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CHINA
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| Population | 1,214,221,000 |
| Peoples | Chinese (Han) 92%. Eight major languages
and 600 dialects but one written language common to all. Putunghua
(Mandarin) 744 mill., Wu 78 mill., Yueh (Cantonese) 53 mill., Xiang
(Hunanese) 45 mill., Hakka 45 mill., Minnan 34 mill., Minpei 23 mill,
Gan 22 mill. Ethnic minorities 8%. Officially recognized 55; but the true total of ethno-linguistic peoples may be closer to 150. Main groups: Tai 2.1%. Zhuang 15,490,000; Bouyei 2,545,000; Dong 2,514,000; Li 1,111,000; Dai 1,025,000; Gelo 438,000; Mulam 159,000; Maonan 72,000. Mainly in south and southwest. Tibeto-Burman 1.9%. Over 18 peoples: Yi 6,572,000; Tujia 5,704,000; Tibetan 4,593,000; Bai 1,595,000; Hani 1,253,000; Lisu 575,000; Lahu 411,000; Naxi 278,000; Quiang 198,000; Jinpo 119,000. Mainly southwest and west. Mongolian 1.35%. Over nine peoples. Manchu 9,821,000; Mongolian 4,807,000; Xibe 173,000; Daur 121,000; Evenki 26,000. Miano-Yao 0.84%. Miao (Hmong) 7,400,000; Yao 2,134,000. Mainly in southwest. Hui 0.76%. Chinese Muslims 8,603,000. Turkic 0.76%. Over six peoples; all Muslim but for Yugur who are Buddhist. Uygur 7,214,000; Kazakh 1,112,000; Kirgiz (Kyrgyz) 142,000; Salar 88,000; Yugur 12,000; Tatar 5,000. Mainly in northwest. Mon-Khmer 0.1%. Over six peoples. Wa 352,000; Shui 346,000; Blang 82,000. Other 0.25%. Korean 1,900,000; Tajik 33,500; Russian 13,000. Also foreign experts 60,000. |
| Literacy | 73%. Official language: Putunghua (Mandarin Chinese); local languages in the five Autonomous Regions. All languages 142. Languages with Scriptures 15Bi 13NT 26por. |
| Cities | Capital: Beijing (Peking) 10.8 million. Other cities: Shanghai 13.3 mill., Tianjin 8.8 mill., Chongqing 2.9 mill., Guangzhou 3.5 mill., Shenyang 4.4 mill., Wuhan 3.6 mill., Nanjing 2.4 mill. Thirty-four other cities of over one million inhabitants. Urbanization 37%. |
| Economy | The Cultural Revolution with its application of an extreme Marxist economic system was a fiasco. Since 1978, the see-saw conflict between the hardliners and pragmatists within the Communist government has been reflected in the degree of economic liberalization. The commune system has been partially dismantled with dramatic improvements in agricultural yields. Much of manufacturing and industry has been opened up for privatization and foreign investment with a 14% average growth rate in the '80s. The most rapid growth has been in the special economic zones adjoining Hong Kong and Macao. The restraints of a massive bureaucracy, fear of political liberalization and inefficient state-run industries slowed growth in 1990, but since 1992 the country has moved strongly into growth and a capitalist economic system. Unemployment 2-20% depending on area.. Public debt/person $46. Income/person $360 (1.7% of USA). |
| Politics | This great and ancient nation has regained its place of importance in the world after nearly two centuries of decline and humiliation at the hands of the Western powers and Japan. Since the final conquest of mainland China in 1949, the Communist Party has remoulded the nation along Marxist lines. The Cultural Revolution (1966-76) was the culmination of Mao's policy. It caused immeasurable suffering and economic chaos. Intellectuals and religious believers were cruelly persecuted. It is estimated that 20 million Chinese lost their lives during that time. The death of Mao Zedong in 1976 and discrediting of radical leftists in 1978 was followed by a more pragmatic leadership under Deng. He initiated a series of economic, political and cultural reforms and developed links with other nations, but all within the limits set by Deng. The crushing of the 1989 student protest in Tiananmen Square in Beijing and also the collapse of Communism in Europe and the USSR left China diplomatically isolated as the oldest surviving Communist regime. The threatened government responded with a reversion to ideological rigidity and repression of all political, ethnic and religious dissent. Economic reform with tight political control emerged as government policy for the 1990s. In 1997 the British return Hong Kong to China and in 1999 the Portuguese Macao. |
| Religion | Elimination of all religious groups has always been
the ultimate aim of the Marxist government. In the '50s the government
engineered the infiltration, subversion and control of all organized
Christianity. By 1958 this had been achieved through the Three Self
Patriotic Movement among Protestants, and the Catholic Patriotic Association
among Catholics. During the Cultural Revolution even these front structures
were banned, and all religious activity forced underground, giving
birth to the house church movement. In 1978 restrictions were eased
and the TSPM and CPA resurrected as a means of regaining governmental
control of the thousands of house churches. This has been only partially
successful. The collapse of Communism in Europe is perceived as due
to "religion", so strict controls are maintained over Christian
and Muslim organizations and all unregistered activity repressed wherever
possible. All figures below are estimates. Non-religious/other 59.1%. Communist Party members are claimed to be about 50 million -- all officially atheist. The atheism propagated in the education system ensures that most young people have no religious knowledge. Chinese religions 27%. A blending of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and folk religion. Buddhist 3%. Traditional Buddhists 24,000,000; strong among the Zhuang, Manchu, Dai, Lahu, Korean, Bulang. Also Lamaistic Buddhists 9,600,000; Tibetans, Mongolians, Naxi, Tu Moimba, Pumi, Yugur, Lhoba. Animist 2.4%. Mainly among the tribal peoples of the south, southwest and far north. Miao, Hani, Yi, Tujia, Yao, Bouyei, Bai, Va Dong, Li, Mulao, She, Gelo, Shui, Qiang, Xibe, Daur, Evenki, etc. Muslim 2.4%. Dominant in Xinjiang and Ningxia. The major religion of the Hui, Uygur, Kazak, Kirgiz, Tajik, Uzbek, Tatar, Dongxiang, Salar and Bonan. There are now 43,000 officially-allowed mosques. Christian 6.1%. Growth 7.7%. Protestant 5.1%. Growth 7.1%. Roman Catholic 0.77%. Growth 10.8%. Indigenous Marginal 0.18%. Growth 13.3%. |
| 1. The growth of the Church in China since 1977
has no parallels in history. Researchers estimated 30-75 million
Christians in 1990 as likely. The State Statistical Bureau in China
confidentially estimated 63 million Protestants and 12 million Catholics
in 1992. Compare this to the estimated 1,812,000 Protestants and 3,300,000
Catholics in 1949. Most of the growth is in the unofficial house fellowship
networks, and through the work of itinerant preachers and numerous
local revival movements. Praise God for: a) The 140 years of sacrificial seed-sowing by thousands of missionaries. At one stage there were 8,500 Protestant missionaries, 1,000 of these being with CIM (OMF). Their labour was not in vain! Yet it was seen wisest by the Lord to remove them before the harvest that He alone get the glory! b) The millions of intercessors who travailed in prayer for the long-delayed breakthrough. Prayer is changing China. c) The manifest bankruptcy of Communism. Colossal blunders and changes in Party policy over 35 years have disillusioned the people. The fall of personality-cult leaders and the failure of promises for a better future have created a vacuum which only the gospel can fill. The Church of the Lord Jesus is larger than the Communist Party of China. Mao Zedong unwittingly became the greatest evangelist in history. The nepotism, corruption and factionalism of the present Communist Party have become repugnant to the majority. d) The Christians who stood firm in what was probably the most widespread and harsh persecution the Church has ever experienced. The persecution purified and indigenized the Church and has inured it to more recent efforts to weaken and destroy it. In the '60s, Wenzhou City in Zhejiang was selected as a model for the campaign for renouncing religion; it is the most Christian city in China today where Christians officially number 300,000. e) The search for Truth among the educated. The tanks of Tiananmen Square crushed the idolatrous trust in democracy as their solution, and led large numbers of young people to faith in Christ since 1989. The old religions of China have not attracted them, but the claims of Christ have. Until then the growth had been among the poor and the rural population; now every stratum of society has been affected. f) The waves of revival that follow every man-induced or natural disaster. The love and testimony of Christians and the power of the Holy Spirit manifested in miracles, healing and exorcism have played their part. g) The fruitfulness of Christian radio and the remarkable faith of those who broadcast into China for years with little visible evidence of a response. |
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| 2. Barriers to the gospel have been broken down by the suffering and distress of wars and revolutions this century. The cloying hold of the old religions of idolatrous Taoism, Buddhism and philosophical Confucianism has been broken, and the foreignness of Christianity dissipated. Now is the time of harvest. Pray that the whole land may be evangelized. Over 80% of the population have known only Communism, so the majority has no faith at all. Possibly 500 million Chinese, especially in remote provinces and ethnic minorities, have never heard the gospel. China's 500 million children and young people under 18 are officially forbidden to be exposed to the gospel. | |
| 3. Population control by draconian legislation and disregard for human rights, family life and moral absolutes have had tragic social consequences with widespread divorce, forced abortion on a massive scale, female infanticide, violence and suicide. Pray for leaders to be raised up for China who will rule with justice. Pray for Christian families to be a light and example to all around. Pray especially that the children of believers may follow in their parents' footsteps, despite mockery, discrimination and a constant barrage of atheistic propaganda. | |
| 4. The Overseas Chinese number at least 56 million. Of these, 28 million live in the four Chinese-majority territories and states of Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao and Singapore. The other 28 million live in over 100 nations of the world. Worldwide there has been a significant turning to God among Chinese with highly visible, often wealthy, churches planted within these Chinese communities. Their interest and concern for the spiritual welfare of China has had significant impact -- in evangelism, church planting, providing aid and Christian literature. Pray for the growth of overseas Chinese churches, their expansion into unreached Chinese communities around the world and development of China-related ministries. | |
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THE CHURCH IN CHINA
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| 1. The TSPM was reconstituted by the government
after 13 years of oblivion. The purpose was to wrest the initiative
from the burgeoning house church movement and for the government to
gain control of the Church; the amount of political interference has
varied widely from district to district. Every form of inducement
to extend control over house churches has been used, including coercion,
military suppression, threats and promises, but with limited results.
