How does East-West decide where to go next?

East-West has a presence in 48 different countries around the world, and we're often asked the question, "How do you choose which nations to go to?" Today, we'd like to offer a "peek behind the curtain" of how our leaders determine which nations to go to next.

Vision

East-West's vision is to glorify God by multiplying followers of Jesus in the world's spiritually darkest places. This vision guides our leadership in every decision, especially which nations to go to.

They begin by looking at the world through the lens of spiritual darkness. Where is the gospel unheard of or unwelcome? By doing research, East-West leaders are able to see where the unreached and restricted access areas of the world are.

Prayer

Prayer is a foundational strategy for East-West and, therefore, for our leadership. Once the research has been done, our executive and strategy leaders pray--alone and together--for the Lord to lead them to the right places and to a spirit of unity. They will pray over people groups, nations, and each other.

Discussion

After a time of prayer, the leaders then gather to discuss where they have felt the leading of the Lord. They will go through the people groups, nations, and whatever else they were shown in their research or prayer time. It is through this discussion time that they find clarity and peace about pursuing strategies in new nations or among new people groups.

Strategy

Once the leadership determines where to go, they start dreaming. They think up strategies and ideas for ministry among the people in these spiritually dark areas, then they begin to shape what they want the ministry to look like in just a few years--which nations, how many missionaries, and where they may be most effective. That is how ministry strategy is born at East-West.

Open Doors

Once the decisions are made, we can begin looking for open doors and partnerships in those areas. However, we remain open to other places as well because we know that the Lord sometimes likes to surprise His people with His plans for them.

"In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps." -Proverbs 16:9

Choosing where to go is a big decision that our leadership does not take lightly. Through the steps you see above, they seek the Lord for His guidance and direction through prayer and through each other as well as through new opportunities and partnerships that God brings to us.