Our church has had the opportunity to be involved in sending a family on multiple short-term trips to Ecuador in the past year. Through their faithful effort, we have learned more about the work of Gospel and about the continued need for the Gospel. Ecuador has been in the news in recent days following what seems to have been an attempted coup last week.

Spain holds over 39 million people, yet this population is projected to decline in coming years. Like the rest of Europe, increased secularism has led to a decline in the birth rate of this once strongly Catholic nation. Catholicism is still considered the official religion, and equality for others (Jews, Muslims, Evangelicals) was only granted in 1992. 40-50% of the Catholic population are considered inactive, so while religion seems to be a strong force, it is often in number only. Once a country of religious discrimination, secularism now prevails.

Often when we think of countries that are effective for the Gospel we only think of ones that define themselves as Christians. How could a country that only claims 15% of its population as believers be a place of key ministry training for leaders in other countries? Singapore is one of the world’s wealthiest countries. Located on the southern tip of Malaysia, Singapore has nearly 4 million people packed on this large island (and several smaller ones). The rest of Singapore’s population are Buddhist (majority), Muslim, non-religious, or other religions.