In 1991 there were over 7,000 churches linked with the TSPM. Pray
for: a) Leaders who have compromised and have been more concerned to implement government policy than obey the Lord Jesus Christ. b) Many godly leaders and committed believers within the TSPM to remain committed to the Truth and fear God more than man. c) The 13 officially-sanctioned seminaries, one of which is specifically for ethnic minority leaders in Yunnan. Much of the instruction is Marxist-oriented and liberal in theology. There are 700 students preparing for ministry, but not all have a call from the Lord. There is a high drop-out rate, and many become enmeshed in administrative work in the TSPM rather than pastoral ministry. Pray that the true believers among them may not lose their faith but be drawn closer to Jesus despite the negative aspects of their training. |
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| 2. The house church movement and its several networks
is the heart of the true Church of China. Its very weakness
is its strength. Pray for: a) Its commitment to preach Christ and Him crucified whatever the cost and without compromise. The lack of Scriptures and teaching in depth could affect this. b) Its evangelistic outreach. Witnessing Christians and itinerant preachers have spread the gospel far and wide, but many provinces, districts and towns are still unreached. Yet it is this outreach that is most violently opposed by the authorities. Pray that they may be ever more bold for Jesus and implement their missionary strategy for China. c) Its leaders. Some are old veterans whose ministry began before the Communist takeover. Pray that they may lay the theological foundations for the upcoming generation of young leaders. Most of the latter are in their 20s and 30s and only recently converted. Pray for a right balance between control and freedom in leadership style as the new China emerges. d) Its training of leaders. There are known to be dozens of field/mountain seminaries that gather secretly for three months at a time for fellowship, teaching and preparation for ministry. e) Bible study groups on university campuses, which have multiplied since 1989 with students, graduates, professors and researchers participating. New groups were established in over 12 cities in 1991. This has great significance for the future as a new third wave of church growth in China. Pray for the strengthening and growth of these groups. |
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| 3. Revival and reaction. Great turnings
to the Lord over the past 15 years have deeply affected the provinces
of Fujian, Zhejiang, Anhui, Henan and some of the ethnic minorities
of Yunnan. In Henan alone, some claim the number of Christians doubled
between 1989 and 1991. Pray that other provinces less affected may
likewise be touched. The enemy has not been idle. Attacks are coming
through: a) False teachings. The many new, untaught and Bible-less converts have easily fallen prey to doctrinal excesses, distortions and error. Millennial extremes and legalistic teachings are common. Exotic names such as Audible Voice, Queen of the South, Salvation through Knowledge and the Shouters are used. Pray that believers may have discernment and leaders wisdom in correcting these. b) Persecution. This has come in cycles, and was very severe during the Cultural Revolution. Most Bibles were destroyed, believers' homes looted, and believers humiliated. During that time many believers were imprisoned. Between 1983 and 1985, and since 1989, the persecution of unregistered non-TSPM groups and Christian workers has been stepped up. Several thousand believers are known to be imprisoned, and some tortured for their faith since 1989. Pray for the protection and preservation of Christians, and for those imprisoned, and their families, to be upheld. Other Christian workers have been scattered and are in hiding where the pressures have been the most severe. By 1992 it was clear that government policy is to shut down all house churches. The Catholics have suffered particularly severely because of their allegiance to a foreign leader, the Pope. Government control through the puppet CPA has stunted growth and the illegal loyalists have had to carry on very secretively. |
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CHINA'S LESS REACHED
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| 1. The Chinese. The great turning to Christianity
has been more among the Han Chinese. By 1992, 6.5-7% were Christian,
yet the spread of Christians in society is uneven. Pray for: a) Communist Party members. The official number of 51 million members may be unrealistic. Ideology is a facade to cover self-seeking opportunism. Disillusionment and defection to Christianity have led to many resignations. Pray that the Holy Spirit may convict many more of their sin and need. Among them are also many secret believers! b) The armed forces who are the protectors of the Marxist state, and who jealously guard their privileged position. There are 3,030,000 in uniform, but very few Christians among them. c) The "lost generation", the young people mobilized as the Cultural Revolution Red Guards. The millions involved were morally warped and exploited, losing their youth, education prospects and hopes of betterment in the madness of those years. Pray that they may find hope in Christ. d) Those still bound by the idolatrous superstitions of Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism. These customs and philosophies are being revived, but young people are not so attracted to them. A new religion, QiGong, is gaining a large following too. Pray for the millions still bound and needing the freedom only the gospel can give. e) Students who are the key for the future. The shock of the events of 1989 have brought many to Christ, but most of the 2,100,000 university students are still unreached. Pray for Christians among them to be built up in their faith and to be fervent witnesses. Pray also for the establishment of Bible study groups on every one of the 1,075 campuses. Pray also for the evangelization of the Chinese sent to study in Japan (90,000), USA (75,000), Australia (40,000) and elsewhere. A number have found the Lord. f) The cities. Some cities in the southeast and centre of the country have many Christians, but the great Chinese cities of Beijing, Tianjin, Taiyuan, Lanzhou and Shenyang have fewer believers and surveillance of their activities is more marked. In these cities alone live 30 million people. g) The less evangelized provinces predominantly in the north and west. Those with possibly less than 1% Christian are Shanxi, Gansu and Jiangxi. Others with less than 3% Christian are Qinghai, Hebei, Jilin, Liaoning, Hubei and Hunan. Pray that there may be an outpouring of the Spirit on these less-reached Chinese, and pray for evangelists working in these provinces. |
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| 2. Autonomous regions. These have been
established for five of the most populous ethnic minorities -- the
Zhuang, Uygur, Tibetans, Mongolians and the Hui -- and are the least
evangelized areas of China. Massive immigration of Han Chinese has
left only Tibet with a clear indigenous majority. a) Tibet (Xizang Zizhiqu). Population 2,200,000. Tibetans 2,100,000. Tibet lost its temporary independence as a theocratic Buddhist state in 1950 when China invaded the land. The Communists have systematically sought to destroy the culture, religion and ethnic identity of the Tibetan people. Resistance to the occupiers has resulted in frequent revolts and unrest. Over one million people may have lost their lives and a further 100,000 may have been forced into exile including the spiritual and political leader of Tibetans, the Dalai Lama. i) Tibetans have long resisted any attempt to bring the gospel to them. Pray that the present sufferings may be God's means for breaking the demonic bondage of Lamaistic Buddhism. There are no more than a handful of believers in Tibet itself and no known congregations. ii) The political sensitivity and tensions in Tibet make entry and travel difficult for both Chinese and foreign Christians who desire to witness there. Pray for open doors and freedom to proclaim the gospel. iii) The 2,400,000 Tibetans living in the neighbouring provinces of Qinghai, Sichuan and Gansu are more accessible for Christian witness, but only a few workers are concentrating on reaching them. Other ethnic groups in the area are more receptive. Pray for the planting of effective Tibetan churches. iv) 450,000 Tibetans are in exile. Nationalism, strong loyalty to Buddhism, and the careful shielding of Tibetans by the Buddhist authorities from any Christian witness make them hard to reach. There are a few congregations among Tibetans in India and a growing responsiveness in Nepal. b) Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu (Sinkiang): the vast Central Asian region of deserts, mountains and oases -- population 15,155,000 of which the nine Muslim peoples constitute 60% (Uygur, Kazakh, Hui, Kirghiz, Uzbek, Tajik and others); Chinese 39%; Mongolian 1%. There has been a rising level of agitation for independence since the collapse of the USSR in 1990 and considerable resurgence of Iranian-inspired revivalist Islam with many new mosques being built. The proximity of related ethnic groups in the five Central Asian Muslim republics of the former USSR further stimulates nationalistic fervour. i) There were once believers and some churches among the Uygur in the '30s, but in violence and persecution the churches were destroyed and believers killed or scattered. There are now only a handful of believers among the Uygur. Pray for the completion and distribution of the New Testament and also the dissemination of the Jesus film in Uygur. ii) The Muslim Dongxiang, Salar, Bonan, Kazakh, Kirgiz, Tajik, Uzbek and Tatar in both Xinjiang and the adjoining provinces of Qinghai and Gansu are unreached, with no churches and very little long-term Christian witness to them. iii) The 150,000 Christians in Xinjiang, almost all Han Chinese, are culturally isolated from the indigenous population. Pray that they may have a vision for and understanding of witnessing to Muslims. Most live in the capital, Urumqi. There are only about 30-40 known Christians among the non-Chinese; their numbers are growing, but they are subjected to heavy pressure by Muslims to return to Islam. c) Ningxia Hui. Population 4,655,000, of which Han Chinese 70%, Muslim Hui 30%. The Hui live in nearly every part of China, but their highest concentrations are in Ningxia and Gansu. They are Han-Chinese-speaking Putunghua but are recognized as a distinct ethnic group. Efforts to reach them have been sporadic. Pray that recent renewed concern for their evangelization will lead to the calling of Christians to serve among them. There are only a scattered few believers known among them. d) Nei Mongol (Inner Mongolia). Population 21,457,000. Han Chinese 86%. Mongolian 11%. Other 3%. The massive influx of Chinese immigrants has swamped and marginalized the indigenous Mongolians, who have clung to their culture and Buddhist religion. The establishment of democracy in the Republic of Mongolia to the north has provoked demonstrations demanding real autonomy for the Mongolians -- a desire unlikely to be granted by Beijing. There may be no more than 2,000 Mongolian Christians in China. Pray for an opening up of the Mongolians in China to the gospel. Radio ministry is showing promise. The New Testament in Cyrillic script is available in the republic of Mongolia. Pray for the provision of a Mongolian-script New Testament and for those seeking to plant churches among Mongolians. e) Guangxi Zhuang. The Zhuang are China's largest ethnic minority. For years they were largely neglected by Christians, but over the past seven years great efforts have been made to reach them by means of radio, the Jesus film, personal outreach and social programmes. The effects on this Buddhist/animist people have been dramatic, with rapid church growth now taking place. Pray for the complete evangelization of the Zhuang and for the finishing of the New Testament in Zhuang. |
