[DESCRIPTION]

How one book impacted the nations

For over fifty years, Operation World—the first survey of the spiritual needs of every nation—has inspired Christians worldwide to pray for countries and peoples. But how did this expansive prayer resource come to be? In God’s World to Win, Patrick Johnstone shares his personal story—from bullied schoolboy with an undiagnosed learning disorder to global missions strategist. While some friends encouraged him to write his personal biography and others urged him to record the story of Operation World, Patrick chose to do both. Discover the story of how one of the world’s most transformative prayer tools was born.

Motivated by a passion for the nations and their evangelization, Patrick spent countless hours gathering hard-to-find statistics, mapping hidden people groups, and crafting prayer points that would equip millions to intercede with insight and purpose. His journey reveals how God worked through divine appointments and unexpected challenges.

God’s World to Win will encourage you to dream boldly and persevere in obedience as you consider how God might use your own gifts to bless the nations. [/DESCRIPTION] [SUBTITLE]The Story of Operation World[/SUBTITLE][CREDIT] Patrick Johnstone with Paul Hattaway [/CREDIT] [PAGES] 224 [/PAGES] [BINDING] Paperback [/BINDING] [PUBLISHER] William Carey Publishing [/PUBLISHER] [PUBLISHYEAR] 2026 [/PUBLISHYEAR] [ENDORSEMENT2]

What a captivating read! Under God, Patrick Johnstone, through his tireless traveling, speaking, and creation of Operation World, has stimulated tens of thousands (that’s no exaggeration) of believers around the world to pray more intelligently for the advance of the gospel in every country and every corner of the globe. We are deeply indebted to him. It is wonderful to read his life story and to feel something of the infectious spirit with which God has endowed this man. His material continues to be the surest means of informing the global church and any individual believer of how to pray for God's work in every nation under the sun. I couldn't put the book down. Read and be captivated yourself!

Dr. Lindsay BrownGeneral Secretary, IFES (1991–2007) International Director, Lausanne Movement (2008–2017) [/ENDORSEMENT2] [ENDORSEMENT3]

Operation World has been a force in God’s hands for over six decades, stimulating passionate prayer and disciple-making among least-reached peoples. God’s World to Win now gives us the back story. Patrick Johnstone shares his journey with compelling authenticity and demonstrates how a humble vision born in Africa has been used by God to mobilize millions across continents. His story has left me awed at what Jesus can do through a surrendered life. May his legacy inspire curious minds, informed intercession, and global teamwork for God’s glory among the nations!

Dean Carlson, DMinPresident, One ChallengeInternational Liaison, Movement for African National Initiatives [/ENDORSEMENT3] [ENDORSEMENT4]

Operation World was like a spark that stirred up the hearts of believers towards believing that the Great Commission was doable. It opened their eyes to the various dimensions of the Great Commission task and lit their paths to follow the multiple directions required to accomplish such an excellent task. God’s World to Win helps us to recognize the “hands” behind the scenes orchestrating the impact of Operation World right from that “spark,” the fanning into the flame, the fueling and the controlling of the spread. Starting from the “finger of the Lord of the Harvest,” the heart of the obedient servant of the Lord, the encouragement and involvement of several other servants of the Lord, and the hearts that caught the fire and started engaging in focused prayer and strategic engagement among the neediest sections of the Great Commission.

Reuben EzemaduInternational Director, Christian Missionary Foundation (CMF)Continental Coordinator, Movement for African National Initiatives (MANI) [/ENDORSEMENT4] [ENDORSEMENT5]

This fascinating story behind the book that has helped millions of Christians to pray meaningfully for the world also doubles as an inspiring autobiography of Patrick Johnstone. Reading this, we can glean many instructive principles on the Christian life, such as facing challenges and disagreements, involvement in mission, community living, and team dynamics. Along the way, we are introduced to some of the great people and movements that served to speed the work of reaching a lost world for Christ during a crucial period in the history of the church.

