Unreached People Groups
Prayer Series (1) |
Ghana
profile
Ghana, the closest landmark to the centre of the world, is located on the west coast of Africa. Population: 24,658,823 (2010 census). Tema, the industrial city, which is adjunct to Accra, the capital city of Ghana, is on the Greenwich Meridian (zero line of longitude). Ghana is bounded on the north by Burkina Faso, on the west by Cote d’lvoire, on the east by Togo and on the south by the Gulf of Guinea.
The major languages spoken are Twi, Fante, Ga, Hausa, Dagbani, Ewe and Nzema; however, English is the official language of Ghana.
past & present of Christianity
The Basel / Presbyterian and Wesleyan / Methodist missionaries laid the foundation for the Christian church in Ghana in the nineteenth century.
Today, 63.4% of the population are Christians, out of which 24.2% are Evangelicals. Ghana has the highest percentage of Christians in West Africa, but practicing traditional animist religions is still extremely common.
Southern Ghana is predominantly “Christian,” though largely nominal. Outside Accra and a few other major cities, the majority of people live in small villages, where African traditional religions dominate and Islam is increasing.
particulars
Most villages in Ghana lack clean drinking water, basic sanitation, hospitals and quality education.
More help is needed especially in the northern parts where girl-child education remains very poor.
prayer
Thank God for blessing Ghana with a huge Christian population, may God’s love be brought to the needy villagers and children through the willing helping hands of Christians.
Pray that every Christian in Ghana will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to live out a Christ-centred life.
Photo︰
http://focusonghana.com/gallery/details.php?image_id=1&sessionid=852ed8c949d8a1da8f15a0666429f9e7
Sources：
http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/burundi.htm
http://www.burundiembassy-usa.org/
http://www.joshuaproject.net/countries.php
http://www.africaw.com/major-problems-facing-burundi-today
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/
Prayer Series (2) |
Pray for Burundi
profile
Burundi is located in east-central Africa’s Great Lakes region, with its capital set in Bujumbura. The country is densely populated with ca. 9 million people (2011); Hutus and Tutsis are the two main ethnic groups.
The official languages are Kirundi and French, while Swahili is the trade language.
past & present of Christianity
Formal Anglican structures (as opposed to missionary work) in Burundi were established around 1935.
Today, the majority of Burundians are Christians.
The Catholic Church is the majority church, while the two largest non-Catholic groups are Anglicans and Pentecostals.
particulars
Burundi is among the top ten poorest countries in the world today. According to the UNDP report, about 84.5% of the Burundian population live in extreme poverty.
Burundi is still trying to rebuild from the damages done in the decade-long (1993 to 2005) tribal bloodshed between the major ethnic groups Hutus and the Tutsis which resulted in over 250,000 deaths.
Most children in Burundi have lost either one or both parents to either HIV/AIDS or war. Burundi is one of the most HIV/AIDS heavily affected countries in Africa.
prayer
Pray for the effectiveness of disarmament programmes, many of which are run by church bodies.
Pray for the lasting peace only the gospel can bring.
Prayer Series (2) |
Pray for Ethiopia
profile
Ethiopia, the oldest independent country in Africa, is situated on the Horn of Africa.
It is the second most populated country in Africa, with a population of 86.5 million (UN, 2012). Addis Ababa is the capital and the largest city.
The nation is home to nearly 80 ethnic groups of which the Amhara and the Oromo constitute the majority.
The official language is Amharic. Other major spoken languages are Oromo, Tigrinya and Somali.
past & present of Christianity
Christianity emerged in Ethiopia in the mid-4th century.
Today, ca.60% of the population are Christians, out of which ca.13% are Evangelicals. Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity remains the faith of a very large proportion of Ethiopians.
Christianity is predominant in the north, while Muslims mainly reside in the southern regions.
particulars
The nation has been suffering from unfolding thread of food insecurity since 1980.
Ethiopia remains one of the poorest countries in the world. Almost two-thirds of its people are illiterate.
prayer
May the country’s resources be no longer accumulating in the hands of a few.
Pray for spiritual growth of Christians who will live out the teaching of Jesus Christ in the midst of difficult time for God’s glory.
Sources︰
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13349399
Photo：
http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/ethiopia.htm
http://www.ethiopia.gov.et/English/Information/Pages/EthiopiaOverview.aspx
http://www.joshuaproject.net/countries.php?rog3=ET
http://worldinfo.org/2012/01/famine-in-ethiopia/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13349398
http://www.globalprn.com/prayer-for-the-nations/africa/ethiopia/
Prayer Series (2) |
Comoros
profile
Comoros has had a turbulent history with some 20 coups since declaring independence from France in 1975.
Geographically, it comprises four islands; but politically it comprises three – Mayotte is not a member of the Union but is a quasi-overseas department of France.
Population: ca. 800,000. Official languages: Arabic, French and Comorian.
past & present of Christianity
A referendum passed in May 2009, installing Islam to be the state religion and thus infringing seriously upon freedom of religion.
The penal code prohibits proselytizing for any religion except Islam. Any converts from Islam to Christianity can be prosecuted in court. Anyhow, there are a few thousand Christians.
Muslim background believers have to operate in underground fellowships. Only expatriates are allowed to operate churches in the country.
particulars
Until 1973, Comoros was almost completely unevangellized. Even the vast majority of the population are Muslims, most are involved in occult practices through witchcraft, curses and spirit possession.
Young people face a very high unemployment rate (45%). It is the consequence of inadequate economic growth and many constraints faced by enterprises such as high energy costs, the poor state of infrastructure, and high taxes. The public sector is, for the time being, the chief provider of jobs in the Comoros.
prayer
Pray for courage for those choosing to follow Jesus, and wisdom for all who walk out their faith in this hostile atmosphere.
Pray that people in Comoros will have opportunities to hear the gospel of life that offers hope to all.
Prayer Series (2) |
Djibouti
profile
Djibouti is a country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast.
It has a population of ca. 800,000 (2011) with different ethnic groups: Somalis (60%), Afars (35%), Ethiopians, Arab, French, and Italian (5%).
The official languages are Arabic & French, but Somali & Afar are also widely used.
past & present of Christianity
Religions: Muslim 94%, Christian 6%.
Several fanatical Muslim organizations persecute the small Christian community in Djibouti despite governmental guarantees of religious freedom. Christians must meet discreetly for fear of terrorism.
The church in Djibouti is isolated and needs solid doctrinal training.
particulars
Water is in short supply and food production is negligible. Half the urban population has no reticulated water supply, and those who do receive supply, it lasts only a few hours a day.
Electricity is very expensive and only very few households receive (often interrupted) supply.
prayer
Several evangelical fellowships exist among the immigrant groups – Ethiopia, Eritrea, Madagascar and DRCongo. Many of these congregations share a strong spiritual burden to reach the Somali and Afar peoples.
Pray that they may be relevant and effective in their witness. Pray that their own reconciliation and unity made possible in Christ might be a witness to the divided and hostile peoples of Djibouti.
Prayer Series (2) |
Kenya
profile
Located in East Africa, Kenya is bordered by Somalia, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania and the Indian Ocean. It has a population of 42.7 million (UN, 2012), with Nairobi as the capital.
Kenya is home to people of many different ethnic origins. About two-thirds belong to Kikuyu, Luhya, and Kamba; while other peoples include Kalenjin, Luo, Maasai, Turkana, and Mijikenda.
The official language is English, with Swahili widely spoken.
past & present of Christianity
Located in East Africa, Kenya is bordered by Somalia, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania and the Indian Ocean. It has a population of 42.7 million (UN, 2012), with Nairobi as the capital.
Kenya is home to people of many different ethnic origins. About two-thirds belong to Kikuyu, Luhya, and Kamba; while other peoples include Kalenjin, Luo, Maasai, Turkana, and Mijikenda.
The official language is English, with Swahili widely spoken.
particulars
Diversified ethnic groups was a source of conflict and violence which followed the disputed presidential election in 2007.
Although youth education, especially girl-child education, has been helping to break the cycle of new HIV/AIDS infections, about 1.5 million HIV/AIDS cases were recorded in 2009 with about 80,000 deaths in the same year.
Kibera, the biggest slum in Africa, lies in Nairobi. There are ca. 2.5 million slum dwellers in about 200 settlements in Nairobi, representing 60% of the Nairobi population but occupying just 6% of the land. Kibera houses almost 1 million of these people.
prayer
May number and spirituality of Christians keep growing.
May peace and love be found among different ethnic groups.
Photo︰
http://www.flickr.com/photos/islascomores/4668764636/in/photostream
資料來源：
http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/comoros.htm
http://www.comorosembassy.org/
http://www.persecution.net/comoros.htm
http://www.afdb.org/en/countries/east-africa/comoros/
http://www.globaldayofprayer.com/country.php?country=253#prayer
Prayer Series (2) |
Eritrea
profile
Eritrea is located in Eastern Africa in the Horn of Africa, to the North of Ethiopia and is bordering the Red Sea in northeast. Its capital and largest city is Asmara.
Its population of 6 million people is made up of Tigrinya (55%), Tigre (30%) and some other smaller ethnic groups.
The major languages spoken are Tigrinya, Arabic, and English.
past & present of Christianity
Religions: Muslim 50.26%, Christian 47.31%, Non-Religious 1.87%, Ethno-Religionist 0.56%.
The overwhelming majority of Eritrean Christians are Orthodox. Before independence they came under the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. The Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church became autocephalous in 1994, with the help of the Coptic Orthodox Church. Catholic and Protestant presence dates from the 19th and 20th century.
More recently, some Pentecostal and Evangelical groups have entered the country.
particulars
In 1993, in a referendum supported by Ethiopia, the Eritrean people voted almost unanimously in favour of independence. Tensions with Ethiopia remained, and border conflicts in 1998 led to a war which ended in 2000 under UN auspices. Eritrea’s economy has suffered from the war, and the country is facing major problems of poverty.
A 2002 government ruling banned all religious groups from meeting and practicing their faith without official recognition. While recognition was granted only to Sunni Islam, Eritrean Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Evangelical Lutheran groups, many Eritreans were affected, especially Christians belonging to non-approved groups.
prayer
For restoration of basic human rights and religious freedom to all Eritreans.
For the helping helps extended from local and overseas Christians alike, may the severe poverty ordeal be alleviated.
Prayer Series (2) |
Madagascar
profile
Madagascar is the world’s fourth largest island, measuring 1,600 km from north to south. It is about 400 km off the coast of Mozambique, southern east of Africa. The capital city is Antananarivo.
Amongst the population of 21.3 million (UN, 2011), there are 18 Malagasy tribes, speaking both Malagasy and French.
It is recognized as one of the world’s top ten hotspots for biodiversity. However, it is also one of the world’s poorest nations.
past & present of Christianity
Religions: indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%.
Protestant churches have a glorious history of faith despite persecution by heathen rulers and harassment by the French Catholic colonial authorities. It grew from 5,000 in 1861 to 1 million in 1900. There have been significant revival movements within the larger churches in 1895, 1941, 1948, and during the 1980s.
Many Malagasy villages have never heard the news of Jesus’ love and forgiveness. The Malagasy Tankarana (40,000) are Muslims and have never been reached, nor have the Chinese and Indian minorities. Several people groups, including the Tsimihety (550,000), are largely unreached.
particulars
The World Bank has estimated that 70% of Malagasy live on less than US$1 per day. Many areas suffer food shortages.
An estimated 1 million people are diabetic, but only about half of them know it. Finding the other half presents a major challenge as 80 percent of the population live in rural areas where very few people have ever heard of this chronic and potentially deadly disease.
prayer
For the end of Madagascar’s protracted political crisis.
May local authority facilitate all necessary means to procure enough insulin for all patients.
Prayer Series (3) |
Malawi
profile
Malawi is a small, landlocked country in southeast Africa. It is bordered by Mozambique on the east and southwest, by Tanzania on the north and northeast, and by Zambia on the west and northwest.
It has a population of ca. 15.4 million (UN, 2011), with rural population accounts for 85%. Most of the people are subsistence farmers or workers on large plantations.
60% of the population speak Chewa (Nyanja), 5% speak Yao, and 30% speak Arabic. The language of government, industry, and commerce is English.
past & present of Christianity
Jesuit missionaries from Portugal visited the territory near Lake Nyasa in the seventeenth century, but the lake probably was not known to Europeans until David Livingstone reached its shores in 1859.
Following David Livingstone’s appeal to other missionaries to come and fight the slave trade in Central and East Africa, the first missionary expedition of the Universities Mission to Central Africa (UMCA) arrived in Malawi in 1861. However, it was not until 1875 that the first permanent mission station was established at Cape Maclear on Lake Malawi by the Free Church of Scotland.
Today, while 55% of the population belong to the Church of England, there are also Methodists and Baptists.
particulars
It is one of the least developed countries with very low life expectancy. Two thirds of the population live below the national poverty line and more than one in five people live in ultra poverty – unable to afford basic minimum food requirements.
Population growth, fertility, maternal and child mortality rates are among the highest in Africa and 46% of children under the age of five are chronically malnourished.
prayer
For the alleviation of extreme poverty which hampers development not only in the financial sense but also in terms of education, AIDS prevention, family life and even effective ministry and discipleship.
For leaders in Malawi, most of whom are church members, to act with wisdom, humility and long-term planning on biblical principles.