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| 3. Other ethnic minorities. On average,
the percentage of Christians at 1.6% is lower than among the majority
Han Chinese. Of the 55 officially-recognized ethnic minorities, 28
are without a known congregation of believers. Some are totally unreached,
others have a high proportion of Christians. Pray for: a) The Manchu (9.8 mill. 0.01% Christian) who have lost their language and blended in with the Han Chinese. They live in 15 provinces, but the main concentrations are in Liaoning and Jilin in what used to be Manchuria. There may be no more than 1,000 Christians. Renewed interest is being shown in their evangelization. b) The Yi (6.6 mill. 3% Christian), living mainly in Sichuan and Yunnan. Only since 1949 has a small breakthrough come among the Nosu Yi. The Sani Yi are less reached. Scriptures are needed in at least five of the Yi dialects. c) The Tujia (5.7 mill. 0.2% Christian), Dong (2.5 mill. 0.06% Christian), Bouyei (2.5 mill. 0.94% Christian), Li (1.1 mill; Hainan Is; 0.09% Christian) of the southern provinces who are culturally distinct but beginning to merge into the Chinese culture and losing their languages. Although the first churches were planted nearly a century ago, they have never had the Scriptures in their own tongue. d) The unreached peoples of Yunnan. Ethnic minorities comprise 13 million people in 27 groups without a viable church -- Dai, Naxi, Blung, Pumi, Achang, Nung, Jino, Benglong and Drung. Pray that the many Christians among the Lisu (52% Christian), Jingpo (46%), Wa (21%), Lahu (12%), Miao (6%), Hani (4%) and Bai (3%) may catch a vision for the unreached in their area as well as for the relatively few Christians among the Han Chinese of Yunnan. e) The unreached of the northern provinces. Among the following are no known churches: the Buddhist Tu of Qinghai; the Shamanist Xibe of Jilin; the Daur, Oroqen, Hezhen and Evenki of Nei Mongol, the Muslim Salar of Qinghai and Bonan of Gansu. f) The Koreans (1.9 mill., 6.3% Christian) of Jilin and Liaoning, largely unreached, but rapid church growth through evangelism and radio ministry is taking place. Some estimate that there are 130,000 Christians -- some reaching out to relatives in North Korea. |
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| 4. Bible translation is one of the great missions challenges for the '90s. Pray for national and foreign linguists now working on 17 languages, and ask the Lord for translators for the 60 languages for which there is a definite need for a New Testament translation and the 59 others where there may be a need. | |
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SUPPORTIVE MINISTRIES
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| The rapid growth of the Church and its influence
on the democracy movement has heightened the ideological clash since
1989. The Communist Party and the old men that run it feel
threatened by the powerful attraction of Christianity. The influence
of foreign visitors, students and experts, and the pervasive impact
of Christian radio programmes and videos, literature and Bibles have
been perceived as decisive in this. Opposition to and vigilance against
all activities conducted by foreigners has increased since 1989. Pray
that economic desire may overcome ideological fears and keep the door
open for Christians.
1. Missionaries as such are not welcome in China. Yet
China's desire to improve trading relations with the world makes
it possible for many Chinese and foreign Christians to enter as: |
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| 2. Provision of Bibles is totally inadequate, despite the large increase in the number of copies available. The famine of the Scriptures is most acute in provinces far from ports of entry and for the house churches. In some areas there are reported to be 1,000 or more believers for every Bible. Amity Foundation, founded in 1988 and sponsored by the TSPM and the UBS, has set up a large printing operation in China, and over 7 million Bibles and New Testaments have been printed since 1981 -- nearly all going to TSPM congregations. A further 7 million Bibles and New Testaments are estimated to have been brought in by visitors. Pray that this flow might increase and that every Christian might have access to a copy of God's Word. Importation of Bibles is not illegal but prevented for ideological reasons. | |
| 3. Video and audio tapes. The increasing
availability of play-back machines is making foreign-produced Scripture,
song, evangelism and teaching tapes a useful means for disseminating
the Truth. Pray for all involved in preparing and distributing these
tapes. a) The Jesus film is being widely seen on video in homes in 12 completed language versions (eight Chinese dialects and Mongolian, Uygur and Zhuang). A further 14 language editions are planned. Pray that the film may receive official recognition for public showing. b) Teaching tapes that deal with the moral and ethical devastation left by Marxist thought and provide solid biblical teaching are a great need to help the many intellectuals who are coming to faith. Pray for the production of reading materials and tapes to fill this need. |
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| 4. Christian literature. There is an insatiable demand for hymn books, Bible study and teaching materials, biographies, tracts, and apologetic materials to explain the gospel to students and intellectuals. There are now over 40 titles available (Christian Communications Ltd, OMF). Pray for all aspects of publication, entry into China and distribution. Many agencies are involved in this ministry including AO, CCL OD and denominational bodies. Pray for many more writers with experience of life in China to be raised up. Pray for wisdom in selection of materials for printing. | |
| 5. Christian radio has been and still is one of the most potent pre-evangelism and Christian teaching media for China today. Nearly every home now has a radio and a TV. Over 678 hours of broadcasting a week is pouring into China in five Chinese dialects (515 hours in Putunghua alone!) and Akha, Zhuang, Korean, Lahu, Lisu, Mongolian, Miao, Shan, Tibetan, Uygur and Wa. Pray especially for the extensive China-oriented broadcasting of FEBC (Manila, Saipan, Korea and Russia), and TWR (Guam). There are many major programme producers such as AO, OMF, CCRC Seminary of the Air and CMA. Pray for wisdom in programme selection and preparation that the message may meet the real needs of the people. There were over 50,000 letters received from listeners between 1979 and 1984, and the volume has continued to increase. Pray for listeners and those who seek to help them. The authorities have fined believers and confiscated radios in some areas for listening to these broadcasts. | |
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Country : CHINA (Taiwan)
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| Population | 21,507,000 |
| Peoples | Han Chinese 97.8% speaking three major
languages: Taiwanese (Hoklo, Minnan) 66.7%. Settled in Taiwan for 300 years. Hakka 11%. Settled in Taiwan for 200 years. Mandarin 20.1%. Refugees from mainland China 1945-50. Almost entirely urban. Malayo-Polynesian mountain peoples 1.7% (10 groups). Largest: Ami 153,000; Paiwan 81,000; Tayal 63,000; Bunum 34,000; Taroko 28,000; Drukai 10,000; Yami 2,600. Other 0.5%. Filipino 50,000; Westerners 25,000; Japanese 10,000; Mongolian 6,000; Tibetan 2,000. |
| Literacy | 92%. Official language and language of education: Mandarin. Hoklo and Hakka are widely spoken. All languages 21. Languages with Scriptures 5Bi 5NT 1por. |
| Cities | Capital: Taipei 2,719,000. Major city: Kaoshiung 1,386,000. Urbanization 74%. |
| Economy | Rapid industrialization and economic growth to become the world's 14th largest trading power. Unemployment 1.8%. Public debt/person $186. Income/person $7,510 (36% of USA). |
| Politics | Under Japanese rule 1895-1945, then reverting to China. After the fall of mainland China to the Communists in 1949, Taiwan became the refuge of the Nationalist Chinese government, which still claims to represent all China. This led to international diplomatic isolation and internal political polarization between the mainlanders and many of the indigenous Taiwanese on the issue of continuing part of greater China or independence. Taiwan was effectually a mainlander-dominated one-party republic until the 1987 elections. Since then a more multi-party democracy has emerged. Increasing unofficial trading and tourist links with the mainland, but only if democracy comes would reunification become likely. |
| Religion | Secular state with freedom of religion. Non-religious/other 24.2%. Many younger people are secular and abandon their family religions. Chinese folk religions/Buddhism 70.4%. Blend of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism, with strong emphasis on veneration of ancestors. Muslim 0.4%. Post-war immigrant Hui. Christian 5%. Affil 4.83% Growth 1.6%. Protestant 3.1%. Affil 3% Growth 1.9%. Roman Catholic 1.6%. Affil 1.52%. Growth 0.6%. Foreign Marginal 0.1%. Growth 10.3%. Indigenous Marginal 0.2% Growth 1.4%. |
| 1. Taiwan's political future is a matter for intense political debate and international diplomacy. The growing political power of the Marxist mainland and economic power of capitalist Taiwan are major factors in the world today. Pray for wisdom and guidance for Chinese and international leaders. The President is a committed Christian. | |
| 2. The Church in Taiwan has
stagnated for 30 years. After encouraging growth between 1940
and 1960 with a revival and people movement among the mountain people,
and many conversions among the Mandarin-speaking mainland refugees,
the percentage of Christians has remained static and the Catholics
even declined. The breakthrough for the gospel has not yet come. Pray
down the barriers to growth: a) Satanic bondage. Subjection to the spirit world, gambling and material greed must be broken. b) Resurgence of Buddhism and Taoism. There are over 8,700 temples in the land. Few Chinese want to give up ancestor worship. c) Divisions among Christians -- between the older Presbyterian Taiwanese and the newer, more conservative, Mandarin-speaking denominations, and between denominations of Chinese and Western origin. d) The lack of pastors and full-time workers. In most churches the congregation sits back expecting the pastor to do all the work. e) Low commitment. Too few of those converted and baptized ever become active participants in congregational life, and there is a high drop-out rate. Few Christians become soul-winners. |
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| 3. The Year 2000 Gospel Movement was born in 1988.
