Operation World

Name: Operation World
Brand: InterVarsity Press

by InterVarsity Press

Religious_studiesGrades 4–12

About This Curriculum

A comprehensive prayer handbook providing information on most countries including their spiritual, economic, and geographical status, with emphasis on religious views and spiritual needs to help Christians understand various cultures and pray effectively for missions.

What makes it unique: The definitive global prayer handbook that has been used by more than a million Christians to pray for the nations, combining detailed country information with specific prayer points for missions mobilization.

Operation World: Missions-Focused Prayer and Cultural Resource

Operation World is a comprehensive prayer handbook that provides spiritual, economic, and geographical information about countries worldwide, emphasizing religious demographics and spiritual needs to help Christians understand various cultures and pray for missions. A child-friendly version called 'Window on the World' adapts this content for younger learners through personal accounts and visual elements.

Best for

Homeschool families and Christian educators seeking a supplemental resource for missions education, family devotions, and cultural awareness rather than systematic religious studies instruction

Evaluation Criteria

3 concerns · 2 neutral · 1 insufficient evidence

Teacher TrainingConcern

No evidence of teacher training or professional development materials provided with this resource.

Reviews describe the content and format but make no mention of teacher guides, training materials, or instructional support

Direct InstructionConcern

Appears to be primarily an informational resource rather than a structured curriculum with direct instruction components.

Described as 'a handbook of information' and 'appropriate for reading at meal times or incorporating into geography studies' suggesting independent reading rather than structured lessons

Primary Text EngagementConcern

Limited engagement with primary religious texts as the focus is on demographic data and cultural information rather than sacred texts themselves.

The curriculum provides information 'on religious views and spiritual needs' and 'what percentages of each country's population belong to which religions' but does not mention direct study of religious texts

Historical ContextNeutral

Some historical context appears to be provided through geographical and cultural background information.

The resource 'gives economic and geographical information to help us understand the situations of various peoples' and has been 'updated with new pictures, correct sociological data'

Theological KnowledgeNeutral

Provides basic information about world religions but appears to focus more on demographics than systematic theological understanding.

The book 'tells what percentages of each country's population belong to which religions' and includes 'six discussions of major world religions' but emphasis is on statistical rather than doctrinal content

Vocabulary BuildingInsufficient Evidence

Insufficient evidence to determine whether religious and theological vocabulary is explicitly taught.

Reviews focus on cultural information and prayer topics but do not mention specific attention to religious terminology or vocabulary instruction

Sources: cathyduffyreviews.com, ethicsandculture.com