Prayer Series (3) |
auritius
profile
A total of 2,046 square kilometers of land cover Mauritius. These include the island of Mauritius, the island of Rodrigues, the small Agalega Islands, and the Cargados Carajos Shoals in the western Indian Ocean.
It has a population of 1.3 million (UN, 2011), with Port Louis as the capital.
There is no official language in Mauritius. Government and administrative work is written in English. The press uses French, which is understood by more of the population than English. The majority of people also understand a French-based Creole language.
past & present of Christianity
Lazarist Fathers began the evangelization of Mauritius in 1722, which they carried on for nearly a century. Anglicans first entered Mauritius in 1810 and continue to be the largest portion of the non-Catholic Christian community. Eglise Réformée Indépendante de I’lle Maurice (LMS) began in Mauritius in 1814, a work which is now incorporated into the Church of Scotland.
The Christian population today in Mauritius is 32.2% (Roman Catholic 23.6% & Evangelical 8.6%) (2000 census)
particulars
Mauritius has a reputation for stability and racial harmony among its mixed population of Asians, Europeans and Africans, helping the country become one of Africa’s most prosperous economies.
With 48% Hindu population and strong impact made by Hinduism, it is difficult for the local people to become Christians.
prayer
For spiritual growth of all Christians in the country.
For bold and Christ-centered witness of Christians in this multi-ethnic and multi-religious land.
Prayer Series (3) |
Mayotte
profile
Mayotte was ceded to France along with other islands of the Comoros group in 1843. While many African countries were fighting for independence, the people of Mayotte resisted separation from France. When the three other islands in the Comoros archipelago became independent in 1975, Mayotte remained part of France. Today, Mayotte is France’s fifth overseas department.
It has a population of ca. 200,000 (July 2011 est.), with Mamoudzou as its capital.
Although French is the official language, only about 50% of the population can read or write it. The most widely spoken language is Shimaore.
past & present of Christianity
It is a predominantly Muslim country, with only less than 2% Christian population.
Although there is religious freedom and direct evangelism is permitted, response to the gospel has been very slow and most converts have returned to Islam.
particulars
France has invested a great deal of money in Mayotte, and people are able to have free education and affordable medical care.
Many people, except the strictest Muslims, look to spirits (djinns) to help with everyday needs or crises. There is a great deal of fear of these spirits, and misfortune is often attributed to a djinn being angry.
prayer
The name Mayotte means “place of death”, pray that it may become a place of living in Christ.
For an approach to evangelism that is culturally appropriate yet effective, and for a great emphasis on discipling converts.
Photo︰
http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/comoros.htm
Sources：
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mf.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7970450.stm
http://www.joshuaproject.net/countries.php?rog3=MF
http://test.operationworld.org/mayo
http://www.operationworld.org/country/mayo/owtext.html
Prayer Series (3) |
Mozambique
profile
Malawi is a small, landlocked country in southeast Africa. It is bordered by Mozambique on the east and southwest, by Tanzania on the north and northeast, and by Zambia on the west and northwest.
It has a population of ca. 15.4 million (UN, 2011), with rural population accounts for 85%. Most of the people are subsistence farmers or workers on large plantations.
60% of the population speak Chewa (Nyanja), 5% speak Yao, and 30% speak Arabic. The language of government, industry, and commerce is English.
past & present of Christianity
Jesuit missionaries from Portugal visited the territory near Lake Nyasa in the seventeenth century, but the lake probably was not known to Europeans until David Livingstone reached its shores in 1859.
Following David Livingstone’s appeal to other missionaries to come and fight the slave trade in Central and East Africa, the first missionary expedition of the Universities Mission to Central Africa (UMCA) arrived in Malawi in 1861. However, it was not until 1875 that the first permanent mission station was established at Cape Maclear on Lake Malawi by the Free Church of Scotland.
Today, while 55% of the population belong to the Church of England, there are also Methodists and Baptists.
particulars
It is one of the least developed countries with very low life expectancy. Two thirds of the population live below the national poverty line and more than one in five people live in ultra poverty – unable to afford basic minimum food requirements.
Population growth, fertility, maternal and child mortality rates are among the highest in Africa and 46% of children under the age of five are chronically malnourished.
prayer
For the alleviation of extreme poverty which hampers development not only in the financial sense but also in terms of education, AIDS prevention, family life and even effective ministry and discipleship.
For leaders in Malawi, most of whom are church members, to act with wisdom, humility and long-term planning on biblical principles.
Sources：
http://www.embamoc-usa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=70&Itemid=72
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mz.html
http://www.africanexecutive.com/modules/magazine/articles.php?article=192
http://www.sim.org/index.php/country/MZ
http://www.joshuaproject.net/countries.php?rog3=MZ
http://www.operationworld.org/country/moza/owtext.html
http://www.unaids.org/en/regionscountries/countries/mozambique/
Prayer Series (3) |
Réunion
profile
Malawi is a small, landlocked country in southeast Africa. It is bordered by Mozambique on the east and southwest, by Tanzania on the north and northeast, and by Zambia on the west and northwest.
It has a population of ca. 15.4 million (UN, 2011), with rural population accounts for 85%. Most of the people are subsistence farmers or workers on large plantations.
60% of the population speak Chewa (Nyanja), 5% speak Yao, and 30% speak Arabic. The language of government, industry, and commerce is English.
past & present of Christianity
Jesuit missionaries from Portugal visited the territory near Lake Nyasa in the seventeenth century, but the lake probably was not known to Europeans until David Livingstone reached its shores in 1859.
Following David Livingstone’s appeal to other missionaries to come and fight the slave trade in Central and East Africa, the first missionary expedition of the Universities Mission to Central Africa (UMCA) arrived in Malawi in 1861. However, it was not until 1875 that the first permanent mission station was established at Cape Maclear on Lake Malawi by the Free Church of Scotland.
Today, while 55% of the population belong to the Church of England, there are also Methodists and Baptists.
particulars
It is one of the least developed countries with very low life expectancy. Two thirds of the population live below the national poverty line and more than one in five people live in ultra poverty – unable to afford basic minimum food requirements.
Population growth, fertility, maternal and child mortality rates are among the highest in Africa and 46% of children under the age of five are chronically malnourished.
prayer
For the alleviation of extreme poverty which hampers development not only in the financial sense but also in terms of education, AIDS prevention, family life and even effective ministry and discipleship.
For leaders in Malawi, most of whom are church members, to act with wisdom, humility and long-term planning on biblical principles.
Photo︰
http://m.jourdan974.free.fr/index_eng.htm#
Sources：
http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com/lounge/facts-about-reunion-island-2806.html
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/500226/Reunion
http://www.reunionisland.fr/history.html
http://www.sim.org/index.php/country/RE
http://www.everyculture.com/No-Sa/Reunion-Island.html
Prayer Series (3) |
Rwanda
profile
It is located near Central Africa, south of the Equator at the Great Lakes region, and east of Democratic Republic of the Congo.
With Kigali as its capital, the country’s population is estimated to be over 11 million (July, 2012), including three ethnic groups: Hutu 85%, Tutsi 14%, and Twa 1%.
After 6 April 1994, when the plane carrying the President (a Hutu) was shot down, a genocide initiated by Hutu extremists took place – over 1 million Tutsi people were killed in a matter of weeks. Even thousands of Hutu were murdered as they opposed the killing campaign.
past & present of Christianity
Religions: Christian 93.5%, Muslim 4.6%.
Catholic was the first to establish their mission station in 1900, followed by German Lutherans’ work began in 1908.
In the 1930s, a revival which began within the Anglican Church in Gahini became one of the most important movements of spiritual renewal throughout East African.
Catholic continues to be the church of most Rwandans. On the one hand, the Anglicans have benefitted from the new Anglophone regime, whose leaders were educated in Uganda and were often members of the Anglican Church of Uganda. On the other hand, new Pentecostal churches are growing fast.
particulars
Thousands of children were abducted and forcibly trained as child soldiers for wars. Even the government is actively working alongside NGOs to aid in the recovery of these children, there are certain harsh realities in Rwanda that add further complexities to reintegration. For example, job opportunities are often scarce, and few employment opportunities mean the former child soldiers are very likely to suffer from lacking of food and shelter.
In August 2012, World Vision-Rwanda has organized a meeting in Gashora, calling on young people to take up leadership positions, and advocating building capacity of the young generation so that they can play a role in transforming the society for the better.
prayer
For the efficiency and efficacy of all programmes that aim to help ex-child-soldiers to reintegrate into society.
All Christians would value their spiritual identity in Christ over their ethnic identity on earth, living as peace ambassadors by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit at all times.
Photo︰
http://www.gendercide.org/case_rwanda.html
Sources：
http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/rwanda.htm
http://www.unitedhumanrights.org/genocide/genocide_in_rwanda.htm
http://www.dacb.org/history/rwanda-briefhistory.htm
http://www.gendercide.org/case_rwanda.htmlhttp://www.childsoldierrelief.org/region/africa/rwanda/reintegrating-child-soldiers-in-rwanda-poses-challenges%E2%80%A6/
http://www.newtimes.co.rw/news/index.php?i=15085&a=57116
Prayer Series (3) |
Seychelles
profile
Malawi is a small, landlocked country in southeast Africa. It is bordered by Mozambique on the east and southwest, by Tanzania on the north and northeast, and by Zambia on the west and northwest.
It has a population of ca. 15.4 million (UN, 2011), with rural population accounts for 85%. Most of the people are subsistence farmers or workers on large plantations.
60% of the population speak Chewa (Nyanja), 5% speak Yao, and 30% speak Arabic. The language of government, industry, and commerce is English.
past & present of Christianity
Jesuit missionaries from Portugal visited the territory near Lake Nyasa in the seventeenth century, but the lake probably was not known to Europeans until David Livingstone reached its shores in 1859.
Following David Livingstone’s appeal to other missionaries to come and fight the slave trade in Central and East Africa, the first missionary expedition of the Universities Mission to Central Africa (UMCA) arrived in Malawi in 1861. However, it was not until 1875 that the first permanent mission station was established at Cape Maclear on Lake Malawi by the Free Church of Scotland.
Today, while 55% of the population belong to the Church of England, there are also Methodists and Baptists.
particulars
It is one of the least developed countries with very low life expectancy. Two thirds of the population live below the national poverty line and more than one in five people live in ultra poverty – unable to afford basic minimum food requirements.
Population growth, fertility, maternal and child mortality rates are among the highest in Africa and 46% of children under the age of five are chronically malnourished.
prayer
For the alleviation of extreme poverty which hampers development not only in the financial sense but also in terms of education, AIDS prevention, family life and even effective ministry and discipleship.
For leaders in Malawi, most of whom are church members, to act with wisdom, humility and long-term planning on biblical principles.
Photo︰
http://twistedsifter.com/2011/07/visit-seychelles-pictures-info/
Sources：
http://www.seychellesislands.org/
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/country-profile/sub-saharan-africa/seychelles/?profile=today
http://www.seychellesconnect.com/about_seychelles/religion.php
http://news.shta.sc/nz-content/num030/general/item1.php
Prayer Series (4) |
Angola
profile
Angola – the largest Portuguese-speaking country in Africa – is located in South-western Africa. It is bordered on the west by the Atlantic Ocean and shares borders with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zambia and Namibia.
Capital: Luanda
Population: Ca. 18.9 million (UN 2010)
Language: Portuguese (official), Bantu and local African languages.
Religion: 65% of the population are Roman Catholics, 18% are Protestants
past & present of Christianity
The first Protestant mission to arrive was the British Baptists who opened a mission at São Salvador among the Bakongo of northern Angola in 1878.
Brethren missionaries have worked among the Chokwe and Lunda of the northeast since 1884.
The Bakongo have become the most Christianized people in Angola (in 1960, 55.8% Catholic and 42.7% Protestant) with only 1.5% remaining traditionalist.
Nowadays, there are hardly any Protestants in southwestern Angola as Protestant activity was actually prohibited in the Kwanyama area along the southern border from 1914 to 1960.
particulars
Angola’s civil war represented one of several Cold War proxy battles with the Soviets. The USSR and Cuba supported the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and the United States supported the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA).
After the devastating 27-year civil war ended in 2002, the government began to redirect vast sums of oil revenue, previously channeled to the military, to the challenging process of rebuilding the country and its infrastructure.
prayer
For true and eternal peace of the country made only possible by hearing the gospel and accepting Jesus Christ as the Lord of the nation.
Sources：
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/country-profile/sub-saharan-africa/angola?profile=geography
http://www.joshuaproject.net/countries.php?rog3=AO
http://www.sim.org/index.php/country/AO
http://www.angola-today.com/politics-and-economy/government-politics-angola/
Prayer Series (4) |
Somalia
profile
Somalia is located in the east coast of Africa and north of the Equator. Together with Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, and Kenya, the area is often referred to as the Horn of Africa.
Capital: Mogadishu
Population: ca. 10 million (July 2012) with mainly the people group of Somalis.
Languages: Somali (official), Arabic, Italian and English.
Religion: Over 99% of the population is Muslim.
past & present of Christianity
The Swedish Overseas Lutheran Mission, the first Christian mission expedition arrived at Kismayo portal town in 1880s and setup a mission station there. Soon they expanded their mission work to Margarita (Jamame) Mugambo and Alexandra (Jilib) and other places. They started clinics and schools as well as a church. The church grew tremendously. Few decades later there was a church with hundreds of Somali members.
