next generation is waiting to hear.
Fred Pry is the Vice President of Administration at Child Evangelism Fellowship® (CEF®), the most impactful child evangelism ministry in the world, reaching over 27.4 million children with its face-to-face ministry in 2024. Fred joined CEF in 2003 as director of a local chapter in Pennsylvania before being appointed state director of Virginia. Later, he was invited to lead USA Ministries, and since 2024, he has been serving in the role of Vice President of Administration and providing further leadership to the organization as one of CEF’s executive staff.
CEF® has wonderful devotionals for children, including the “Every Day with God” series and the “Wonder Devotional Books.” To learn more, visit cefpress.com.