The vision and dynamism of this movement has drawn together most of
the denominations and Christian workers in a cooperative effort to
analyse the need and evangelize the lost by personal witnessing, mass
evangelism and use of the mass media. Goals: a) For every person in Taiwan to have opportunity to hear the gospel in their own language. b) To increase believers to two million in 10,000 churches. This would mean increasing annual church growth from 2.7% to 16%. c) Ten percent of the population to be Christian. It is now nearly 5%. d) To send out 200 cross-cultural missionaries. The present number is around 20. To achieve this would be a dramatic turn-around in the only major Chinese society where there has not been significant church growth this generation. Pray for a nation-wide prayer movement that can unite and ignite the Church for revival, evangelism and missions. |
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| 4. Protestants are unequally distributed among the different linguistic groups. The majority of mountain peoples are nominally Protestant (23% actively so) as are 4.6% of Mandarin, 1% of Taiwanese, and only 0.2% of Hakka. Pray that Hoklo (Taiwanese) and Hakka groups might become more receptive to the gospel. | |
| 5. There are 609 mountain churches throughout the tribal areas and some in cities. Most are Presbyterian, though an increasing number are of other denominations or sectarian groups such as True Jesus and Mormons. The breakdown of tribal and family life has been hastened by alcoholism, the drift to the cities, the pervasive influence of TV, increased education of young people, and inability of parents to control and raise their children in a changing society. God gave revival to the Tayal in 1973 and Ami in 1983. Pray for revival that will combat nominalism, spiritual decline and inadequate Bible teaching in these churches. Bible translation work is not yet complete -- in six peoples there is a definite need, and in two others a possible need, but work is in progress only in the Yami language on Orchid Island. | |
| 6. The lack of pastors is serious but slowly improving. Many rural congregations in Taiwan are without pastors, the critical issue being low levels of giving in churches. There are over 20 seminaries and Bible schools, some with international acclaim, such as the China Evangelical Seminary. Pray for staff and students, and for relevant, spiritual training to be provided. More effective lay training programmes are also essential, so pray for TEE courses with over 800 studying in 60 centres. | |
| 7. The witness among students is encouraging. The 576,000 students in 121 universities and colleges are one of the most open sections of the community. Many churches have well-used student centres. Campus Evangelical Fellowship (IFES) has an outreach to students with 40 full-time staff workers ministering also in secondary schools. CCC also has a large campus ministry. It is now permitted to form Christian groups in middle and high schools. Pray that this golden opportunity may be taken up and for vital, growing groups with the integration of young believers into churches. | |
| 8. Missions were pioneered by the Presbyterians, but a great influx of new missions entered after their expulsion from mainland China in 1950. The majority concentrated on the Mandarin minority, and few went on to learn a second or third language. The Taiwanese and Hakka majority have been largely ignored until recently. There are many openings for missionaries in evangelism, church planting, Bible teaching and stimulating local congregations. Teaching English as a foreign language is a useful key for evangelism. The rising cost of living and uncertainty of usefulness in Taiwan has caused many missionaries to leave. Pray in those called of God and willing to identify culturally in this day of opportunity. Some of the largest agencies are: OMF (134 missionaries), SBC (107), TEAM (60), Norwegian Lutheran Mission (52), []SEND (43), OMS (42), Finnish Lutheran Mission (38), Norwegian Mission Alliance (32), CBFMS (31), YWAM (27), CMA (25). Major missionary-contributing nations: USA (638), Korea (94), Norway (86), Finland (59). | |
| 9. Missions vision was once higher; Taiwan's political isolation has made Christians too introspective. Student missions conferences have created much interest (CEFV-IFES). Pray for a reawakening of interest and commitment to pray and send out more missionaries. Training programmes for missionary preparation are increasing in number and scope. There is a growing interest in ministry in Mainland China as political and economic links increase. | |
| 10. Less evangelized areas and peoples: a) The Hakka communities in the northeast and the southeast. There is now a national group: "The World Hakka Evangelical Association". Several missions have opened a ministry among them ([]SEND, OMF, WEC, YWAM, Presbyterians and others). b) The rural areas; mainly Hoklo. Half of the 369 districts have few churches, 63 have only one church, 11 have none. c) The new industrial zones. Many workers are new to the cities and more responsive. Pray for the Industrial Evangelical Fellowship which encourages an outreach to them, and for OMF missionaries who are also involved. d) The 60,000 Chinese Muslims of the Hui minority. There is no outreach to them. e) The Penghu Islanders numbering 97,000. In 1964 there were 17 churches, but now two-thirds are closed. 10,000 Vietnam Chinese have been settled on the islands. |
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| 11. Help ministries: a) Christian literature. Much is now being published of both local and foreign origin. Pray for efforts by CEF(IFES) and others to sell Christian literature through the secular book market. b) Radio. Pray for fruit from extensive coverage by local broadcasters and by FEBC and TWR from abroad. In 1990 there were 500 hours of Mandarin, six hours of Taiwanese and 1.7 hours of Hakka evangelical broadcasting every week. c) Christian video tapes, a key tool for evangelism. Most of the population has access to a video recorder. Several Christian agencies are seeking to supply good tapes. |
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Country : COLOMBIA
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| Population | 34,939,000 |
| Peoples | Spanish-speaking 98.6%. Estimated composition:
Mestizo (Eurindian) 57.6%; European 20%; Mulatto (Eurafrican) 14%;
African 4%; Zombo (Afro-Indian) 3%. Indigenous Amerindian 0.78%. (50% of population in 1850). Still speaking 65 languages in 12 language families. Largest: Guahibo 80,000; Paez 44,000; Catio (Embera) 40,000. Other 0.6%. Gypsy 39,000; Arab 32,000; English-speaking 13,000; Chinese 7,000. |
| Literacy | 70%. Official language: Spanish. All languages 79. Languages with Scriptures 1Bi 27NT 21por. |
| Cities | Capital: Santa Fe de Bogotá 6,000,000. Other cities: Medellín 2,500,000; Cali 1,630,000; Barranquilla 1,220,000. Urbanization 67%. |
| Economy | Major export earners: oil and coffee (legal) and cocaine (illegal). Colombia processes 80% of the world's supply of cocaine. A great difference between the incomes of the rich and poor. Unemployment 18%. Public debt/person $534. Income/person $1,190 (5.6% of USA). |
| Politics | Independent of Spain in 1819 as part of Grand Colombia. A separate state in 1831. Polarization between Conservatives and Liberals has given 150 years of partisan politics, dictatorships and civil war. Those unrepresented by the two contending parties turned to support a variety of violent Marxist guerrilla groups. Some of the latter have aligned themselves with drug cartels who have their own terror groups, leading to a pandemic of assassinations and kidnappings. The constitution of 1991 and elections of 1992 are aimed at bringing the cycle of violence to an end, but the level of violence has continued to increase. |
| Religion | After years of persecution of and discrimination against
religious minorities, the privileged position of the Roman Catholic
Church was removed by the 1991 Constitution, which accords greater
freedom to ethnic and religious minorities. Non-religious/other 1.6%. Tribal religions 0.5%. Muslim 0.2%. Jews 0.1%. Baha'i 0.1%. Christian 97.5%. Affil 95.9%. Growth 2.2%. Protestant 3.8%. Growth 4.6%. Roman Catholic 93.1%. Affil 91.53%. Growth 2%. Other Catholic 0.01%. Affil 0.01%. Growth 3.2%. Orthodox 0.02%. Growth 2.7%. Marginal 0.6%. Growth 13.1%. |
| 1. Colombia has a reputation for being possibly one of the most violent countries in the world. Leftist guerrilla movements and the drug-trafficking "barons" dominate many areas of the country. Corruption, blackmail, kidnapping, assassination and revenge murders have brutalized society, which is fast losing moral values and ethical standards. Pray for the political, legal and spiritual leaders of the nation -- for their safety and courage to stand up for the right. Pray that Christians may remain untainted by the evils of their society and become God's instruments for moral, social and spiritual change. Pray that the anger and fear of ordinary people may turn many to personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour. | |
| 2. Satan's hold on Colombia must be broken by prayer. Widespread occult practices, the web of powers linking corrupt leaders, drug dealers, the private armies and others all conspire to hinder the advance of the gospel through the intimidation of Christians and missionaries and closing areas of the country for the free proclamation of the gospel. | |
| 3. The 1991 Constitution has brought a glimmer of hope with the opening up of the democratic process to those previously unrepresented, reforming the judicial system damaged by the violence of the drug wars, and granting greater religious freedom. The spate of violence has decreased, but pray for the breaking of the power of the drug syndicates and for alternative employment for the many who have earned their livelihood from drug-trafficking. | |
| 4. The Roman Catholic Church has exerted an enormous influence on every part of society, but the changing political scene has radically affected it. The main body of the church is strongly traditional, but the charismatic movement has had a wide impact. Yet 70% of all "Catholics" never go to Mass. Pray that the slackening of ties to the state in the new Constitution may open up the way for spiritual renewal. | |
| 5. Evangelical growth has been significant.