Ajith FernandoTeaching Director, Youth for Christ, Sri LankaAuthor, Discipling in a Multicultural World [/ENDORSEMENT5] [ENDORSEMENT6]

We simply cannot know, this side of eternity, the depth of the impact of Patrick Johnstone’s ministry through Operation World. I welcomed him to the very first 24-7 prayer room in Chichester, England, before anyone knew that a global movement was being born. In that encounter, I discovered that this statesman of the church was a humble servant of Jesus. He didn’t just talk about prayer; he was himself a man of prayer who carried a deep and compelling love for the nations and for the Lord Jesus Christ deep within his heart.

Pete GreigFounder, 24-7 Prayer International [/ENDORSEMENT6] [ENDORSEMENT7]

Many people want to change the world, but relatively few have actually done so. Patrick Johnstone, through his creation and stewardship of Operation World, is someone who has. Patrick and his incredible team showed me what God is doing to draw people from every nation to himself, and how I could play a role in his mission. Read this honest and compelling account of how the Lord has used an ordinary man with an extraordinary vision. It will help you to see God's world with fresh eyes.

Stan GuthrieAuthor, Missions in the Third Millennium and Victorious: Corrie ten Boom and The Hiding Place [/ENDORSEMENT7] [ENDORSEMENT8]

This is a fascinating account of how God’s people globally have been helped to pray great things for God’s global purpose. This is the story of a historic change in how God’s people pray. Left to ourselves, we pray for our own concerns. But there is tremendous dignity and joy knowing that God hears our voices along with many others. We have uttered prayers for distant lands and peoples, many times without knowing the names or places. But in the last few decades, Patrick Johnstone, along with his team, has given us specific names and numbers. This has enlarged our faith and brightened our hope: our God will fulfill what He has promised. Don’t read this book to merely pray more. Read this to pray greater.

Steven HawthorneLead Editor, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement [/ENDORSEMENT8] [ENDORSEMENT9]

Don’t miss this captivating story highlighting the origin and impact of Operation World and the prolific life of its author. Both Patrick and this book chronicle and have contributed to the Spirit-led explosion of prayer movements, an influx of new missionaries from Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and the harvest among previously unreached peoples over the last seventy years. In 1975, George Verwer, the late founder of Operation Mobilization, sent me an early edition of the book while my family and I were serving on OM’s first ship, the M.V. Logos. We devoured it. Four years later, Patrick and Jill, accompanied by their three children, joined our international ministry team as we conducted the first Operation World Conferences and sold thousands of Operation World books in over a dozen Asian port cities.

Dave HicksDirector, OM Ship LogosOM North America Area Coordinator, Bethany InternationalPresident, AlongsideASIA [/ENDORSEMENT9] [TOC]

A Word from Jason Mandryk xiii

Foreword by Paul Hattaway xvii

1. The Early Years 1

2. Meeting My Creator 7

3. Preparing for Service 11

4. Hitting the Ground Running—

Apartheid, Witchcraft, and Revival 15

5. Jill 23

6. Learning to Walk in the Spirit 27

7. 1964—The First Operation World 31

8. Rhodesia 37

9. The Long Path to Marriage 45

10. Married Life and Ministry 53

11. 1974—Operation World 2 61

12. Banishment 69

13. 1978—Operation World 3 75

14. Out of Africa 81

15. Life on the Ocean Waves 89

16. Burnout 97

17. A Research Team 105

18. A Mega-Shift at WEC 111

19. 1986—Operation World 4 119

20. The Decade of Harvest 125

21. The Lord Calls Jill Home 131

22. A Church for Every People by the Year 2000 137

23. 1993—Operation World 5 147

24. Robyn 153

25. The Tour from Hell 159

26. The Church Is Bigger than You Think 165

27. 2001—Operation World 6 171

28. Handover Time 177

29. The Future of the Global Church 185

30. Life Lessons 193

31. A World Still to Win 197

About the Authors 203

[/TOC]

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