In 1969 when president Mohamed Siad Barre’s Socialist Military government came to power, they confiscated all the properties owned by the Christian missions and churches including the schools and clinics. Some of the missions and church organizations were also expelled from the country.
In 1991, Muslim fundamentalist organizations become stronger and more powerful to persecute the Somali Christians. Over a thousand Somali Christian adults were killed. Many were wounded and either became refugee to other countries.
particulars
Somali Christians are despised and heavily persecuted, even martyred, but are also growing in faith and in vision. Burdened for their country, they are leading more boldly and will clearly not just disappear.
96% of women in Somali undergo one of the most cruel and degrading customary practice – female circumcision. Recent years, the new constitution of Somalia announced a measure to ban on the female genital mutilation.
prayer
For the less than 0.3 % Christian population, may they be empowered to live as Jesus Christ’s faithful ambassadors in the midst of adverse circumstances.
For the ban on practicing female circumcision. By means of legislation, education, and awareness-raising programme, may this brutal act soon come to an end.
Photo︰
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/press/release.cfm?id=5854&cat=press-release
Sources：
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2863.htmhttp://www.somalimission.org/en/articles/9-the-persecuted-christian-church-in-somalia.html
http://www.operationworld.org/soma
http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2012/aug/17/female-genital-mutilation-banned-somalia
Prayer Series (4) |
Zimbabwe
profile
It is a landlocked country located in central southern Africa, bordering by Mozambique, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia.
Capital City: Harare.
Its population is estimated to be about 12.7 million (2012).
Ethnic Groups: Shona 76%, Ndebele 18%, others 6%.
Religions: Christianity 77%, ethnic religions 21%, and Muslim 0.7%.
Languages: English (official), Shona, and various dialects.
past & present of Christianity
Jesuit missionaries from Portugal visited the territory near Lake Nyasa in the seventeenth century, but the lake probably was not known to Europeans until David Livingstone reached its shores in 1859.
Following David Livingstone’s appeal to other missionaries to come and fight the slave trade in Central and East Africa, the first missionary expedition of the Universities Mission to Central Africa (UMCA) arrived in Malawi in 1861. However, it was not until 1875 that the first permanent mission station was established at Cape Maclear on Lake Malawi by the Free Church of Scotland.
Today, while 55% of the population belong to the Church of England, there are also Methodists and Baptists.
particulars
It is one of the least developed countries with very low life expectancy. Two thirds of the population live below the national poverty line and more than one in five people live in ultra poverty – unable to afford basic minimum food requirements.
Population growth, fertility, maternal and child mortality rates are among the highest in Africa and 46% of children under the age of five are chronically malnourished.
prayer
For the alleviation of extreme poverty which hampers development not only in the financial sense but also in terms of education, AIDS prevention, family life and even effective ministry and discipleship.
For leaders in Malawi, most of whom are church members, to act with wisdom, humility and long-term planning on biblical principles.
Photo︰
http://www.uspg.org.uk/archive.php?article_id=493
Sources：
http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/zimbabwe.htm
http://www.joshuaproject.net/countries.php?rog3=ZI
http://www.everyculture.com/To-Z/Zimbabwe.html
http://www.victoriafalls-guide.net/zimbabwe-religion.html
http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2005/51503.htm
Prayer Series (5) |
Cameroon
profile
Cameroon is located in Central West Africa. It is bound by Equatorial Guinea to the southwest, Gabon to the south, Congo to the southeast, the Central African Republic to the east, Chad to the northeast, Nigeria to the northwest and the Gulf of Guinea to the west.
Capital: Yaoundé
Religions: Christian 54.4%, Muslim 23.3%, indigenous beliefs 21.3%
Population: 20,469,000 (UN 2012)
People groups: Cameroon Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu 19%, Kirdi 11%, Fulani 10%, Northwestern Bantu 8%, Eastern Nigritic 7%, other African 13%, non-African less than 1%
Languages: The official languages are French and English, with French being the dominant. However, some 80 major African languages are spoken by the diverse ethnic tribal groups.
Prior to the area becoming a German protectorate in 1884, each people group had its own system of government. After World War I, 80% of the country came under French rule and the remainder (mostly in the west and northwest) under British control. Independence was gained in 1960.
past & present of Christianity
The first Christian missionaries to reach Cameroon were from the London Baptist Missionary society (LBMS) (1845). The Baptists along with the Quakers and Methodists were the heart of the British Abolitionist Movement – a Christian effort aiming to end slave trade.
In post-independence era, the main religious groups among the Protestants in Cameroon are the Baptist Convention, the Presbyterians, Lutherans and the Evangelic Church.
Today, Christians are concentrated primarily in the southern and western regions but Muslims and Christians are found in every region. Large cities have significant populations of both groups. The two Anglophone regions of the western part of the country are largely Protestant, and the Francophone regions of the southern and western areas are mostly Catholic.
particulars
Islam is becoming more and more radical in Cameroon.
Some Islamic publications and radio programs are openly attacking the Bible and Christianity.
prayer
Even though Christianity is the dominate religion nation-wide in Cameroon, it is suffering from theological liberalism, nominalism divisions and syncretism. May local Christians be strengthened in the spirit to meet the challenge of Islam.
Photo︰
http://www.baptistseminary.edu/blog/alumnus-spotlight-dan-seely
Sources：
http://www.atlapedia.com/online/countries/cameroon.htm
http://www.joshuaproject.net/countries.php?rog3=CMhttp://www.wycliffe.net/world/tabid/65/Default.aspx?continent=AFR&country=CMhttp://histclo.com/country/afr/cam/act/rel/car-miss.htmlhttp://fonnsostan.webs.com/cameroonchurchhistory.htm
http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2010_5/168393.htm
http://www.30-days.net/muslims/muslims-in/africa-west/cameroon-culture/
Prayer Series (5) |
Uganda
profile
Uganda, long known as the “Pearl of Africa”, is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda; with Kampala as its capital.
Population: ca. 35.6 million (UN 2012). The largest ethnic group is Baganda, representing one-fifth of the total national population.
English is the official language of Uganda, but Luganda and Swahili are also widely spoken.
past & present of Christianity
Today, almost 85% of the population are Christians, out of which 31.4% are Evangelicals.
Christian missionaries first arrived during the colonial period in 1877. In the early 1930s a breakaway group of Anglican missionaries together with several Ugandans initiated the Balokole (a Luganda word meaning “The Saved People”) Revival, giving birth to several Pentecostal and Evangelical churches in and around the country.
Independent churches have blossomed since 1962; however, Anglicans constitute the largest group among Protestants.
particulars
Uganda is one of the world’s poorest countries. With high level corruption in Uganda, most donor countries have cut aid to the country, further worsening poverty issues.
Strong broad-based partnerships among government and churches have contributed to a decline in Uganda’s AIDS cases, from 25% in 1992 to below 5% in 2012.
prayer
Pray that more churches will join hands to fight AIDS, helping not only AIDS patients but also caring for AIDS orphans.
Pray that Ugandan government leaders will rule the country with wisdom and fairness, striving to continue their effort in its fight against corruption.
Photo︰
http://www.safari-in-uganda.com/en/safariafrika-attractions/cities/kampala-2-92
Sources：
http://www.operationworld.org/ugan
http://www.joshuaproject.net/countries.php?rog3=UGhttps://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ug.html
http://www.leadershipmagazine.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&layout=item&id=261&Itemid=194
http://www.ugandapicks.com/2011/12/poverty-in-uganda.html
Prayer Series (5) |
Chad
profile
Chad is a landlocked country located in North Central Africa. It is bounded by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest and Niger to the West.
Population: 11.2 million (2010 World Bank est.)
Capital: N’Djamena
Religions: Islam (which predominates in the north), Christianity (which predominates in the south) and indigenous beliefs are also practiced.
Languages: French and Arabic are official, but local languages are also widely spoken (Sara in the south; Ouadi and Toubon in the north).
The Republic of Chad gained its independence from France on August 11, 1960. Since independence, however, Chad has known mostly unrest, instability, civil war, and numerous coups.
past & present of Christianity
Protestants first came to southern Chad in the 1920s. American Baptists were the first. While missionaries arrived with their wives and children, they often spent their entire lives in the region. Some missionary children from this era later founded missions of their own.
Bible translation is being carried out by a number of expatriate and Chadian translators from a variety of organizations. Most of the completed translations are in southern languages, but there are a growing number of northern and central groups among whom translation projects have been started.
particulars
Due to its geographic location, violence in neighboring countries easily spread to Chad, making Chad one of the few unstable countries in Africa today. Political and ethnic violence are very common, with women and children often being the target groups.
A major hindrance to accessing the Scriptures is a very low literacy level, particularly in rural areas. With few people able to read well, translators and evangelists are turning more and more to oral methods of transmitting the gospel.
prayer
May the gospel reach and transform not only Chad, but also her neighboring countries, bringing everlasting peace to this region at large.
About half of Chad’s language groups still need Bible to be translated into their heart languages. May all translation teams be blessed with wisdom from on high to get these seminal projects done.
Photo︰
http://www.wycliffenextgen.com/profiles/blogs/kenga-new-testament-sent-for-p
Sources：
http://www.atlapedia.com/online/countries/chad.htm
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/country-profile/sub-saharan-africa/chad/
http://www.africaw.com/major-problems-facing-chad-today
http://countrystudies.us/chad/29.htm
http://www.wycliffe.net/world/tabid/65/Default.aspx?continent=AFR&country=CD
Prayer Series (5) |
Tanzania
profile
Tanzania was formed by the union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar in 1964 after achieving independence from Britain. The country is bordered on the south by Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique; on the west by Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, and Rwanda; on the north by Uganda and Kenya; and on the east by the Indian Ocean.
It is the largest country in East Africa and its national capital is Dodoma.
Population: ca. 47.6 million (UN 2012) with more than 150 ethnic groups.
Religions: Christian 52.6%, Muslim 29%, Ethnic Religions 16.4%.
Official languages: Kiswahili and English.
past & present of Christianity
The United Missionary Church of Africa was the first Anglican society beginning on Zanzibar in 1864 and moving to the mainland in 1875. Later on, missionaries of Africa Inland Mission and American Mennonites also arrived in 1908 and 1934 respectively.
There is continuous growth of evangelicals in Tanzania, from 2.4 million (9.2%) in 1990 to 8 million (17.9%) in 2010.
Lutherans are the largest Protestant denomination in the country.
particulars
Many areas require development assistance – schools, universities, hospitals, roads, drinking water and agriculture. Rapid urbanization and endemic corruption intensify the problems of poverty.
Recently, more Christians facing increased persecution by Muslim extremists in Tanzania. Many Christians have lost churches, homes, cars and livestock in a series of recent attacks, and some have received physical injuries.
prayer
Pray for more church-planting movements among the unreached groups in the southern and coastal regions.
Pray for spiritual and physical protection for local Christians who are living amidst Muslim extremists.
Photo︰
http://www.thetravelword.com/2010/12/14/holidays-celebrations-and-festivals-in-tanzania
Sources：
http://www.joshuaproject.net/countries.php?rog3=TZ
http://www.operationworld.org/country/tanz/owtext.html
http://www.blackchristiannews.com/news/2012/10/christians-in-tanzania-under-increased-persecution.html
http://www.sim.co.uk/where_we_work/africa/tanzania/
http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/192979.pdf
http://www.sim.org/index.php/country/TZ
代禱系列（第5部） |
剛果共和國
概況
剛果共和國橫跨於赤道，位處非洲中西部，以烏班吉河為界，接壤剛果民主共和國。
首都︰布拉柴維爾。
人口︰約4,000,000 （2012年聯合國估算）。
族群︰以15個班圖族群為主，其中共有超過70分支。另有為數少於100,000的俾格米人，他們與班圖族並沒有種族關係。
宗教︰基督教(廣義)92.4%、民間信仰 4.5%、穆斯林1.2%。
語言︰法語（官方）、林加拉語及曼枯圖巴語（廣泛通行），以及基剛果語、桑戈語、拉里語和維利語。
基督教的
過去與現在
瑞典行道會於1909年首先於國內開始宣教工作，同樣來自瑞典的浸信會宣教士則於1921年開始在北部傳福音。自1947年起，挪威行道會宣教士也在北部另一地區開展福音工作。
今天，剛果福音教會是全國最大的基督教教會，並在迅速地增長。
除了剛果福音教會外，國內亦有其他教會，如︰救世軍、信義宗、五旬宗，以及其他福音派教會。
關注點
「剛果共和國」於1960年脫離法國獨立，鄰邦為「剛果民主共和國」（前稱薩伊），外界易於把兩者混淆。
剛果共和國擁有豐富沿海資源，是非洲首批原油生產國之一。雖然擁有石油和咖啡等出口產品，但所得收入卻沒有令國民受惠；大部份農村地區人口仍過著自給自足的農耕生活。
代禱
國家的貧窮與不穩不但中斷和破壞長期福音事工，甚至迫使不少基督徒領袖離國。願教會致力維繫建基於聖經真理的合一；願國家能保持長期穩定，以致培訓領導和福音事工皆能順利推展。
照片來源︰
http://kids.britannica.com/elementary/art-88567/People-attend-a-church-in-Brazzaville
資料來源：
http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/congo_roc.htm
http://www.joshuaproject.net/countries.php?rog3=CF
http://www.oikoumene.org/gr/member-churches/regions/africa/congo-brazzaville.html
http://www.learn-french-help.com/information-on-republic-of-congo.html
http://www.operationworld.org/conz
Prayer Series (5) |
Central African Republic
profile
Central African Republic (CAR) is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It borders Chad in the north, Sudan in the northeast, South Sudan in the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Congo in the south, and Cameroon in the west.