In 1933 there were only 15,000 Evangelicals. Subsequent persecution
reached a peak in La Violencia between 1948 and 1960, when religious
bigotry provoked the destruction of churches and the robbery, rape
and murder of believers. The last 30 years have yielded a harvest
from among a receptive people. Aggressive local, city-wide and national
evangelistic outreaches have resulted in an eightfold increase in
congregations and Evangelical believers. The level of violence in
the country and internal problems have slowed the growth of late.
Pray for solutions in: a) The leadership crisis, which has grown with the growth of the churches. There are too few deeply taught in the Word, too many personality clashes, and a tendency to autocratic leadership which has divided or distracted many congregations and denominations. There are more than 20 theological institutions training pastors. b) The moral crisis. Fear silences many Christians when confronted by the corruption and violence of their society. Laxity in morals and finance has damaged the effectiveness of many Christian workers and groups. Pray for high standards of biblical holiness among the people of God. c) The disunity crisis. Divisions within the Body of Christ have become a discredit to the name of the Lord and a poor witness to the government and people. Many denominations have been split over bitter personal rivalries, legal rights, properties and relationships between missionaries and Colombians. CEDECOL, the Evangelical Confederation of Colombia, is a body that links over 50 evangelical denominations and coordinates inter-church action. Pray for a decisive work of healing and spiritual unity. |
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| 6. Missionaries live under great stress -- especially those from the USA. Some have been murdered, others have received death threats and many have had to be withdrawn from ministry in dangerous areas where leftist or narcotics terrorism is rife. Pray for courage and faithfulness to their calling. Internal mission/church relationships have been a source of tension, division and grief. Great humility and sensitivity is required in the complex ecclesiastical scene in order to have a viable, fruitful ministry. Major mission agencies: SIL/WBT (278), NTM (168), SBC (55), CMA (37), AoG (33), Brethren (29), TEAM (25), OMS (24), and ABWE (19). Major missionary-contributing nations: USA (728), Canada (78), UK (30). | |
| 7. Colombian missionary vision needs stimulation. Many Amerindian peoples are closed to foreigners, but only a few Colombians have committed themselves to evangelize them. A handful of Colombians have gone to other lands, but church support is limited. The Spanish edition of Operation World is published in Colombia. Pray for the ongoing ministry of the COMIBAM committee in inspiring Christians to mission. | |
| 8. Unreached peoples. Pray specifically for: a) Less evangelized cities. Medellín, with Evangelicals only 0.4% of its population, is renowned for its hardness to the gospel. Medellín is the nation's crime and narcotics capital with 300 gangs of paid killers and 7,000 murders per year. The city of Cali is also a special challenge for the gospel. Cooperation between denominations in Medellín, Barranquilla and Cartagena has led to many conversions (LAM). b) Nearly two million in Bogotá's slums. c) The thousands of Gamines, or homeless street urchins of the cities. YWAM and WEC have a ministry to them. d) The urban middle class which has been stricken by the economic and political crises of the past decade. They are possibly the least responsive section of society. e) The Syrian-Lebanese Muslim community, which numbers around 12,000. f) Amerindian peoples closed to evangelical church planters. Possibly 30-40 are in this category -- including the Inga, Coreguaje, Cuiba, Desano, Epena, Huitoto, Saliba and Tucano. |
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| 9. Work among Amerindians has been a constant
struggle -- travel and living conditions, indifference of
the people, opposition of officials and anthropologists, inter-mission
rivalry and recently narcotics terrorists who force the Amerindians
to grow cocaine and marijuana. The 1991 Constitution grants wide autonomy
to tribes in the rain forests. In spite of it all, there has been
some response with people movements to Christ. Pray for: a) Strong, viable, well-led churches, able to cope with drug traffickers and modernization. b) Church-planting ministries of NTM (in 10 peoples), South American Mission in three northeastern peoples, CMA in two peoples, etc. c) Bible translation: SIL has 145 workers committed to 33 translation projects; a number of NTs are nearing completion, and between four and 13 languages await translators. d) GRn recordings which are available in 58 languages. e) The opening up of areas and peoples long closed to the gospel by government restrictions or terrorism. |
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| 10. Supportive ministries. a) Literature is not sufficiently used; few churches have a vision for a literature ministry, yet it could be a major corrective for the lack of Bible teaching. CLC has four bookstores, a wide distribution network for literature, and a growing productivity as a publisher of locally-produced Spanish titles. Desafio, a WEC magazine, is used for evangelism by 51% of evangelical churches. b) Student work has been slow and hard. Marxist ideology once dominated the campuses, but now a new spirit of enquiry and openness to the gospel prevails. UCU (IFES) groups have multiplied, under a vision to see an evangelical group witnessing on each campus. c) Christian radio. Evangelicals have little access to national radio and none to TV networks. However, six evangelical broadcasters -- including HCJB (Ecuador), TWR (Bonaire), FEBC and High Adventure (USA) -- broadcast 686 hours a week in Spanish. HCJB also broadcasts 1/2 hour per week in the Inga Quechua language. |
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Country : COMORO ISLANDS
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| Population | 509,000 |
| Peoples | Comorian 96.9%. Mixed Arab, African and
Malagasy ancestry. Minorities 3.1%. Makua 7,000; French 1,700; Malagasy 700; Arab 500; Réunionese 500. |
| Literacy | 46%. Official languages: Arabic, French. Three dialects of Comorian Swahili are widely spoken. Languages with Scriptures 2Bi 2por. |
| Cities | Capital: Moroni 23,000. Urbanization 27%. |
| Economy | Underdeveloped and poor. Vanilla and perfume oils are virtually the only exports, but the collapse of world prices for these commodities has further depressed economic life. Unemployment over 36%. Public debt/person $370. Income/person $460 (2% of USA). |
| Politics | A one-party state until 1990, when multi-party democratic government was instituted. There have been numerous coups and attempted coups since independence, some involving foreign mercenaries and French military intervention. |
| Religion | All open witness is forbidden in this Islamic state. Muslim 98%. Indigenous Comorians are almost entirely Muslim, also some Bantu Makua and Malagasy. There are 780 mosques. Non-religious/other 1.4%. Christian 0.6%. Protestant 0.16%. Mainly Malagasy in several groups. About 120 Comorian believers. Roman Catholic 0.46%. Mainly French, Malagasy and Réunionese. |
| 1. The islanders were completely unevangelized before 1973. They are strong Muslims, but also deeply involved in occult practices and spirit possession. Yet many young people are disillusioned with life in Islamic society which offers so little hope. Even today, open Christian witness is forbidden, so intercede for the opening of this land for God's Word. | |
| 2. The quiet witness of 29 AIM medical and veterinary workers in the Republic and on Mayotte has won credit and public honour as well as opportunities to quietly share the Lord Jesus with the people. Pray for continued and increased opportunities for witness and that such may bear fruit. | |
| 3. Comorian believers have steadily increased in numbers through the witness and leadership of the first convert. The believers have suffered periods of intense persecution and are not legally permitted to meet openly. Pray for other leaders to be raised up for the several groups of believers. Pray also for the witness of Malagasy and other believers from minority groups. | |
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Country : THE TERRITORIAL
COLLECTIVITY OF MAYOTTE
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| Population | 98,000 |
| Peoples | Comorian 94.7%. Mainly Maore. European 2.5%. Mainly French. Other 2.8%. Mainland African (3) 1,100; Malagasy 1,000. |
| Literacy | 32%. Official language: French; shiMaore (the local Swahili dialect) and Malagasy widely used. |
| Cities | Capital: Dzaoudzi 5,400. Mamoudzou (capital designate) 7,325. Urbanization 60%. |
| Economy | Limited natural resources or exportable commodities, yet more prosperous than the rest of the Comoros through French aid and military base. |
| Politics | French rule is challenged by the Comorian government, but neither the local people nor the French administration have shown much enthusiasm for change. |
| Religion | There is freedom of religion. Muslim 96.9%. Almost all Comorians, most of the Africans and some Malagasy are Sunni Muslim, but mosque attendance is low. Non-religious/other 0.4%, mainly French. Christian 2.7%. Affil 2%. Growth 6.7%. Protestant 0.4%. Affil 0.17%. Growth 3.7%. Evangelicals 0.04% of population. Missionaries to Comoros and Mayotte 37 (1:14,000 people) in 4 agencies. Roman Catholic 2.2%. Affil 1.7% Growth 6.6%. Missionaries to Comoros and Mayotte 10 (1:61,000 people). Marginal 0.1%. Jehovah's Witnesses. |
| 1. Direct evangelism is permitted, but not necessarily well received by the Muslim majority. Pray for the witness of AIM missionaries on Mayotte and other islands, and for an increase in their numbers to expand both their evangelistic efforts and offers of social help through medicine and teaching. | |
| 2. The only organized Protestant churches in the four islands are two evangelical groups among the Malagasy on Grand Comore and Mayotte, and isolated Christians elsewhere. Pray for their witness. The few Comorian believers are culturally so different that they cannot easily integrate into these groups. Pray for the right church-planting strategy to be applied. | |
