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[edit] North America

North America is bordered on all sides by ocean, covering about 24.5 million square kilometers (9.5 million square miles), or about 16% of the world. It is the third largest continent after Asia and Africa, and with some 515 million people it has the fourth largest population. It has access to enormous natural resources, although its economy has been transitioning into one that is dominated more by services than by manufacturing.

North America's only land connection is to South America at the narrow Isthmus of Panama. For the purposes of this survey, the area from Mexico south is considered Central America, part of South America. Greenland, a Danish self-governing island, is part of North America geographically; Bermuda is considered part geopolitically given its historical political and cultural ties to the continent.

With 314 million people, North America is the fifth most populous region in the world. It is growing slowly; by 2025 it is projected to reach 388 million. Most of the population is urban, and it is growing more urbanized every day.

North Americas share a strong common cultural identity although it is made up of a diverse number of ethnic groups. The three dominant cultures include white Euro-Americans (making up two-thirds of the continent), as well as Hispanics and African-Americans. Asians and Middle Eastern cultures together make up nearly 10% of the region, and are found in significant concentrations particularly on the coasts. Over 240 languages are spoken in North America, although the most prevalent are English, Spanish and French (the latter having been historically significant and still strong in certain regions, particularly Canada and Louisiana).

North America is the world's wealthiest region, but the region's share of global wealth is in decline with the rise of China and India's economies. Nevertheless the region has been blessed with riches, small percentages of which trickle into missions. The average per person giving of 3% equates to billions of dollars for evangelism and cross-cultural work.

In spite of North America's wealth, extreme poverty, crime, drug use, and diseases such as HIV/AIDS can be found. AIDS is not widespread; there are perhaps 1 million living with the disease, most of whom are adults.

Historically, Christianity first came to the region with European colonists in the 1600s. The Americas were colonized for nearly two centuries, but the United States declared independence in the late 1700s. In the 1800s several missions movements were launched; the late 1800s were notable for the beginnings of the Student Volunteer Movement and related plans to evangelize the world (which brought considerable activity but didn't achieve their goals). The impact of two world wars, the Cold War with the Soviet Union, the civil rights issues and social revolutions of the 1960s, the liberalization of the 1970s, the commercialism of the 1980s, and the technological revolutions of the 1990s all left their mark on the region. In the 1990s once again an attempt to evangelize the world was a strong influence but once again failed in its overall goal.

Today over 80% of the region's people would consider themselves Christians, but apathy and nominalism are widespread. Over 15% of professing believers are not affiliated with any church and do not attend services on a regular basis. About 12% of the region considers itself non-religious. Although the numbers of Christians are increasing in nearly every country, their share of the overall population is declining. It is unlikely that the majority role of Christianity in the region will be lost any time soon, but the growing numbers of non-religious, disaffiliated, unaffiliated, and minority non-Christians is steadily eroding its presence. Minorities present in North America often remain culturally isolated and unreached by the Gospel.

Despite this, North America continues to be a strong mission sending force. Over 70,000 missionaries are sent out by Protestants and Independents, and a nearly equal number of Catholic missionariesare sent through their various orders and societies. Although there are growing problems with American missionariesin various parts of the world (largely due to the political trends America faces today), those working in partnerships with Africans, Asians and Latins are part of significant ministries in the unreached world. Along with agencies, the impact of affluent megachurches (such as Saddleback's PEACE Plan) are beginning to have a significant impact on missions.

[edit] Christianity in North America

Name	P ‘00	P ‘25	C ‘00	%	C ‘25	%	75-00	00-25	Issues affecting the future
Bermuda	0.1	0.1	0.1	91%	0.1	87%	+ -	+ -
Canada	30.7	37.8	23.9	78%	27.8	74%	+ -	+ -
Greenland	0.1	0.1	0.1	96%	0.1	95%	+ -	+ -
Saint Pierre & Miquelon	0.0	0.0	0.0	95%	0.0	92%	- -	+ -
USA	284.2	350.1	239.4	84%	287.2	82%	+ -	+ -