Capital: Bangui
Religions: Christianity 74% (Evangelical 34%), Muslim 14%, indigenous beliefs 11%.
Population: 5,057,208 (July 2012 est.)
People groups: Baya 33%, Banda 27%, Mandjia 13%, Sara 10%, Mboum 7%, M’Baka 4%, Yakoma 4%, other 2%
Languages: French is the official language, and Sango (lingua franca). There are more than 80 people groups with their own languages.
CAR was the former French colony of Ubangi-Shari, and there was no sense of a common culture among the indigenous peoples. After independence in 1960, CAR has been suffered from three tumultuous decades of misrule – mostly by military governments – civilian rule was established in 1993 and lasted for one decade.
past & present of Christianity
Protestant work began in January 1921, when Baptist Mid-Missions personnel arrived in Rafia to work among the Azande people. That same year, the Grace Brethren International Mission began its own work, followed by the Lutherans, then Swedish Baptists and Swiss Pentecostals.
Of more than 80 ethnic groups, only seven people groups have been identified with less than 20% of the population having any affiliation with a Christian church. There is very little work among the Arabs and the Hausa.
An influx of Muslims from neighboring countries call for clear sharing of Jesus’ compelling love and salvation.
particulars
The CAR possesses considerable agricultural, water and mineral resources. But corruption is rife, according to the IMF, and affects the timber and diamond industries.
Illegal weapons proliferate across the CAR, the legacy of years of unrest. Armed groups are active in the volatile north. The unrest has displaced tens of thousands of Central Africans; many of them have crossed the border into Chad.
It is one of the least developed countries. According to the UN Human’s Development Index, the ranking of the CAR is 179 out of 187 countries (as of 2011).
prayer
Widespread nominalism and syncretism. The huge numbers of unaffiliated Christians reflect this, and even within most churches there is little depth of commitment and limited grasp and application of the truths of Scripture.
The failure to make discipleship a top priority also means that high moral standards and honesty are frequently lacking in the churches. Pray that increased emphasis on disciple-making might yield Christians of high moral fiber.
Photo︰
http://lutheranpartners.org/about-us/lpgms-history
Sources：
http://www.joshuaproject.net/countries.php?rog3=CT
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ct.html
http://www.sim.org/index.php/country/CF
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13150040
http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/CAF.html
http://www.operationworld.org/cent
Prayer Series (5) |
Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC]
profile
The DRC lies in the middle of Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world. Its size is as large as Britain, France, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Denmark, Portugal, Switzerland, Armenia, Spain, Albania and Italy combined.
People groups: There are more than 200 tribes. The 4 largest tribes are the Mongo, Luba, Kongo, and Mangbetu-Azonde.
Languages: The official language is French; however, there are as much as 700+ local languages and dialects spoken in the country.
Population: ca. 73,599,190 (July 2012 est.)
Capital: Kinshasa
Religions: Christianity 92.4% (Roman Catholic 43.9%, Protestant 24.8%, Independent 23.1%), ethnic religions 4.8%, Islam 1.6%.
The DRC is, per square mile, the most resource-rich country in the world. It contains 2/3 of the world’s remaining rainforests, and is home to 80% of the world’s columbite-tantalite, i.e. coltan reserves (coltan is a vital component for cell phones and other high tech equipment). In spite of the DRC’s vast resources, it is one of the poorest countries in the world. The resources have often been called the curse of the DRC, as it’s the source of a series of external and internal conflicts.
past & present of Christianity
Protestant missionaries have been active since 1878. Upon the country’s independence in 1960, there were some forty-six Protestant missionary groups, mainly coming from North America, Britain, and Scandinavia.
Protestant missionaries provided health and education services for decades with no subsidies from the Belgian colonial administration which exclusively supported Catholic services until 1946.
With the union of the sixty plus missionary-founded church bodies in 1969, the Church of Christ of Congo (Eglise du Christ au Congo – ECC) became the largest French-speaking Protestant Church in the world.
particulars
Much of the conflict in the DRC has been fueled by the desire to gain control over Congo’s vast resources. Since the conflict between the Congolese army and neighbouring armed forces began in 1998, rape has become a weapon of war. It was out of this that an international coalition of 13 like-minded Christian organisations was established to end the silence, pain and stigma faced by the innumerable survivors of sexual violence.
With so many soldiers committed rape with impunity, civilian men have been imitating them.
In recent years, increasingly more minors are being sexually violated, including more and more civilians perpetrating these crimes within their own community, and, family.
prayer
Not only are many rape victims ostracized by their parents, husbands and community, they are even blamed for what has happened to them. Pray for their comfort and peace of mind that can only be received from the love of Jesus Christ.
Pray for the active involvement of global churches to help the immense number of sexual violence victims through prayer, financial support, and most important of all – bringing them the gospel.
Sources：
http://www.discoveringafricanetwork.com/drcongo.html
http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Africa/Congo-Democratic-Republic-of-The.html
http://www.joshuaproject.net/countries.php
http://www.photius.com/countries/congo_democratic_republic_
of_the/society/congo_democratic_republic_of_the_society_protestant_churches.html
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/fighting.sexual.violence.in.the.democratic.republic.of.congo/29243.htm
http://lokoleyacongo.wordpress.com/tag/political-stance-of-congo-protestant-leadership/
http://www.healafrica.org/learn/history-of-the-congo/
Prayer Series (5) |
Zambia
profile
Zambia is a landlocked state located in southern Africa. It shares borders with Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. Zambia was once a former British colony and attained independence in 1964.
Capital City: Lusaka.
Population: 13,884,000 (UN, 2012) of which 44% reside in urban areas, making the country one of the most highly urbanized in sub-Saharan Africa. Bemba is the dominant ethnic group, accounting for about one-fifth of the total population.
Religions: Christian 85.6%, Ethnic Religions 11.9%
Languages: English (official). Other main local languages spoken are Bemba, Nyanja and Tonga.
past & present of Christianity
The first mission to settle in Zambia was the Plymouth Brethren who reached Lealui to work among the Lozis in December 1882.
The London Missionary Society (LMS) was the first to establish a mission station based at Niamikolo in 1885, followed by the Primitive Methodists, the Paris Evangelical Mission and the Presbyterians. After independence in 1965, these four mission societies merged their works and formed the United Church of Zambia.
After Frederick Chiluba (a Pentecostal Christian) became President and declared Zambia a Christian nation in 1991, Pentecostal congregations expanded considerably around the country.
particulars
Zambia enjoys very good bilateral, regional and international political as well as economic relations with many countries. The stable political and economic environment makes the nation an attractive destination for investment.
Unemployment and underemployment in urban areas are serious problems, while most rural Zambians are subsistence farmers.
prayer
Pray that the national Christian leaders will continue to stand for righteousness and make godly decisions.
Traditional religious thoughts blend easily with Christian beliefs in many syncretic churches. Pray for more Christ-centered and trained pastors to teach their congregations the Word of God and how to live a Christian life.
Prayer Series (6) |
Algeria
profile
Algeria is the largest country in Africa. It is surrounded by Morocco to the northwest, Tunisia to the northeast, Libya to the east, Niger to the southeast, Mali to the southwest, Mauritania and Western Sahara to the west.
Capital: Algiers
Population: 36,486,000 (UN, 2012) with 41 ethnic groups, consisting almost entirely of Arab-Berber (99%).
Religions: Islam is the official and totally dominant religion (96.2%), the remaining are non-religious people (3.5%) and Christians (0.3%).
Languages: Arabic (official), French (lingua franca) and other Berber dialects.
Algeria obtained its independence from France in 1962 after 132 years of colonization. In 1992 a general election won by an Islamist party was annulled, heralding a decade-long bloody civil war in which more than 150,000 people died.
past & present of Christianity
Protestantism has been present since the early days of French rule. The first synod of the Reformed churches was held in 1843 and the French Methodists began mission work in Béjaïa around 1883. By 1914, American Methodist missionaries were also well established in Algeria.
The Protestant Church of Algeria was founded in 1972 by the coming together of the United Methodist and French Reformed communities in Algeria. It is one of the Christian bodies officially recognized by the government.
In January 2008, an intense media campaign against the church began as newspapers carried articles expressing concern about the growth of Christianity. Intense persecution followed—house churches were closed by authorities, several believers were arrested and some were formally charged with insulting Islam.
particulars
Algeria’s economy has been improved after years of political upheaval and violence. However, poverty remains widespread and unemployment rate is high. Endemic government corruption and poor standards in public services are also chronic sources of popular dissatisfaction.
The Algerian Constitution allows freedom of religion, but Christians and their places of worship continue to be discriminated against or attacked outright.
prayer
Pray that the remaining Algerian churches will be able to stay open to preach the Word, bringing the saving message to yet more Algerians.
The Algerian government has actively encouraged development of an Islamic Arab state. Pray for increased freedom to worship and proclaim the Lord Jesus Christ in Algeria.
Prayer Series (6) |
Egypt
profile
Egypt, officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is situated at the northeastern corner of Africa.
Capital: Cairo, which is the largest city in Egypt and in Africa.
Population: 83,958,000 (UN, 2012).
Religion: Muslim 86.3%, Christian 13%.
Languages: Arabic is official but there are also several Arabic dialects spoken throughout the country. English and French are widely used in business circles.
In the last 10 years, the country has been suffered from intense violence, especially in Upper Egypt. Mass protests forced the former president of 30 years to resign in February 2011.
past & present of Christianity
Christianity was brought to Egypt by Mark during early first century.
Today, Egyptian Christians mostly belong to the Coptic Orthodox Church (87.9%), while there are 6.1% Protestants.
Founded in 1854 by American Presbyterian missionaries, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Egypt became autonomous in 1926 and has since carried on the tradition of serving the local communities through social, educational, medical and evangelistic programmes.
Christians have long faced personal and collective discrimination, especially in the areas of government employment and gaining permission to build churches.
At times, religious tensions among Muslims and Christians resulted in individual acts of violence.
particulars
prayer
Pray that Egyptian Christians would persevere in their witness despite the constant threats and actual dangers they are living under.
Photo︰
http://www.localyte.com/attraction/7536–Hanging-Church–Egypt–Al%2BQahirah–Cairo
Sources：
http://www.joshuaproject.net/countries.php?rog3=EG
http://www.operationworld.org/country/egyp/owtext.html
http://www.oikoumene.org/member-churches/regions/middle-east/egypt/evangelical-presbyterian-church-of-egypt-synod-of-the-nile.htm
http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2010/148817.htm
http://original.antiwar.com/frykberg/2012/10/23/christians-worry-over-a-future-in-egypt/
http://www.persecution.net/egypt.htm
http://ghanaword.com/Persecution/troubles-continue-for-christians-in-egypt-as-mb-majority-govt-drafts-sharia-law.html
Prayer Series (6) |
Morocco
profile
Morocco is located on the north-west coast of Africa, bordering North Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Algeria and Western Sahara.
Its capital is Rabat and the largest city is Casablanca.
Population: 32,599,000 (UN, 2012)
Religions: Muslim 99.6%, Christians 0.2%
Languages: Moroccan Arabic (official), certain Berber dialects, Spanish and Standard Arabic. French is the country’s first foreign language and is widely spoken throughout the country.
In 2011, a prominent moderate Islamist party subsequently won the largest number of seats, becoming the first Islamist party to lead the Moroccan Government.
past & present of Christianity
Christians in Morocco are either immigrants or descended directly from the French invaders and settlers in early times.
Today, 64.8% of Moroccan Christians are Roman Catholics. Others belong to Independent (17.8%), Orthodox (10.4%) and Protestant (7%). The largest Protestant domination in Morocco is the Evangelical Church of Morocco.
The existence of Christians is tolerated, but the government does not accept the existence of an indigenous Moroccan Church. Evangelism and Christian activity are carefully monitored by the government.
particulars
Although Morocco’s constitution guarantees religious freedom to its people, many Christians are terrified to gather for worship services in fear that they will be investigated and associated with western Christians.
Some local Christians reported that societal scrutiny and pressure from family and friends in some cases increased after the 2010 expulsions of foreign Christians.
prayer
Pray that local Christians will stay strong in their faith despite the persecution they face.
Pray that more churches and mission agencies will take up the challenge of reaching out to the Muslims with the love of Christ.
Photo︰
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Morocco
Sources：
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mo.html
http://www.joshuaproject.net/countries.php?rog3=MO
http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/religiousfreedom/index.htm#wrapper
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches/regions/africa/morocco.html
http://www.persecution.net/morocco.htm
http://www.persecution.com/public/restrictednations.aspx?clickfrom=bWFpbl9tZW51http://www.be-a-voice.net/prayerbulletinpdfs/240_BelieversArrested_85x11_l.pdf
Prayer Series (6) |
South Sudan
profile
The Republic of South Sudan is the world’s youngest country, with its capital at Juba.