| 3. Christian help ministries are more easily based on Mayotte. Pray for ongoing Bible translation programmes into two of the Comorian dialects. AIM also runs a literacy programme on Mayotte. FEBA-Seychelles broadcasts to the islands for ten hours a week in French and three in Swahili. | |
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Country : CONGO
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| Population | 2,289,000 |
| Peoples | Over 75 ethnic groups. Bantu 93.7%. 62 groups. Largest: Kongo (10) 836,000; Teke (15) 490,000; Mboshi (6) 195,000; Mbete (6) 140,000; Sira-Punu (4) 80,000; Bungi 67,000; Lingala 60,000; Maka-Njem (4) 36,000; Kota (5) 9,000. Adamawa 2.8%. Sango 54,000; Gbaya 2,000. Pygmy 1.5%. 5 groups. Bayaka 20,000; Monzombo 6,000. Other 2%. Hausa 4,000; French 28,000; Portuguese 600; Greek 400. |
| Literacy | 63%. Official language: French. Trade languages: Lingala, Munukutuba. All languages 60. Languages with Scriptures 4Bi 4NT 12por. |
| Cities | Capital: Brazzaville 800,000. Other city: Pointe Noire 300,000. Urbanization 51%. |
| Economy | Economy: Interior underdeveloped due to limited transportation. Rich oil and mineral deposits, but over-dependence on oil and the fall in world prices, as well as massive embezzlement of government funds, have reduced government spending and living standards. Public debt/person $2,379. Income/person $900 (4.3% of USA). |
| Politics | Politics: Independent from France in 1960. A Marxist-Leninist People's Republic 1968-1991, but in the '80s the ideological rhetoric waned as the economy declined. Constitutional reform opened the way for multi-party democracy in 1992 and elections in 1992 and 1993. |
| Religion | Religion: During the Marxist period, the youth were
heavily indoctrinated against religion, 18 denominations were banned
and some missions expelled. All restrictions have now been removed
and freedom of religion declared. African traditional religions 10.2%. Non-religious/other 2.7%. Baha'i 0.4%. Muslim 1.3%. Christian 85.4%. Nom 7.6%. Affil 75.63%. Growth 3.4%. Protestant 22%. Affil 20%. Growth 4.8%. Roman Catholic 50%. Affil 44.58%. Growth 2.3%. Orthodox 0.02%. Affil 0.02%. Growth 0%. Foreign Marginal 0.38%. Growth 10.7%. Indigenous Marginal 13%. Affil 10.78%. Growth 5.2%. |
| 1. Praise God that there is once more religious freedom. Years of intense pressure and discrimination have ended. Pray for stability in the nation in times of painful economic and social transition. Pray that Christians with high moral and spiritual standards may be appointed to positions of influence. | |
| 2. Tribal religions were encouraged by the former regime, and Christians pressured to compromise with fetishism and ancestor worship. During this period, prophetic-healing syncretic churches multiplied. Pray for revival and restoration of biblical standards where churches have failed, and pray that believers may be bold and forthright in challenging the powers of darkness inside and outside the churches. | |
| 3. Church growth has been dramatic. There were periods of revival in the '20s and in 1947 which gave stability in the storms of the '70s and '80s. Training of leadership suffered in the time of persecution. Pray for the training of leaders in three Bible schools. UWM has a four-year residential Bible training school as well as a TEE programme. | |
| 4. Young people grew up hearing much anti-Christian propaganda. Church youth work was severely limited for years. Pray that churches may effectively win and disciple the younger generation. | |
| 5. The centre and north of the country are thinly populated, and many parts are difficult for travel. But there is a growing response to the gospel and a great need for those who can help establish strong, local churches. As a result of economic conditions, the churches generally are financially poor. | |
| 6. Mission work suffered in the '70s with many workers expelled and institutions expropriated. Pray for the wise resumption of activities that most enhance the growth of God's kingdom. Over half the missionary force is Scandinavian. The largest missions are the Swedish and Norwegian Mission Covenant Church working with the Evangelical Church (54), WBT/SIL (16), Salvation Army (9), AoG (7), UWM (6), and Global Outreach (3). Major missionary-contributing nations: USA (42), Sweden (41), Norway (15). | |
| 7. Unreached peoples. The needs for evangelization
must be better researched. a) Parts of the large Teke tribe in the centre and north are unreached. b) The Pygmy tribes are semi-nomadic jungle groups who are hard to reach. Their numbers are unknown, but may be over 30,000. UWM started work among them in 1991. c) Other tribes -- Punu, Nzebi, Pol, Tsaangi, Pande -- are believed to be unreached, but there is little information to clarify this. |
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| 8. Bible translation -- the two main languages of communication, Kongo and Lingala, have the complete Bible. Pray for the growing team of 19 SIL workers as they seek to determine which of the 37 languages require a New Testament. Translation projects in hand number 15 and there is a definite need for four more. | |
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Country : COOK ISLANDS
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| Population | Cook Is 18,300 Niue 2,112 Tokelau 1,700 |
| Peoples | Cook Island: Polynesian (4 languages)
81.6%; Euronesian 15.4%; European 2.4%; Other 0.6%. Niue: Polynesian 96%; European 2.6%; Other 1.4%. Tokelau: Polynesian 98%; Other 2%. |
| Literacy | 92% (Cook); 99% (Niue & Tokelau). Official languages: English, Cook Island Maori. All languages 7. Languages with Scriptures 4Bi. |
| Cities | Capitals: Avarua 10,000 (Cook). Alofi 1,022 (Niue). |
| Economy | Heavily dependent on aid from New Zealand and remittances from migrants. Isolation and irregular transport inhibits development. Income/person: Cook $1,250 (5.9% of USA); Niue $1,080 (5.1% of USA); Tokelau $670 (3.2% of USA). |
| Politics | Cook and Niue Islands are self-governing states in free association with New Zealand. Tokelau is a non-self-governing territory of New Zealand. |
| Religion | Freedom of religion, but with the Congregational Church
in each island group effectually the established Church. Main statistics
for Cook Is: Non-religious/other 1.4%. Baha'i 0.8%. Christian 97.8%. Affil 90%. Growth -0.4%. Protestant 78.1%. Affil 72.2%. Growth -0.8%. Roman Catholic 13.2%. Affil 12.1%. Growth -1.1%. Marginal 6.5%. Affil 5.7%. Growth 6.9%. Niue: Protestant 74%; Catholic 6.5%; Mormon 16%; Other 3.5%. Tokelau: Protestant 62%; Catholic 33%; Marginal 5%. |
| 1. The Christian influence has been strong for 150 years. The integration of secular and religious leadership has created what are virtually theocratic states. Church attendance is high, but few have assurance of salvation. | |
| 2. Many islands have no known evangelical witness. There are Evangelicals in several AoG churches and small groups within the older churches. Pray for a new infusion of spiritual life. | |
| 3. Migration to New Zealand for employment has given another means of bringing new life into the islands. 77% of Niue, 66% of Tokelau and 60% of Cook Islanders are now in New Zealand. Pray for the Island churches in Auckland and other New Zealand cities. Blessing there will affect the islands. | |
| 4. Many nominal Christians have been led astray by Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses. Pray for an effective discipling and teaching ministry on the Islands. | |
| 5. Bible translation. A revision of the Rarotongan Bible is needed (UBS), and possibly translation into the smaller languages. | |
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Country : COSTA RICA
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| Population | 3,374,000 |
| Peoples | Spanish-speaking 95%. European 2,600,000;
Mestizo 259,000. English-speaking 3%. Afro-Caribbean 90,000. Amerindian 0.43%. Five peoples: Bribri 4,500; Cabécar 4,500; Guaymi 2,400; Burunca 1,200; Maleku 520. Most of these languages are dying out as they are absorbed into the Spanish-speaking population. Other 1.57%. Chinese 30,000; Europeans 21,000. Refugees. At one time there were 300,000 Nicaraguans; 60,000 still remain. |
| Literacy | 93%. Official language: Spanish. English and Mekitelyu spoken on Caribbean coast. All languages 10. Languages with Scriptures 2Bi 5NT 6por. |
| Cities | Capital: San José 1,104,000. Urbanization 51%. |
| Economy | Decline between 1979-88. Main exports are bananas, coffee and textiles. Tourism is also important. Unemployment 6.2%. Public debt/person $1,200. Income/person $1,760 (8.3% of USA). |
| Politics | Independent of Spain in 1821. A long history of stable, multi-party democratic government. Costa Rica has exercised a stabilizing influence in the conflicts of surrounding lands. |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism is the official religion, but there
is freedom for other faiths. However, other religions are not yet
equal before the law, and Evangelicals can be subject to discriminatory
legislation and actions by the authorities. Non-religious/other 5.8%. Baha'i 0.30%. Chinese Religions 0.27%. Jews 0.2%. Christian 93.4%. Affil 91.8%. Growth 2%. Protestant 10.7%. Growth 8.6%. Roman Catholic 80%. Affil 78.4%. Growth 1.1%. Marginal 2.7%. Growth 7.7%. |
| 1. Praise God for the present time of harvest. The evangelical population has more than doubled in the '80s through vigorous witnessing to their faith. As a result, a movement of the Spirit has swept through the land. | |
| 2. The Roman Catholic Church was much influenced by charismatic renewal in the '70s. Many came to a living, personal faith in Christ for salvation. The large exit of Catholics to other churches and sects has provoked others to revert to traditional doctrines and political activism to protect their privileged position. Pray that charismatic and evangelical Catholics may stand firm against these tendencies. Pray for the majority of Costa Ricans who are, at best, nominally Catholic. Many are in great need -- immorality, alcoholism and spiritism are rife. | |
| 3. Evangelicals have multiplied in numbers.