It became independent on 9 July 2011 after a referendum regarding its secession from Sudan passed with almost 99% of voters in favour of the split. South Sudan mainly voted to secede from Sudan because of cultural and religious differences, as well as the dragging civil war.
It is one of the most linguistically diverse African countries with hundreds of language groups. While both English and Arabic were the official languages, English is the only official language after independence.
Population: 10,625,176 (2012 est.)
Religions: Christian 61.3%, ethnic religions 32.3%, Muslim 6.2%
past & present of Christianity
Sudan has the oldest community of Christians in Africa, dating all the way back to AD37 (Acts chapter 8). Candace was believed to be the mother of the King of the Sudanese Kingdom of Meroe. The “Ethiopian” eunuch was therefore most probably a Sudanese. For a thousand years, Christianity was the majority religion of Northern Sudan.
In 1962 the government enacted Missionary Societies Act, making it very difficult for missionaries to continue working in Southern Sudan.
In 1964 all missionaries were expelled from Southern Sudan, local church leaders thus started to take over key leadership roles.
particulars
The main challenges ahead for South Sudan are to develop constructive relations with Sudan on issues of mutual concern, to manage complex internal divisions and to develop core public services. The new country will also need formal agreements with its neighbours on a wide range of issues, including border management and the creation of a legal framework for returning refugees.
prayer
Pray for wisdom for the leaders as they lead this young country to go through its critical developing stage.
Pray for all South Sudanese that they would have eternal peace in Jesus.
May spiritual transformation take place across the country brought by the Holy Spirit.
Photo︰
http://trinitybaptistkenya.org/tag/south-sudan
Sources：
http://geography.about.com/od/sudanmaps/a/south-sudan-geography.htm
http://www.unhcr.org/pages/4e43cb466.html
http://www.southsudaninfo.com/Religions_of_South_Sudan
http://www.factmonster.com/world/countries/south-sudan.html
http://www.joshuaproject.net/countries.php?rog3=OD
http://www.givengain.com/cgi-bin/giga.cgi?cmd=cause_dir_news_item&cause_id=121&news_id=60479
Prayer Series (6) |
Libya
profile
Libya lies in northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west.
Capital: Tripoli
Population: 6,469,000 (UN, 2012), around half of whom are under the age of 15. Most of the population is Berber and Arab (97%).
Languages: Arabic (official), Italian, English and Berber.
Religions: Muslim 96.3%, Christians 2.9%
Civil unrest erupted in Libya in February 2011 as opposition rebels sought to wrest control from Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Over 25,000 people have died in the crossfire of ongoing battles and thousands have fled the country.
past & present of Christianity
Since most evidence of Christianity in Libyan sites like Cyrene or Leptis Magna are hidden, buried or soft-pedalled, Libya is the most neglected of all the historic Christian locations in the ancient world that experienced over five hundred years of Christianity.
As the Italian community in Libya was practically erased with the formation of the modern Libyan state, today’s Christians belong to recent communities and Coptic Orthodox Christianity is the country’s largest and most historical Christian denomination.
Foreigners are free to worship but the evangelization of Libyans is prohibited. The Libyan government had an extensive secret police network that made sharing the gospel with Muslims difficult and dangerous. Christian literature may enter the country only through secretive means.
Out of 40 people groups, 28 are unreached by the gospel.
particulars
The country’s economy is primary based on exporting oil to other countries. Substantial revenues give Libya one of the highest per capita GDPs in Africa, but little of this income flows down to the lower orders of society.
After the civil war, proliferation of weapons has emerged as a major problem posing threat to stability in Libya as well as in the larger Middle East region.
prayer
Pray that more Christian resources, including Bibles and other literature, will be available in Libya.
Large numbers of migrants pass into Libya, mostly from sub-Saharan Africa, looking for economic opportunities. Pray that God would open doors for local Christians to be a witness for Him.
Photo︰
http://www.magic-libya.com/en/sites/details/35/Lathrun
Sources：
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ly.html
http://www.joshuaproject.net/countries.php?rog3=LY
http://www.persecution.net/libya.htm
http://bbhchurchconnection.wordpress.com/2011/10/22/what-land-is-most-ignored-which-has-five-centuries-of-early-christian-history/
http://www.persecution.com/public/restrictednations.aspx?clickfrom=bWFpbl9tZW51
http://www.operationworld.org/liby
http://www.firstpost.com/world/weapons-proliferation-in-libya-a-threat-india-says-at-un-519218.html
Prayer Series (6) |
São Tomé and Príncipe
profile
São Tomé and Príncipe is an island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, off the northwestern coast of Gabon. It is the second-smallest African country,
consisting of two archipelagos around the two main islands: São Tomé, and Príncipe.
Capital: São Tomé
Language: Portuguese (official),
Sãotomense, Principense, Angolar and Kabuverdianu.
Population: 172,000 (UN, 2012)
Religion: Christianity 88.6%, Ethnic Religions 6.9%, Islam 3.3%.
São Tomé and Príncipe was discovered and claimed by Portugal in the late 15th century. Although independence was achieved in 1975, democratic reforms were not instituted until the late 1980s. The political environment has been one of continued instability with frequent changes in leadership and coup attempts in 1995 and 2003.
past & present of Christianity
Christianity is the dominant religion in São Tomé and Príncipe, with Roman Catholic accounting for 85.4% of the total Christian population.
Protestantism has grown considerably in recent years due to missionary activities.
particulars
São Tomé and Príncipe’s economy, while historically dependent on plantation agriculture, is experiencing significant changes due to exploitation of large offshore oilfields. However, arguments have arisen over how to spend the expected windfall, leading to political tension.
The country has made significant progress in malaria prevention and control. Confirmed cases decreased from an annual average of 38,655 during 2000 – 2005 to 2,740 in 2010.
prayer
Pray for effective missional outreach to be launched among this country’s diverse people groups who have their respective distinct languages and creole dialects.
Prayer Series (6) |
Equatorial Guinea
profile
Equatorial Guinea is located in west central Africa. The country consists of the continental region and the island region.
Capital: Malabo, located on the island of Bioko.
Religions: Christianity 89%(predominantly Roman Catholic 91.9%) , Islam 4.3%, ethnic religions 3.7%, non-religious 2.0%, others 1%
Population: 740,000 (2012 UN)
Languages: Spanish (official administrative), French, Bantu (nearly well-spoken to all ethnic groups)
Equatorial Guinea gained independence in 1968 after 190 years of Spanish rule. President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has ruled the country since 1979 when he seized power in a coup. Although nominally a constitutional democracy since 1991, the presidential elections as well as the legislative elections were widely seen as flawed. The president exerts almost total control over the political system and has discouraged political opposition.
past & present of Christianity
In 1841, Baptists from the West Indies landed on Bioko to begin mission work. Their work continued until 1858 when the Spanish colonial authorities forced them to leave as the Spanish government wished to encourage the growth of Roman Catholicism instead of Protestant. In 1932, a Presbyterian couple was able to return for a time in order to train young people. They established a Women’s Association that still remains very influential today.
People of Equatorial Guinea are predominately Roman Catholic but many are still influenced by traditional animism.
An encouraging increase in religious freedom has occurred alongside a number of newer, growing Pentecostal, charismatic and evangelical denominations as well as several indigenous denominations.
particulars
Oil boom has brought foreign investment but it has not significantly improved life for most of the population.
The corruption watchdog Transparency International has put Equatorial Guinea in the top 12 of its list of most corrupt states. Resisting calls for more transparency, President Obiang has for long held that oil revenues as a state secret.
Health conditions in Equatorial Guinea are not good, and are made worse by lack of adequate sanitation. There is a high infant mortality rate, and the life expectancy is only fifty-three years of age. Common problems include malnutrition and malaria.
prayer
Pray for purity of life and fervency of evangelism in the churches despite the prevailing poverty, corruption and despair.
Pray for laity to grow in their faith, moving from a nominal Christian worldview to a biblical one.
Prayer Series (6) |
Gabon
profile
Gabon is located in west central Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator.
Capital: Libreville
Religions: Christianity 80% (Catholic 57.9%, Protestant 22.1% and Independent 19.4%), ethnic religions 9.3%, Islam 8.7%, non-religious 2%.
Population: 1,564,000 (UN, 2012)
Languages: French (official), Bantu-group languages
France ruled what was to become Gabon from 1839. In 1849 slaves freed by the French founded the Gabonese capital Libreville (meaning: free town). In 1910 Gabon became one of the 4 territories of the Federation of French Equatorial Africa along with Chad, Congo, and the Central African Republic. Gabon achieved independence in 1960.
past & present of Christianity
Protestant missionaries from New England established a mission at Baraka (i.e. Libreville) in 1842. During the Great Depression, Alliance missionaries from Congo surveyed South Gabon and discovered vast areas that had never been reached by missionaries. They entered the area in 1934. Missionary nurses ran a small dispensary (eventually developed into Bongolo Hospital) for treating medical needs of local Gabonese.
The Evangelical Church of Gabon has its origins in the work of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions which worked in the area from 1842 to 1870, and the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the USA, from 1870 to 1913. From 1889 onwards, the Paris Missionary Society gradually took over the work until 1961 when the Evangelical Church of Gabon became autonomous.
The Evangelical Church of Gabon is the largest Protestant church, followed by the Christian Alliance Church. Several African indigenous churches exist which have about the same number of followers as the Protestant churches together.
particulars
The National Office of Employment estimates the unemployment rate of young people (less than 30 years) is as high as 30%. This situation is mainly due to the mismatch between the supply of the education system and the needs of the productive sector.
Most Gabonese people would call themselves ‘Christian’; yet, they often mix up Christianity with traditional religions. To make things worse, many eminent professors openly promote the return to ‘African gods’. Although no longer a French colony, Gabonese people have assimilated much of the culture and ideologies of France; thus, materialist and atheist philosophies have become widespread in the university.
prayer
For the Christian students in Gabon, pray that they would remain strong in the faith amidst atheist philosophies surrounding them. Pray that in their words and deeds, they will be faithful witnesses of Jesus Christ.
Many government elite, police officers and members of the army participate in often-bloody nighttime rituals including witchcraft and black magic. Pray that all Christians will stand firm and refuse to participate in these so-called ‘harmless clubs’.
Photo︰
http://www.bongolohospital.org
Sources：
http://www.joshuaproject.net/countries.php?rog3=GB
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/
country-profile/sub-saharan-africa/gabon/?profile=history
http://histclo.com/country/afr/gab/act/rel/gar-cm.html
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches/regions/africa/gabon.html
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/AFRICAEXT/GABONEXTN/
0,,menuPK:352119~pagePK:141132~piPK:141107~theSitePK:352109,00.html
http://www.worldprayermap.co.uk/southernandcentralafrica/gabon.html
http://www.operationworld.org/gabo
Prayer Series (7) |
Lesotho
profile
Lesotho, formerly known as Basutoland, is an enclave completely surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. It gained its independence from the United Kingdom in 1966.
Capital: Maseru
Population: 2,217,000 (UN, 2012) with 11 people groups
Official languages: Sesotho and English
Religions: Christian 90.1%, ethnic religions 8.8%
The country has scarce natural resources and has been economically dependent on the salaries of its people employed by the mining industry in South Africa.
past & present of Christianity
The Paris Missionary Society sent the first Christian missionaries to reach Lesotho in 1833. The first mission station was built in Morija.
Today, the Catholic Church is the majority church in Lesotho. Other denominations include Lesotho Evangelical, Presbyterian, and Anglican. The Lesotho Evangelical Church is the largest Protestant church in the country.
Christians can be found throughout the country but many still practice traditional rituals.
particulars
In addition to having prevalent tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, infant mortality rates are high in Lesotho, while people generally suffer from high levels of malnutrition.
prayer
Pray that churches can respond more effectively to the ministry needs of those living with HIV and AIDS.
Several foreign African groups have entered Lesotho preaching messages that include excessive emphases on prosperity, healings and other issues. Pray for discernment for the church leaders to know what is right and biblical and appropriate for their own context.
Photo︰
http://blogsausbetties.com/2012/03/14/u-se-ke-ua-lebala-do-not-forget-me-a-lesotho-sunday
Sources：
http://www.joshuaproject.net/countries.php?rog3=LT
http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2010/148697.htm
http://globalministries.org/africa/partners/lesotho-evangelical-church.html
http://www.cru.org/ministries-and-locations/africa/lesotho/index.htm
http://sa.usaid.gov/southern_africa/node/93
http://www.operationworld.org/leso
Prayer Series (7) |
Sudan
profile
Sudan is located in northeastern Africa, lying directly south of Egypt.
With the Independence in 1956, problems began for the new republic almost immediately, in the shape of conflict between north and south. Throughout the 1990s, conditions have deteriorated in the Sudan.
In January 2005 the Sudan government has signed a preliminary peace agreement with the main opposition umbrella group, the National Democratic Alliance, granted the southern rebels autonomy for six years, after which, a referendum for independence is scheduled to be held. Eventually on 9 July 2011, this referendum passed with almost 99% of voters in favour of the split.
Capital: Khartoum
Population: ca. 34.8 million (2012 est.) with 164 people groups.
Religions: Muslim 89.9%, ethnic religions 5.2%, Christian 4.9%
Official language: Arabic
past & present of Christianity
Sudan has the oldest community of Christians in Africa, dating all the way back to AD37 (Acts chapter 8). Candace was believed to be the mother of the King of the Sudanese Kingdom of Meroe. The “Ethiopian” eunuch was therefore most probably a Sudanese. For a thousand years, Christianity was the majority religion of Northern Sudan.
The Egyptians conquered Sudan in 1874 and established the province of Equatoria. Islamic Mahdist revolutionaries entered the territory in 1885, but British troops defeated the invaders and took over Sudan in 1898. Britain and Egypt then ruled the country in conjunction as Anglo-Egyptian Sudan.
In the early 20th century, Christian missionaries converted a large segment of the population and introduced English to the region. The result was a clearly defined line between the Arab north, and the black African animists and Christians in the south.
particulars
Muslims and local “popular committees”—responsible for issuing residence certificates necessary for obtaining citizenship or an ID card, with authority to strike down proposals for erecting church buildings—assert that no church is necessary because there are no Christians there.
The government-appointed members of the popular committees tend to consist of radical Muslims who monitor Christian activities in neighborhoods so they can report them to security authorities.
prayer
Pray for Christians in the Muslim-dominant Sudan, may God protect them physically and spiritually.
Pray for missionaries serving in Sudan, may they be granted wisdom from on high to share the saving gospel of Jesus Christ in this anti-Christian country.
Photo︰
http://geoconger.wordpress.com/tag/saint-johns-haj-yousif
Sources：
http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/sudan.htm
http://www.joshuaproject.net/countries.php?rog3=SU
http://www.givengain.com/cgi-bin/giga.cgi?cmd=cause_dir_news_item&cause_id=121&news_id=60479
http://www.factmonster.com/world/countries/south-sudan.html
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/octoberweb-only/sudan-secession-backlash.html
Prayer Series (7) |
Tunisia
profile
Tunisia is located at the northern tip of Africa, lying between Libya and Algeria.
In 1881, French gained control over Tunisia, bringing to an end several decades of diplomatic jockeying between three colonial powers: France, Britain and Italy. All three are officially involved in the region from 1869.
The Republic of Tunisia gained independence from France in 1956.
Not well-known to most of the world, it caught global attention when a desperate young fruit vendor set himself on fire in December 2010 in protest at his treatment by police, making Tunisia the first of a string of Arab nations to revolt against oppressive dictators.
Capital: Tunis
Population: ca. 10.6 million (2012 est.) with 23 people groups.
Religions: Muslim 99.2%, non-religious 0.5%, Christian 0.3%
Official language: Arabic
past & present of Christianity
Christianity is intricately woven throughout Tunisian history. In the early centuries after Christ, the church thrived in Tunisia and North Africa, despite intense Roman persecution.
Tunisia also produced some of Christianity’s prominent early theologians and thinkers, such as Tertullian, Cyprian, and Augustine. Many of their writings and philosophies continue to shape the theology of Western Christians.
After the time of Augustine, it looked like Christianity was going to thrive throughout northern Africa, but religious confusion, selfish ambition, and political struggles changed the course of Tunisia’s future. In the midst of turmoil and persecution, the church in Tunisia saw growth and faithfulness, but when doors in the country were opened for religious freedom and outreach, the church rapidly declined and eventually disappeared entirely.
For centuries following, there were no known Christians in Tunisia. Until early 1990s, the Western church began a focus on the 10/40 Window, raising new awareness and emphasis on Tunisia and other unreached nations.
With the continued use of mass gospel sowing through media outlets, number of believers continued to grow gradually.
particulars
Although many believe the end of dictatorship in the country means a wider door open to the gospel and a better life for local Christians, the footage aired in June 2012, showing a brutal beheading of a young convert from Islam to Christianity, indicates violent threat is still a living reality for Tunisian Christians.
prayer
As the Islamic-led government constantly keeps finding and blocking Christian websites, pray that Tunisian seekers will still find their ways to learn more about the Christian faith.
Pray for local Christians, may they find courage, comfort and protection in Jesus Christ as they live and witness in such a hostile context.
Photo︰
http://stgeorgetunis.com/about-us/49.html
Sources：
http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ac93
http://www.joshuaproject.net/countries.php?rog3=TS
http://christianstandard.com/2011/12/tunisia-an-unprecedented-opportunity-for-the-gospel/
http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2012/s12070001.htm
Prayer Series (7) |
Western Sahara
profile
Western Sahara is a disputed territory in North Africa, bordered by Morocco to the north, Algeria to the northeast, Mauritania to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. It is one of the most sparsely populated territories in the world, mainly consisting of desert flatlands.
Since 1963, Western Sahara has been on the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories (i.e. territories that are non-decolonized). It does not have a capital, while the largest city is El Aaiún.
The United Nations has been involved in mediation efforts to find a settlement in Western Sahara since Spain’s withdrawal from this territory in 1976. Soon afterwards, fighting broke out between Morocco and Frente Polisario, a movement backed up by Algeria that sought independence for the region.
Population: ca. 563,000 (2012 est.) with 11 people groups.
Religions: Muslim 99.8%, Christian 0.1%
Official language: Arabic
past & present of Christianity
Over 70% of the tiny Christian population are Catholics, while Protestants account for only 7.7%.
There are no known cases of persecution of Christians, but there is usually intense social pressure from family members to leave Christianity.
Although the constitution grants freedom of religion, restrictions are applied. All religious groups are monitored to ensure that adherents do not stray into politics.
particulars
Western Sahara’s Sahrawi people have been tortured, kidnapped and separated from their families in a humanitarian crisis that has lasted for more than 30 years. Public beatings are common and young children are taken from their families and sent to Cuba for re-education.
prayer
Pray for a resolution of the disputed status of Western Sahara.
Pray for healing and restoration of the families of the Sahrawi people. Pray that the Saharawi will discover the abundant life found in Jesus. planning on biblical principles.
Prayer Series (7) |
Benin
profile
Benin is located in Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo.
Present day Benin was the site of Dahomey, a prominent West African kingdom that rose in the 15th century. The territory became a French Colony in 1872 and achieved independence on 1 August 1960.
Capital: Porto-Novo
Population: 9,598,787 (July 2012 est.)
Language: French (official)
Religions: Christian 38.5%, ethnic religions 40.1%, Muslim 20.8%
past & present of Christianity
Methodist missionaries started the first Protestant church in 1843 in a town called Abomey. This missions group established work among the Fon and the Gun people groups.
The largest Protestant denomination in Benin is the Assemblies of God, and there are several other sizeable Pentecostal and Evangelical churches.
particulars
Benin is the birthplace of Voodoo and as such is plagued by witchdoctors, demonic possession and even human sacrifice. The largest people group in Benin is the Fon who were the first practitioners of Voodoo.
Benin is severely underdeveloped, and corruption is rife. While Benin has seen economic growth over the past few years and is one of Africa’s largest cotton producers, it ranks among the world’s poorest countries.
prayer
Pray for local Christian leaders, may they be strengthened to lead believers with biblical principles in the midst of strong animistic influences.
May Christian faith bring to Benin spiritual awakening as well as social transformation.
Photo︰
http://www.mennonitemission.net/Stories/News/Pages/BeninBibleInstitutegraduation.aspx
Sources：
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bn.html
http://www.joshuaproject.net/countries.php?rog3=BN
http://worldmap.org/maps/other/profiles/benin/Benin%20Profile.pdfhttp://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches/regions/africa/benin.html
http://www.christianaid.org/Interactive_World/countryPages/Benin.aspx
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13037572
Prayer Series (7) |
Swaziland
profile
Swaziland is a landlocked country in southern Africa, bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa, and to the east by Mozambique. It is also Africa’s last remaining absolute monarchy.
Capital: Mbabane
Population: 1,220,000 (UN, 2012) with 11 people groups. The majority are Swazi (83.5%), followed by Zulu (8%) and Tsonga (2%)
Official languages: Swati and English
Religion: Christian 84.1%, ethnic religions 11.6%
Swaziland was divided into the four regions of Hhohho, Manzini, Lubombo and Shiselweni after gaining independence from the British in 1968.
past & present of Christianity
Scandinavian Alliance Mission of North America arrived in Swaziland in the mid-1890s and established the Bethel mission station near Mhlosheni and Nhlangano in southern Swaziland.
Christianity is the dominant religion in Swaziland. Zionism, a blend of Christianity and indigenous ancestral worship, is the predominant religion in rural areas.
An influential Roman Catholic and Anglican presence includes many churches, schools, and other infrastructure.
particulars
Swaziland has the highest HIV prevalence in the world at 26% (UNAIDS, 2012) which has resulted in the largest percentage of orphans per population of any country in the world.
Most Christian and even evangelical denominations are in decline due to spiritual stagnation and AIDS deaths.
prayer
Pray for renewed spiritual vitality among local Christians.
Pray that the cooperative efforts between local churches and university can efficiently reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS in Swaziland through the development of spiritual and educational resources.
Photo︰
http://www.africanchristiancollege.org/about/location
Sources：
http://www.joshuaproject.net/countries.php?rog3=WZ
http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2010/148724.htm
http://www.operationworld.org/country/swaz/owtext.html
http://www.dacb.org/stories/aa-print-stories/swaziland/moe_malla.html
http://www.unaids.org/en/dataanalysis/datatools/aidsinfo/
http://snu.edu/swaziland
Prayer Series (7) |
South Africa
profile
South Africa is located at the southern tip of Africa and bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the west and by the Indian Ocean on the south and east. Its neighbors are Namibia in the northwest, Zimbabwe and Botswana in the north, and Mozambique and Swaziland in the northeast.
Capital cities: Pretoria (administrative), Cape Town (legislative) and Bloemfontein (judicial)
Population: 51,770,560 (Census 2011), in which 79.2% are Black African
Religions: Christian 75.5%, ethnic religions 12.6%, Hindus 2.2%, Muslim 1.9%
There are 11 official languages. The most common home language is Zulu, spoken by over 20% of the population. English is the most commonly spoken language in official and commercial public life.
In 1961 South Africa withdrew from the British Commonwealth of Nations and declared itself a republic.
past & present of Christianity
The Khoi-San people were contacted as early as 1488. The London Missionary Society began work in Cape Colony in 1799. Soon after that, the Glasgow Missionary Society and the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society arrived, along with missionaries from the United States, France, Germany and Scandinavia. Most mission work placed a high priority on literacy and biblical instruction.
Today, 52.2% of the total Christian population belong to independent churches, followed by Protestant (26.1%) and Roman Catholic (21.2%).
particulars
It is a country with one of the highest rates of rape in the world. It is estimated that as much as 500,000 rapes are committed annually in South Africa.
prayer
Pray for all who have been victims of physical or sexual violence would be comforted and healed by God’s love.
Pray for principled, competent and godly leaders to be raised up to rule the country in righteousness.
Prayer Series (8) |
Botswana
profile
Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana gained its independence in 1966.
It is a landlocked country in southern Africa that located just north of South Africa with its capital at Gaborone
Botswana is one of the few countries in sub-Saharan Africa with a fairly homogeneous ethnic background with the Batswanans being the largest people group of the country.
Population: ca. 2,053,000 (2012 UN).
Religions: Christianity 66.5%, ethnic religions 32.3%, Islam 0.1%, Hinduism 0.1%
Official languages: Setswana (Tswana) and English.
past & present of Christianity
Christianity was brought in to the country by various missionaries, notably the Scottish Congregationalist Robert Moffat and his son-in-law Dr. David Livingstone. The story of Livingstone’s conversion of Kgosi (king) Sechele of the Kwena was told in Livingstone’s Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa.
During the last part of the 19th century, Christianity was established as the official religion of five major Tswana states. Churches were mainly served by the London Missionary Society and the Dutch Reformed Mission.
Today, the major Protestant denomination is the United Congregational Church, a result of the pioneering efforts of the London Missionary Society.
particulars
The rapid spread of AIDS in Botswana is a major reason that population growth is low. It is estimated that 25-36% of the population is infected with the virus, reflecting one of the highest rates in the world. This has caused a great number of social problems including labour shortages and health care crisis.
prayer
In response to the AIDS epidemic, integrated programs [combining evangelism, discipleship, lifestyle education, literacy, orphan care, and medical ministries] are being carried out throughout the country. May GOD use these programs to bring about positive transformation in the country.
Prayer Series (8) |
Burkina Faso
profile
Burkina Faso, formerly Upper Volta, is a landlocked country located in the middle of West Africa’s hump. Its neighbors are Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Benin, Togo and Ghana.
The country achieved independence from France in 1960. Repeated military coups during the 1970s and 1980s were followed by multiparty elections in the early 1990s.
Capital: Ouagadougou
Population: 17,275,115 (July 2012 est.)
Language: French (official), Moore and Jula (secondary).
Religions: Islam 51.3%, ethnic religions 27.7%, Christianity 20.4%
Total people groups: 78 (28 of whom are unreached)
past & present of Christianity
In 1921 North American Pentecostals arrived in Burkina Faso, establishing the Assemblies of God denomination, which is now the largest Protestant denomination. The Christian and Missionary Alliance entered the country in 1923, followed by Serving in Mission (SIM) in 1930, World Evangelization Crusade (WEC) in 1937, and the Southern Baptists in 1971.