Pray that leaders may be filled with wisdom, humility and dependence
on God, and for the effective discipleship of new believers. The dangers
to pray against are: a) A high rate of backsliding. Former Evangelicals outnumber active ones. Backsliders either return to the Catholic Church, join a sect, or reject religion altogether. b) Secularism and materialism which are sapping the vitality of Christians in urban areas. In rural areas legalism is a real problem. c) Disunity. Polarization and denominational splits are hindrances to cooperative effort and spiritual fellowship. |
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| 4. Improved leadership training has hastened growth. There are 26 Bible schools and seminaries, and an extensive TEE programme. IMDELA (Missiological Institute of the Americas) has opened a residential and extension programme in missions. Pray for leaders who inspire the churches to missionary vision and outreach. | |
| 5. Costa Rica 2000 is a national saturation church-planting plan coordinated by the Costa Rican Evangelical Alliance and the Evangelism-in-Depth Institute. This seeks to mobilize Evangelicals to reach every sector of society and every area of the country by the year 2000. Pray for close cooperation and a spirit of prayer among Christians that this vision be accomplished. | |
| 6. Alcance 2000 is a focal point of the growing missionary movement in the country. The vision is to mobilize 12,000 prayer warriors, target 50 unreached peoples around the world, and send out 500 cross-cultural missionaries by the year 2000. Pray for the realization of this. Pray also for FEDEMEC (Federation of Evangelical Missions), founded in 1985 and based at the Costa Rican Center for World Mission in San José, which is deeply committed to this vision. Pray for Costa Ricans serving as missionaries in other lands. | |
| 7. Special evangelistic challenges: a) Students have proved less responsive to the gospel, and drug addiction has become a serious problem. Christian student leadership has been weak in the past. There is a growing national student movement linked with ECU (IFES), Alfa y Omega (CCC), Maranatha (a Pentecostal student work) and others. b) All Amerindian tribes tribes are being evangelized but most are either nominally Catholic or animist. There is, however, a vocal, syncretic, indigenous organization committed to ending missionary work among them. There is a strong indigenous church among the Cabécar, and Evangelical missionary input to the Boruca, Bribri, Guaymi and Maleku, but pray that truly indigenous churches using their mother tongues may be established. c) Chinese. Some have become Catholic, and there are now a few Evangelicals in three small groups. The Chinese Christian Mission started a work among them in 1985. Continued immigration from Asia and emigration to North America make for instability in the congregations. d) The Mekitelyu Afro-Caribbean community on the Caribbean coast is nominally Protestant, but few people have a vital, life-affecting faith in Christ. Pray for ongoing evangelistic campaigns and that these may result in Mekitelyu-speaking congregations. e) Muslim immigrants are few, but increasing. Mainly Arab, Iranian and South Asian. |
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| 8. Missions. The largest agencies are LAM (86), Southern Baptists (33), Calvary Ministries (24), CRWM (24), CAMI (22), AoG (21), CoN (18). The stability of the country has made this a good base for many regional and global ministries. Pray for cooperation and close fellowship between agencies, for there is a frustrating duplication of effort and a dominance of North Americans in many supportive agencies. Visas are becoming more difficult to obtain. Major missionary-contributing nations: USA (358), Canada (38). | |
| 9. Christian help ministries: a) Radio and TV. There are three Christian radio and three TV stations; other secular stations air Christian programmes. Pray that efforts to restrict this ministry may fail. Also pray that broadcasts may lead to conversion among the unsaved and growth among the Christians. b) LAM's "Christ for the City" vision. This has resulted in short-term team ministry in other lands and childcare clinics and outreach in Costa Rican shanty towns. c) The Bible Society. Demand for Scriptures is strong and growing. Pray that no opposition may succeed in preventing the distribution of Scriptures. d) The Spanish Language Institute where many missionaries learn Spanish. Pray for staff and missionary students. |
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Country : COTE D'IVOIRE
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| Population | 15,315,000 |
| Peoples | Over 100 ethnic groups; double that if immigrant minority
communities are included. Africans indigenous to Côte d'Ivoire 74.4%. Akan 30.1%. 20 groups: Baoulé 1,920,000; the dominant people today. Lagoon peoples (14) 900,000; Agni 548,000; Nzema 60,000. Gur 11.7%. 37 groups: Senoufo (32 dialects) 805,000; Koulango 197,000; Lobi 140,000; Tagouana 124,000; Téén (Lorhon) 6,000. Krou 10.5%. 16 groups: Bété 479,000; Guéré 286,000; Dida (2) 176,000; Wobe 141,000; Krou (6) 44,000; Niaboua 36,000; Godie 24,000; Kouya 9,000. Mande 10.7%. 9 groups: Malinké 705,000; Dioula 357,000; Maou 152,000; Soninké 100,000; Bisa 83,000; Koyaka 72,000; Wassulunké 15,000. South Mande 7.7%. 9 groups: Yakouba 491,000; Gouro 299,000; Toura 35,000; Gagou 33,000; Yaouré 25,000; Wan 18,000; Mona 15,000. Foreign Africans 28.6%. Burkinabé 1,676,000; Malian 763,000; Guinean 242,000; other 345,000. In 1993 there were also 200,000 Liberian refugees on the western border. Other 0.7%. French 19,400; Mauritanian 16,700; Lebanese 9,700. |
| Literacy | 42.4%. Official language: French, used by a high proportion of the population. Trade Language: Jula in the north and Abidjan. All languages 75. Languages with Scriptures 4Bi 15NT 16por. |
| Cities | Capitals: Yamoussoukro (political) 150,000, Abidjan (commercial) 3,000,000. Urbanization 47%. |
| Economy | One of the world's largest producers of cocoa, coffee and palm oil. The post-independence economic boom stimulated both a massive immigration of job-seekers from surrounding lands and a high level of corruption. The collapse of world prices for cocoa and coffee, poor management of the public sector, and spending on prestige projects have more recently put the country under stress. Public debt/person $1,110 (the highest in Africa). Income/person $790 (4% of USA). |
| Politics | Independent from France in 1960. One-party presidential government under Houphouet-Boigny. Two decades of stability followed by economic recession have given way to increasing unrest and political paralysis. The bloated and corrupt bureaucracy, continuing recession, the unfulfilled expectations of the educated youth, and a high number of foreigners could spell more trouble in the future. In 1990 other parties were legalized. |
| Religion | Religious freedom. The government is sympathetic to
missions. Traditional religions/other 30.3%. Traditional religions are generally stronger in the centre and west, many tribes still predominantly animist. Muslim 38.7%. Strong in the northwest and in Abidjan. Africans Sunni, Lebanese Shi'a. Christian 31%. Nom 15.2%. Affil 20.8%. Growth 4.1%. Protestant 5.3%. Growth 9.5%. Roman Catholic 20.8%. Affil 9%. Growth 3.7%. Orthodox 0.1%. Affil 0.1%. Growth 8%. Foreign Marginal 0.1%. Affil 0.08%. Growth 11.3%. Indigenous Marginal 4.7%. Affil 6.2%. Growth 0.8%. |
| 1. Praise God for the growth of the Church over the past 25 years. Yet the explosive growth of the population at 3.8% over this period has meant little overall increase as a percentage of the population. During this period most of the peoples in the country have been contacted by missions. Pray that growth in the '90s may be the best yet. | |
| 2. The preaching of Prophet Harris from Liberia in 1914-15 brought over 120,000 coastal people out of fetishism and darkness. The initiative was lost as missionary help arrived "too little and too late". Many syncretic indigenous churches multiplied and grew out of that movement. The Methodists arrived in 1924 and were once the largest Protestant community, but liberal theology and nominalism are widespread in the churches among the diverse coastal peoples. Pray for a new wave of revival and church-planting within every Christianized people in the forest area. | |
| 3. The Catholic Church has made a deep impact through an extensive educational system. Many Ivorians are nominally Catholic as a result. Catholics are a large minority in the south and among the upper and middle classes. The lack is a personal relationship with the Saviour. | |
| 4. Evangelical agencies had a late and slow start compared to other West African lands. CMA entered the land in 1930 and concentrated on the Baoulé in the centre of the country. Mission Biblique began work in 1927 among the Yakouba and Guéré in the southwest, later joined by UFM, and WEC began in 1934 in between the above among the Gouro and Gagou. Many other missions have entered in more recent years, and growing churches have resulted. Notable among the later arrivals are the AoG, with many churches in Abidjan and throughout the country. | |
| 5. The spiritual life of believers needs prayer. There is tribalism in denominations. Syncretic practices, divisions, leadership power struggles, breakdowns between missions and daughter churches, and often a lack of commitment to full-time service or evangelistic zeal exist in many congregations. Pray for revival for the fragmented Church. | |
| 6. Leadership for the churches is the big bottleneck. Many denominations have one trained pastor for every 10-20 congregations. Congregational giving has been poor despite relative prosperity, but the recession has decreased giving to even lower levels. Nearly every denomination lacks sufficient pastors, and lay leadership is often ill-trained for pastoral and teaching roles. Many of the larger denominations have French or vernacular Bible schools or TEE programmes. Pray for the calling and training of more leaders of high calibre. and the operation of the newly opened graduate school in Abidjan. | |
| 7. Cooperation between Churches is essential if
unmet challenges are to be tackled. Pray for these cooperative