Evangelical groups are growing but the hold of pre-Christian religions is strong upon the people, even among professing Christians.
particulars
Burkina Faso’s high population density and limited natural resources result in poor economic prospects for the majority of its citizens.
Female genital mutilation, child labor, child trafficking and social exclusion of accused sorcerers remain serious problems, although the government has taken steps in recent years to combat these phenomena.
prayer
Pray for the Lord to intervene and miraculously stop the atrocities like female genital mutilation, child labor and child trafficking.
Pray for a spiritual breakthrough in the north of Burkina among Muslims.
Photo︰
http://www.messynessychic.com/2013/01/10/the-african-village-where-every-house-is-a-work-of-art
Sources：
http://win1040.com/page.php?id=520
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/uv.html
http://www.joshuaproject.net/countries.php?rog3=UV
http://www.sim.org/index.php/country/BF
http://www.christianaid.org/Interactive_World/countryPages/BurkinaFaso.aspx
Prayer Series (8) |
Guinea-Bissau
profile
Guinea-Bissau is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Senegal to the north and Guinea to the south and east, with the Atlantic Ocean to its west.
It gained independence from Portugal in 1974.
Capital: Bissau
Population: ca. 1,580,000 (UN, 2012) with 35 people groups.
Religions: Islam 50.4%, ethnic religions 36%, Christianity 12.1%
Official language: Portuguese
past & present of Christianity
Under Portuguese rule, the Catholic Church was dominant, and Evangelicals were forbidden or discriminated against. Since independence, restrictions on visas for Protestant agencies were relaxed, and the measure of freedom for Christian activities has steadily improved.
Today, Christians belong to a number of groups, including the Roman Catholic Church (70.9%) and various Protestant denominations (14.5%). Christians are concentrated in Bissau and other large towns.
particulars
Guinea-Bissau is one of the poorest countries in the world, ranking 164 out of 169 countries on the UN Human Development Index in 2010. The country has poor infrastructure and weak social indicators, and more than two-thirds of the population lives under the poverty line.
prayer
There is an increasing number of missionaries in the country. Pray for missionaries to cooperate across organizational lines and with the national Church; pray also that a greater emphasis might be given to working among the unevangelized.
Photo︰
http://www.operationwellfound.org/projects/guinea-bissau
Sources：
http://www.joshuaproject.net/countries.php?rog3=PU
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/pu.html
http://www.prayway.com/unreached/countries/bissau.html
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/AFRICAEXT/
GUINEABISEXTN/0,,menuPK:356680~pagePK:141132~piPK:141107~the
SitePK:356669,00.html
http://www.operationworld.org/guib
Prayer Series (8) |
Liberia
profile
Liberia, which means “Land of the Free,” was founded by free African-Americans and freed slaves from the United States in 1820. The country is on the west coast of Africa, bordered by Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Ivory Coast.
Capital: Monrovia
Population: ca. 4,245,000 (UN, 2012) with 39 people groups
Languages: English (official) and 35 indigenous languages.
Religions: Ethnic religions 43.4%, Christianity 39.1%, Islam 16.4%
For fourteen years from 1989 to the signing of the Accra Comprehensive Peace Agreement in August of 2003, Liberia was in a constant state of conflict. In a nation of only three million people, it is estimated that the war took over 250,000 lives and displaced a million people.
past & present of Christianity
Due to Christian influence of freed slaves from the United States who settled in Liberia, Protestant missions had an early start in Liberia. Baptist was among the first to arrive in 1822 to begin church and mission work.
The first Methodist missionary arrived in 1833. Some of the earliest settlers were also Methodist, and the Methodist Church has developed into the largest denomination in Liberia.
Within the Church, nominalism and syncretism with animistic beliefs are major problems. Nevertheless, some urban and inland churches are growing and reaching out in evangelism.
particulars
Liberia’s education system was greatly affected during the war. Though females in Liberia attend school, child marriages still take place in villages, causing the girls to stop their education at an early age.
prayer
As Liberia is struggling to get recovered from the past wars, pray that Christians inside as well as outside the country will join hand to help break the cycle of Liberians’ poverty, bringing in Christ’s love and eternal promise.
Prayer Series (8) |
Cape Verde
profile
Cape Verde, located in Western Africa, is an archipelago of 10 islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, situated 300 miles off the west of Senegal.
It was discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century; Cape Verde subsequently became a trading center for African slaves and later an important coaling and resupply stop for whaling and transatlantic shipping. Following independence in 1975, and a tentative interest in unification with Guinea-Bissau, a one-party system was established and maintained until multi-party elections were held in 1990.
Capital: Praia
Population: 523,568 (July 2012 est.)
Languages: Portuguese and Crioulo (a mixture of archaic Portuguese and African words)
Religions: Christianity 94.5%, Islam 2.7%, ethnic religions 1.1%
past & present of Christianity
In the early 1900s, the Protestant Church of the Nazarene started mission work in the country. Afterwards, not only a church was built, the Gospels were also translated into Crioulo.
Today, Cape Verdeans are overwhelmingly Roman Catholics, while most Protestants are affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene.
particulars
Cape Verde has few natural resources and suffers from serious water shortages. These have been exacerbated by cycles of long-term drought that have contributed to significant emigration throughout Cape Verde’s history. It is believed that there are as many Cape Verdeans live abroad as those live on the islands.
Cape Verdeans are among the healthiest in Africa. Since its independence, it has greatly improved its health indicators. Besides having been promoted to the group of “medium development” countries in 2007, it is currently the 10th best ranked country in Africa in terms of Human Development Index.
prayer
Pray that believers might mature and increase despite poverty and geographic isolation.
Pray for good governance to continue – Cape Verde has been praised in the international community in recent decades as an example among African nations for its consistent development despite a severe lack of natural resources.
Photo︰
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13148486
Sources：
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cv.html
http://www.joshuaproject.net/countries.php?rog3=CV
http://www.everyculture.com/Europe/Cape-Verdeans-Religion-and-Expressive-
Culture.html
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/AFRICAEXT/CAPEV
ERDEEXTN/0,,menuPK:349633~pagePK:141132~piPK:141107~theSitePK:
349623,00.html
http://heartforafricablog.wordpress.com/2012/12/02/cape-verde-02-dec-08-dec/
Prayer Series (8) |
Ivory Coast
profile
Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire) is located in Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and lying between Ghana and Liberia.
It was a major area of agricultural development under French rule during colonial period, attracting immigrant workers from throughout the French African Empire.
It gained independence from France in 1960.
Capital: Yamoussoukro
Population: 21,952,093 (July 2012 est.) with 105 people groups.
Languages: French (official) and 60 native dialects with Dioula being the most widely spoken.
Religions: Muslim 40.7%, Christian 34.2%, ethnic religions 24.6%
past & present of Christianity
British Methodists entered Ivory Coast in 1924, marking the beginning of Protestant missions in the country.
Mission activity has resulted in over 1,000 evangelical church congregations in Ivory Coast. By some estimates, 9.2% of Ivoirians are evangelical Christians.
particulars
Ivory Coast’s economy is based on the export of cash crops. It is the largest producer of cocoa in the world, and the fifth largest producer of robusta coffee.
Although religious freedom is protected in Ivory Coast, some Christian groups have reported discrimination and hostility against them from the larger Muslim community. Christians were particularly targeted in an upsurge of violence in 2011 following disputed presidential elections the previous year.
prayer
Pray for local Christians for spiritual as well as physical protection, may they be of good courage to practice their faith regardless of adverse circumstance.
Photo︰
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7369215@N02/424080346
Sources：
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/iv.html
http://www.joshuaproject.net/countries.php?rog3=IV
http://www.sim.org/index.php/country/ci
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/country-profile/sub-saharan-africa/cote_d’ivoire/
http://barnabasfund.org/US/Day-of-Prayer-for-the-persecuted-Church-Ivory-Coast.html
Prayer Series (8) |
Namibia
profile
At the Berlin Conference in 1883, Africa had been divided between various European nations. As a result, Germany ended up with this arid desert land that most Europeans saw little use in claiming. Until 1915, after a fast defeat to the Union troops of South Africa, Germany surrendered the administration of Namibia.
South Africa ruled Namibia between 1915 and 1966. Starting from 1966 onward, Namibia had been fighting for independence, which was finally granted in 1990.
Capital: Windhoek
Population: ca. 2,364,000 (2012, UN) with 36 people groups.
Religions: Christianity 89%, ethnic religions 7.9%, Islam 0.1%
Languages: English (official language but the first language of only 7 % of the population). Afrikaans is actually the most common language spoken by Namibians, including about 60% of the white population. Indigenous language such as Oshiwambo is widely spoken by over 50% of the population, while German is spoken by 32% of the population.
past & present of Christianity
The nomadic Khoi-San in southwest Africa were first reached by the London Missionary Society (LMS) in 1805. At the request of LMS, the Rhenish Missionary Society (German Lutheran) arrived in 1842, followed by Finnish Lutherans in 1870.
Out of the Christian population in the country, 63.9% are Protestants. The largest Christian group is the Lutheran Church; other denominations include Anglican, Dutch Reform and Methodist.
particulars
Today Namibia struggles with huge unemployment (around 50% of the population, according to the CIA World Fact book).
HIV/AIDs affects 15% of the population, according to data compiled by the World Health Organization and more than half the population lives below the international poverty line of $1.25 a day, according to data from the UN.
prayer
Pray for spiritual renewal of churches that have largely become lifeless.
Photo︰
http://danielschereck.com/wp2006/wp-2006africa-namibiawindhoek01.htm
Sources：
http://www.namibian.org/travel/namibia/history.htmhttp://www.joshuaproject.net/countries.php?rog3=WA
http://goafrica.about.com/od/namibiaatravelguide/a/namibiafacts.htm
http://www.sim.org/index.php/country/NA
http://209.88.21.36/opencms/opencms/grnnet/AboutNamibia2/Population
/Language.html
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/10/23/world/africa/namibia-eye-on-country
-profile/index.html
Prayer Series (8) |
Gambia
profile
It is located in Western Africa and surrounded by Senegal while bordering the North Atlantic Ocean.
Gambia gained its independence from the United Kingdom, becoming an independent member of the Commonwealth in February 1965. Five years later a new constitution, approved in a referendum in April 1970, transformed the nation into a republic.
Capital: Banjul
Population: 1,840,454 (July 2012 est.) with 33 people groups.
Language: English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars.
Religions: Islam 89.8%, ethnic religions 6.0%, Christianity 3.2%
past & present of Christianity
The Gambia Methodist Church began in 1821 with the arrival of John Morgan and John Baker, two Methodist ministers from England. They were the first Christian missionaries in Gambia in modern times.
Today, the Gambian evangelical Church is small, and committed believers are few. Active Christians are usually overstretched in their ministries; the need is great for discipleship and leadership training. Many pastors work in the Greater Banjul area, but few feel called to go into the hinterland, where there is less development and few amenities; financial support is difficult to maintain for those who are willing.
particulars
Despite the presence of the Gambia River, which runs through the middle of the country, only one-sixth of the land is arable and poor soil quality has led to the predominance of one crop –peanuts.
Tourism is an important source of foreign exchange, as is the money sent home by Gambians living abroad.
prayer
Pray for new believers from Muslim backgrounds to become strong in their faith so that they will be able to witness to their extended families.
Pray for more Gambian Christians to gain a burden for reaching their compatriots with the gospel.
Prayer Series (9) |
Guinea
profile
Guinea, located in Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone.
Guinea has had a history of authoritarian rule since gaining its independence from France in 1958. A transitional government led by General Sekouba Konaté held democratic elections in 2010 and Alpha Condé was elected president in the country’s first free and fair elections since independence.
Capital: Conakry
Population: 10,884,958 (July 2012 est.)
Language: French is the official
language, while each ethnic group has its own language
Religions: Islam 87.4%, ethnic religions 8.1%, Christianity 4.5%
Total people groups: 46 (30 of whom are unreached)
past & present of Christianity
Protestant missions began in 1918 when the Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA) entered the country. Other missions entered in the ensuing years but were expelled without exception in 1967. Only eight C&MA personnel were allowed to remain, and their activities were restricted.
Until the change of government in 1984, new thrust into the country has been possible as the new government opened its doors to missions. This led to the entry of the Christian Reformed Church, followed by French Assemblies of God, World Evangelistic Crusade and SIM. These mission bodies, along with C&MA and Mission Philafricaine, have formed the Association of Evangelical Churches and Missions in Guinea.
particulars
In 2006, Guinea was ranked by “Transparency International” (an international non-governmental organization devoted to combating corruption) as the most corrupt country in Africa. Political trends are becoming progressively worrisome as rampant corruption increases.
The poverty in Guinea is serious that the majority of its citizens have little or no reliable access to food, water, health care, education, or government services.
The nation has a history of slow response to the gospel of Jesus Christ, especially among the Muslim population, and is one of the least evangelized countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
prayer
There is an overall lack of leaders in most areas, which delays church growth and evangelization. Pastors and leaders also need to be trained as mission mobilizers; pray for more godly leaders to be raised up and trained.
Guinea remains largely unreached. Pray for the courage and boldness of those who follow Christ, and for families and groups to turn to Christ as it is very difficult for isolated individuals to maintain their walk of faith.
Prayer Series (9) |
Pray for Mali
profile
Mali is bordered by seven other nations. Algeria lies to the north and northeast, Niger to the east, Burkina Faso to the southeast and the Ivory Coast to the south. Senegal and Mauritania border Mali on the west.
Capital: Bamako
Population: ca. 16,319,000 (UN, 2012). The Bambara is the largest, most powerful and influential group in Mali.
Languages: French (official); Bamana is widely spoken in the areas of business and trade.
Religions: Islam 87%, ethnic religions 10.2%, Christianity 2.6%
For several decades after independence from France in 1960, Mali suffered droughts, rebellions, a coup and 23 years of military dictatorship until democratic elections in 1992.
past & present of Christianity
Mali was once a relatively safe country for Christians. However, Muslim fundamentalists have taken control of large parts of the country in early 2013, causing hundreds of Christians to flee south or leave the country. There is now a very high degree of hostility towards Christianity in the north.
Today, 76.1% of the total Christian population belong to Roman Catholic, followed by 23.5% of Protestant.
particulars
Nearly 375,000 people had been forced to flee their homes by mid-January 2013, from both north and south Mali. Nearly 230,000 were displaced within Mali, and about 145,000 had fled across the border, mostly to Mauritania, Niger and Burkina Faso.
Since the violence began in January 2012, at least 115 schools in the north were closed, destroyed, looted and sometimes contaminated with unexploded ordnance. Of the 700,000 children affected, 200,000 still have no access to school. There is an urgent need to rebuild schools, train teachers and provide learning supplies.
prayer
May peace be restored to Mali in the near future.
May Christian refugees find comfort in Jesus Christ; may non-Christian refugees find Jesus Christ in their plight.
Prayer Series (9) |
Mauritania
profile
Mauritania is situated in West Africa and bordered by Western Sahara and Algeria on the north, by Mali on the east and south, by Senegal on the southwest, and by the Atlantic Ocean on the west.
Capital: Nouakchott
Population: ca. 3,623,000 (UN, 2012) with 19 people groups. The majority are Moor (84%).
Languages: Arabic (official); the Hassaniya dialect is used as the vernacular for two-thirds of the population. French is the language of government and commerce.
Religions: Muslims 99.6%, Christians 0.3%, ethnic religions 0.1%, non-religious 0.1%
Mauritania achieved independence from France in 1960. It continues to experience ethnic tensions among its black population (Afro-Mauritanians) and white and black Moor (Arab-Berber) communities, and is having to confront a growing terrorism threat by al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb.
past & present of Christianity
Islam has dominated Mauritania for more than 1,000 years. The vast majority of Mauritanian peoples essentially remain unreached.
Believers have at times been imprisoned, beaten for their faith or endured ostracism by family or tribe. Expatriate Christians suspected of proselytizing Mauritanians are subject to harassment, interrogation, brief imprisonment, expulsion and even murder.
particulars
The murder of a foreign Christian by Islamic terrorists in 2009, as well as extremist activities, have led to many expatriate believers leaving the country.
By the end of August 2012, the conflict that had erupted in northern Mali since January 2012 resulted in the displacement of more than 100,000 Malians seeking refuge in Mauritania, while the influx continued at a rate of several hundred arrivals per day.
prayer
Islam has been entrenched in Mauritania with little challenge for 1,000 years. Many barriers to change have been erected including governmental regulation hindering the proclamation of the gospel, resistant social structure, and isolation from the outside world. Pray for greater spiritual openness and hunger for God.
Photo︰
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/2012/0802/In-Mauritanian-refugee-camp-Mali-s-Tuaregs-regroup
Sources：
http://www.africaguide.com/country/mauritan/index.htm
http://www.joshuaproject.net/countries.php?rog3=MR
http://www.persecution.net/mauritania.htm
http://equip.summitrdu.com/equip/pray-for-mauritania.html
代禱系列（第9部） |
尼日爾
profile
Niger is a landlocked country bordered in the north by Libya, Chad to the East, Nigeria in the south, Benin and Burkina Faso in the southwest, Mali in the west and Algeria in the Northwest.
Capital: Niamey
Population: ca. 16,644,000 (UN, 2012)
Religions: Islam 97.1%, ethnic religions 2.4%, Christianity 0.5%
Languages: French (official). Language of wider communication is Hausa.
Niger became independent from France in 1960 and experienced single-party and military rule until 1991, when General Ali Saibou was forced by public pressure to allow multi-party elections, which resulted in a democratic government in 1993.
past & present of Christianity
Christianity first entered Niger in the 7th century when Berber Christians migrated south after being driven from North Africa by emerging Islam. Isolated from other Christians, the faith gradually weakened and Christianity disappeared from Niger until the 20th century.
The church in Niger is small and faces tremendous pressure from Islam. Nevertheless, national believers have a growing vision for church planting and evangelism.
particulars
The government cannot afford to educate all children, so many – especially girls – receive no schooling at all.
Over the last two decades, the death rate for under-fives in Niger has nearly halved. In 1998, there were 226 deaths among young children for every 1,000 live births; by 2009, this had dropped to 128 deaths. However, stunting and malnourishment are still a huge problem.
prayer
Many agencies and denominations open and run schools that offer valuable education for primary-aged children and open doors for demonstrating the gospel in Niger. Pray for the divine provision of material and human resources to properly seize this opportunity.
Prayer Series (9) |
Nigeria
profile
Nigeria is a country in West Africa and the most populous country in Africa. It shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in the north. Its coast lies on the Gulf of Guinea, part of the Atlantic Ocean, in the south.
Capital: Abuja
Population: ca. 166,629,000 (UN, 2012) with 524 people groups.
Languages: English (official). Hausa is widely used in the north and middle belt, Yoruba in the southwest, Igbo in the southeast and Pidgin English all over the south.
Religions: Christianity 50.2%, Islam 43.6%, ethnic religions 5.9%
past & present of Christianity
The first Protestant missionaries to Nigeria were Wesleyan Methodists. They began work in the southwest among the Yoruba in 1842. Other Protestant groups followed: Church Missionary Society (evangelical Anglican), United Free Church of Scotland and Southern Baptists (USA).
In the twelve northern Sharia states, Christians experience persecution and restrictions in schooling, threats of abduction, forced marriage, as well as denial of employment, clean water and healthcare.
particulars
Since 2009, the Islamist group has been engaged in violent actions aimed at imposing Islamic law in the country. The recurrence of violence has forced thousands of Christian families to seek refuge in other safer areas of the country, particularly in the South which is predominantly Christian.
prayer
Persecution in Nigeria’s northern states has led to the death of thousands of Christians and the destruction of church buildings. Pray that God would comfort all who have lost their families and suffered.
Photo︰
http://www.persecution.org/theaftermath
Sources：
http://win1040.com/page.php?id=597
http://www.joshuaproject.net/countries.php?rog3=NI
http://sim.org/index.php/country/NG
http://www.worldwatchlist.us/world-watch-list-countries/nigeria/
http://www.worldwatchlist.us/news/nigeria-30-christians-killed-in-eve-of-new-year-massacres/
Prayer Series (9) |
Senegal
profile
Senegal is located in West Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and lying between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania.
Senegal granted independence from France in 1960. The 40-year rule of Senegal’s Socialist Party came to a peaceful end in elections in 2000, which were hailed as a rare democratic power transfer on a continent plagued by coups, conflict and election fraud.
Capital: Dakar
Population: 13,108,000 (UN, 2012)
Language: French (official), Wolof
Religions: Islam 90.5%, Christianity 5.2%, ethnic religions 3.9%
past & present of Christianity
Paris Mission, the West African Evangelical Mission, the Christian and Missionary Alliance, and the World Evangelization Crusade began mission work in Senegal in the 1930s.
From 1960s to 1980s, other mission entities also arrived – United World Mission, Conservative Baptist International, Brethren Assembly and Finnish Lutheran Mission.
particulars
One of the most severe problems facing Senegal today is the desertification of farmland. Droughts and mismanagement of farmland have encouraged the desertification process.
Senegal may become the first African country to end the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM). Approximately 5,000 communities in Senegal are abandoning FGM, with more expected to follow. By 2015, the government believes it can end FGM.
prayer
Pray for Senegal to set an example for other African nations by swiftly eradicating FGM.
Ask God to heal the young girls and women who have suffered through this terrible procedure.
Prayer Series (9) |
Sierra Leone
profile
Sierra Leone is located in West Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, lying between Guinea and Liberia.
Sierra Leone has a special significance in the history of the transatlantic slave trade. It was the departure point for thousands of West African captives. The capital, Freetown, was founded as a home for repatriated former slaves in 1787.
Sierra Leone emerged from a decade of civil war in 2002, with the help of Britain, the former colonial power, and a large United Nations peacekeeping mission.
Capital: Freetown
Population: ca. 6,126,000 (UN, 2012) with 31 people groups, 14 of whom are unreached.
Language: English (official), Krio (a creole language derived from English) and a range of African languages.
Religions: Islam 59.7%, ethnic religions 25.5%, Christianity 13.3%
past & present of Christianity
Some slaves had become Christians in North America. In 1792, they carried their “boisterous Christianity” with them back to Africa, defining their new culture in Christian terms and spreading its message to their countrymen.
Christian ministries are actively involved in rebuilding the country. Most organizations are engaged in holistic ministry to meet the spiritual, physical and psychological/emotional needs of the people.
particulars
Economic recovery has been slow partly because the reconstruction needs are so great. Around half of government revenue comes from donors.
With the highest infant and maternal mortality rates in the world and widespread disease (malaria, HIV, others), life expectancy is age 47.
prayer
80% of rural pastors live below the poverty line and many find they cannot survive; so, they move to the cities and thus leave rural Christians without sufficient pastoral care. Pray that more Christians will remember and contribute to the needs of pastors, helping them to provide for themselves and their families.
Photo︰
http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=2789393&ct=8356509
Sources：
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14094194
http://joshuaproject.net/countries.php?rog3=SL
http://www.acwiki.org/Sierra_Leone
http://www.operationworld.org/sier
http://barnabasfund.org/US/Sierra-Leone-Farming-start-up-costs-for-rural-pastors-46-851.html
Prayer Series (9) |
Saint Helena
profile
Saint Helena is a British Overseas Territory consisting of Saint Helena, Ascension Islands, and the island group of Tristan da Cunha. These islands are located in the South Atlantic Ocean, about mid-way between South America and Africa.
Uninhabited when first discovered by the Portuguese in 1502, Saint Helena was garrisoned by the British during the 17th century. It acquired fame as the place of Napoleon Bonaparte’s exile from 1815 until his death in 1821.
Capital: Jamestown
Population: 4,000 (UN 2012)
Language: English
Religions: Christianity 95%, non-religious 5%
past & present of Christianity
Out of the local Christian population, 88% are affiliated with Anglican.
The English Commonwealth granted a new charter to the East India Company (EIC) in 1657, which gave EIC the right to fortify and colonize any of its establishments. Because of the strategic importance of St. Helena as a fortress and staging post on the way home from India, the EIC claimed the Island on 5 May 1659. The building of the fort was commenced immediately. A little town sprang up in the valley with the chapel and was subsequently named Jamestown, after King James II.
In 1671, the EIC sent the first of a long sequence of Church of England chaplains. The early, modest little church was replaced by a slightly bigger one in 1674, but was only later named St. James Church.
The Diocese of St. Helena was founded in 1859 and is the fourth oldest diocese in the Church of the Province of Southern Africa. It originally consisted of the Islands of St. Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, but since the 1960s it has only consisted of St. Helena and Ascension Island.
particulars
The economy depends largely on financial assistance from the UK. The local population earns income from fishing, raising of livestock, and sales of handicrafts. Because there are few jobs, 25% of the work force has left to seek employment on Ascension Island, the Falklands, and in the UK.
prayer
Pray for those Christians in St. Helena whose commitment to faith is decreasing. Most Christians are nominal, and church attendance continues to decline.
Prayer Series (9) |
Togo
profile
Togo is in West Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin and lying between Benin and Ghana.
The country had been colonized by Germany and then was seized by Britain and France at the beginning of World War I. Independence was proclaimed in 1960.
Although political parties were legalized in 1991 and a democratic constitution was adopted in 1992, the leadership was accused of suppressing opposition and of cheating in elections. Togo’s human rights record and political governance were criticized by international organizations for years.
Capital: Lomé
Population: ca. 6,283,000 (UN, 2012)
Language: French (official, the language of commerce) and local languages.
Religions: Christianity 44%, ethnic religions 37.2%, Islam 17.8%
past & present of Christianity
In as early as 1870, Methodists had a strong presence in Togo, while the Bremen Mission was founded in 1893. All of the German missionaries were forced to leave Togo when the French and British took control during World War I. Because of this, indigenous leaders had to step forward and take control of the churches.
The Assemblies of God began sending missionaries in 1937. Southern Baptists also sent missionaries during mid-20th century.
Presently about 170 Protestant mission centers affiliated with European and American societies have entered Togo.
particulars
Togo is among the world’s poorest countries. Isolation has further aggravated its weak economy.
Female genital mutilation was formally outlawed in 1998 and has decreased by half since 1996. However, it still exists on a considerable scale, notably in the central and northern regions.
prayer
Pray for the church to be refined by rooting out syncretism, false teaching, and idolatry.
Pray for indigenous mission agencies to establish bases which send workers to the growing Muslim population.