endeavours. a) The Evangelical Federation was founded in 1960 and has become a cooperative fellowship for promoting Bible training, nationwide evangelistic efforts and pastors' retreats, as well as setting up the Evangelical Publishing Centre, but real fellowship between churches and agencies is lacking. b) The Lausanne Committee of Côte d'Ivoire has launched an unreached people research and prayer programme. An AD2000 Movement in the country has started. Pray that the vision may gain enthusiastic support from pastors and churches. c) Missionary training. Calvary Ministries has established a missions training institute in Abidjan for preparing Ivorian missionaries for service throughout the Francophone region -- the first such for Francophone West Africa. The great challenge is to prepare missionaries for Muslim outreach. |
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| 8. The missionary force has grown rapidly. Now over 20% belong to African missionary agencies or denominations from surrounding countries. Major missions include: WBT/SIL (117), CBFMS (93), NTM (66), CMA (59), WEC (59), SBC (37), SIM (33), Free Will Baptists (32), Mission Biblique (19) AoG (15) and UFM (6). Many of these missionaries serve in missionary children's schools (CBFMS, NTM and WEC), or international ministries based in the country, so the need for new long-term missionaries is great -- for pioneer evangelism, church planting and a wide range of supportive ministries. Major missionary-sending countries: USA (461), Burkina Faso (120), UK (71). | |
| 9. Peoples that are both unreached and unoccupied by missions or churches -- the Muslim Soninké, Bambara, Wassulunké, Fula-Maasina and the largely traditional Bisa -- all peoples with their majorities in Burkina Faso, Mali or Ghana. There are also the Wolof from Senegal, Lebanese Muslims, Tuareg refugees from Niger, Mauritanians and a growing number of Chinese business people. | |
| 10. Peoples that are still a pioneer mission field
with no major breakthrough in church planting: a) The strongly Muslim peoples of the northwest: Malinké, Fula and Jula-speaking peoples, where only a handful have been won through the ministry of SIM, WEC and CBFMS. b) Marginally occupied peoples. For example: in the Free Will Baptist area in the northeast (Birifor, Téén); in the WEC area in the centre (Mona, Wan, Yaouré, Kouya, Maou); MB-UFM area in the southwest (Toura, Dida, Bété). c) The multiplicity of small language groups in the south. This is so great that present evangelistic, church planting and Bible translation ministries may not cover the need. Pray that this may be adequately researched and every group thoroughly evangelized. NTM has targeted the Bakwé, Neyo and Krou in the southeast. |
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| 11. Islam has grown rapidly during this century -- from 5% in 1900 to 38% today. Tribal groups in the north and pockets of people in tribes all over the country are becoming Muslim. Urban concentrations of Muslims are high, and so are conversion rates among new immigrants to the cities. Over half of Abidjan's population is Muslim. Pray that Christians may be zealous to win non-Muslims while they can, and also show more concern for the Muslims themselves. Missionary involvement is slowly increasing, but only 33 missionaries are committed to the 3.5 million Muslims. | |
| 12. Abidjan's exploding population, which doubles every four years, is the strategic key for evangelization of both Côte d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso. Every people of these two lands has a significant community in the city, but most are neglected. There are 53 church-planting missionaries in the city representing 13 churches/missions, but this is not adequate. Over two million Muslims are scarcely touched with the gospel, and only 10 missionaries are seeking to reach them (SIM, CMA, MTW). There are only about 100 churches in the city -- the more significant being those of the AoG, SBC, MB, and CMA. | |
| 13. The large influx of foreigners presents unusual opportunities for evangelizing those who are separated from the strong ties of their tribal cultures. Nearly 30% of the population is foreign. AIDS has become a major problem in the country, with 14-16% of Abidjan's population already infected with the HIV virus -- few Christians have faced up to this challenge. The whole of West Africa is being rapidly affected because of the migrant population, and little has been done to evangelize the Burkinabé, Malians, Guineans and colonies of Mauritanians in many towns. Pray that churches and missions may send more workers to seize present opportunities before these people become Muslim. The most responsive have been the Mossis from Burkina Faso. | |
| 14. Young people are responsive, and wherever churches have been willing and able to minister specifically to them, there has been fruit. The liberty for teaching Scripture in public schools is exciting but under-used through lack of qualified personnel. SU is making a vital contribution in school evangelism and discipleship. The IFES Francophone Africa HQ is in Abidjan, and there is a good GBU group (IFES) in the university. IFES aims to set up a nation-wide student movement, and Navigators are commencing a student ministry. CCC is well established with five full-time Ivorian staff couples. | |
| 15. Literature. Pray for the bookstores and depots of various missions, including the Bible Society, Maison de la Bible, CLC (Abidjan), MB (Man and Daloa), UFM (Gagnoa) and CBFMS (Korhogo). Pray also for the inter-mission/church Evangelical Publication Centre in Abidjan, which coordinates much of the production of evangelical literature for all Francophone Africa -- publishing books, cassettes and an evangelistic magazine for children. Pray for solutions to problems in these ministries: lack of qualified staff (especially French-speaking), financial pressures and lack of good distribution outlets and marketing strategies. | |
| 16. Bible translation is one of the most pressing and demanding ministries for Christian workers. A considerable number of national and expatriate workers are involved in 27 translation and literacy programmes linked with UBS and various church/mission groups. SIL's contribution in a number of projects is especially significant -- many being among the superficially-Christianized people of the south. Possibly 23 other languages will require translators. Pray for newly-translated Scriptures to take root in the hearts of the people. Hosanna Ministries is seeking to record New Testaments in local languages for free distribution in the churches. | |
| 17. Christian Media a) The damage to ELWA radio (SIM) in Liberia has been a severe blow to Christian work. Pray for an effective Christian radio and TV strategy -- involving local radio, national radio and TV networks, and also international missionary stations -- to more than replace the loss. The government recently accepted an application for a Christian FM station. b) AEAM has launched a project to produce culturally relevant videos for transmission by national television stations across West Africa. c) The Jesus film is in use in Dioula, Baoulé and Malinké, and GRn audio recordings have been prepared in 49 languages. |
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Country : CUBA
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| Population | 10,788,000 |
| Peoples | Spanish-speaking 99%. White 66%. Mixed
race 21%. Afro-Caribbean 12%. Other 1%. Indo-Pakistani 31,000; Chinese 15,000; US Military at Guantánamo Military Base 7,000. |
| Literacy | 96%. Official language: Spanish. |
| Cities | Capital: Havana 2,077,000. Urbanization 73%. |
| Economy | Production of sugar and nickel ore have been the mainstays of the economy. Repressive centralized socialist planning, a US trade embargo, and the collapse of Cuba's Communist bloc trade and aid after 1989 have impoverished an already poor country. Rationing, hunger and lack of many essentials are deeply affecting the country. Unemployment 6% but underemployment very high. Public debt/person $626. Income/person $2,690 (13% of USA). |
| Politics | Independent from Spain in 1898. Castro's revolution brought Communism to power in 1959. After 30 years of vigorously exporting revolution to Latin America and Africa, Cuba is isolated as one of the last protagonists for Communism. The repressive and corrupt police state is diplomatically isolated and politically paranoid, but with no viable alternative government, the old dictatorship continues. |
| Religion | Strict control of all church activities and repression
of religious freedom in earlier years of Communist rule, but since
1990 the Church has enjoyed a greater level of acceptance by the government.
In 1992 the constitution was amended making it illegal to discriminate
against Christians in Cuban society. Non-religious/other 30.9%. About 10% of the population is actively linked with the Communist Party. Spiritist 25%. Widespread occultism of both Afro-Caribbean and European varieties. Christian 44.1%. Growth 2.4%. Figures below are estimates and may be generally lower than the actual numbers. Protestant 2.82%. Growth 6.1%. Roman Catholic 41.1%. Attend 2%. Growth 2.1%. Orthodox 0.01%. Growth 0.7%. Foreign Marginal 0.13%. Growth 3.9%. |
| 1. Fidel Castro clings to power in Cuba with his battle-cry "Socialism or Death". Christians are proclaiming, "Cuba for Christ". Pray that the inevitable changes may lead to life out of death for millions of Cubans. Throughout the country there is a suppressed rage. Many fear social chaos or bloody revolution are likely in 1993 or 1994. Hospitals and prisons are full but stores and hearts are empty. Pray for a peaceful transition to democratic freedoms. | |
| 2. Few Cubans have had any meaningful contact with Christianity. The identification of the Roman Catholic Church with Spanish colonial and subsequent repressive governments meant that the church was never strong in Cuban society. The Church suffered a catastrophic loss of influence, numbers and property after the Communist revolution. There are more Evangelicals who attend church than Catholics. Nominal adherence to Catholicism dropped from 85% in 1957 to 38.5% in 1983, with less than 10% of these attending mass. The number of priests dropped from 725 to 200 over the same period. Since the late '80s, a religious resurgence is sweeping Cuba which is affecting every level of society. Evangelical Christians are viewed as having a positive influence on society. Praise God for the change. | |
| 3. The Protestant churches were decimated by several waves of emigration to the USA, a move encouraged by the authorities. Recovery and growth was slow, but out of the furnace of persecution high-quality leadership and committed membership arose that witnessed fervently. Since 1989 growth has become spectacular. Widespread hunger for spiritual reality is bringing in a great harvest. There were over 1,250 Protestant congregations | |