March - 12 To 14

BRAZIL Population 165,083,000 Peoples Brazil is a "melting pot" of nations, with much intermarriage, so percentages given below are not meant to indicate rigid categories. European 53%. Portuguese 15%, Italian 11%, Spanish 10%, German 3% in origin. (Undefined 14%.) African 11%. Many claim the actual figure is closer to 40%. Descendants of slaves brought from West Africa and Angola. Mixed race 34.8%. Mestizo and Mulatto. Asian 1.1%. Japanese 1,200,000; Chinese 160,000; Arab 150,000; Korean 60,000. Amerindian 0.14%. In 1900 there were 500,000 in 230 tribes, but now there are an estimated 200,000 in 200 tribes, still decreasing through the encroachments of new settlers, loss of land and disease. Literacy 81%. Official language: Portuguese. All living languages 208. Languages with Scriptures 1Bi 30NT 37por. Cities Brasilia 1,950,000. Other major cities: Sao Paulo 18,300,000; Rio de Janeiro 11,700,000; Belo Horizonte 3,640,000; Porto Alegre 3,000,000; Recife 2,700,000; Salvador 2,300,000; Fortaleza 2,300,000; Curitiba 2,170,000. Urbanization 74%. Economy Vast economic potential in the developing hinterland of the north and west, rapid growth and industrialization in the '60s and '70s in the south made Brazil one of the leading industrial and trading nations in the world. Massive inflation in the '80s, crippling foreign debts, and gross disparity in wealth between the rich 30% and the poor 70% have blunted growth and increased hardship to many, and hunger encourages violence. There may be 90 million undernourished. Inflation in 1989 was 1,386%, but this fell dramatically in 1990. Public debt/person $565. Income/person $2,550 (12.1% of USA). Politics Independent from Portugal in 1822 as a kingdom, it became a federal republic in 1889. Authoritarian military rule between 1964 and 1985 left a legacy of social inequality, bureaucratic inefficiency and state ownership of large parts of the economy. Multi-party democracy restored in 1985. Popular outcry at the corruption of the President forced his resignation in 1992, hopefully strengthening grassroots democracy and forcing on the political system greater accountability to the people they rule. Religion Freedom of religion and separation of Church and state. There is still a residual bias to Catholicism in government circles. Non-religious/other 2.4%. Secularism is on the increase in the middle and upper classes. Spiritist 4.8%. Spiritist-Catholic 16%. Over 60% of the population are involved in occult practices, most still claiming to be Catholic. Buddhist 0.2%. Muslim 0.1% (though Muslims claim 1.4%). Jewish 0.06%. Christian 92.4%. Affil 91.73%. Growth 1.6%. Protestant 21.6%. Affil 19.2%%. Growth 7%. Roman Catholic 68%. Attend 5.3%. Growth 0%. Other Catholic 2%. Growth 1.7%. Orthodox 0.1%. Growth 0.1%. Marginal 0.7%. Growth 11.5%. 1. Praise God for the astonishing growth of Evangelicals -- from less than 100,000 in 1900 to four million in 1960, eight million in 1970, 15 million in 1980, and 26 million in 1990, with Pentecostals being 88% of the last total. Brazil has long been known as the largest Catholic country in the world, but it also now has the third largest evangelical community (after the USA and China). 2. The Catholic Church is in serious trouble, and faces a discouraging future. There are only 13,000 priests, 46% foreign, and most over the age of 50. About 600,000 Catholics leave the Church every year -- 30% turning to spiritist groups and many others to the Evangelicals, provoking tension between conservative Catholics and sections of the Pentecostal movement. Average church attendance is around eight million, but for Evangelicals it is over 20 million. The left wing of the Church has espoused liberation theology and champions the poor and outcast. Yet there are strong renewal movements through both "Base Communities" (one million involved in Bible study groups that work for social and political reform), and also the vigorous 600,000-strong, charismatic movement which are changing the face of the church. Pray for an increasing receptivity to Bible truths that leads to changed lives. 3. Challenges facing Brazilian Evangelicals. Intercede for the following needs: a) For relevance and a prophetic voice in Brazilian society - their influence is not in proportion to their large numbers. Evangelistic vision is rarely extended to a vision to bring a message of righteousness to a society ravaged by inequality, injustice, selfishness, crime, immorality and AIDS. Pray that Evangelicals may use their influence to raise the moral tenor of public life rather than for political manipulation. b) For spiritual depth. Pentecostal growth has often been at the expense of adequate discipling, biblical teaching and nurturing of mature leaders. Narrow and petty legalisms concerning dress and social behaviour and a common over-emphasis on physical healing and prosperity have resulted in a high rate of backsliding or membership transfer. c) For spirituality -- especially in non-Pentecostal denominations. Liberation theology, with its emphasis on political and social salvation at the expense of personal repentance and faith in Christ, has gained a significant hearing in some churches and seminaries. Pray that theologians may equip the church to maintain loyalty to the Scriptures and balance in teaching its truths. Pray that world evangelization may be the priority in the churches. d) For leadership for the churches to maintain growth and retain the fruits of evangelism. There are 27,100 ordained pastors for 150,000 churches. Pray for the 321 seminaries and institutes where over 12,000 men and women are being trained for ministry. The great bottle-neck now is godly, mature, well-trained teachers who are good role models to the students -- over 2,000 teachers are needed over the next 10 years. e) For unity. Unresolved divisions weaken the voice of Evangelicals. Pray for the Evangelical Association of Brazil, founded in 1991, that it may be a means of fostering unity, fellowship and prayerful cooperation. 4. Goals for the '90s. Praise God for denominational goals for prayer mobilization, church multiplication and growth set out by the Assemblies of God, (50,000 new churches and 50 million affiliated to their churches), Baptists, Foursquare Church and others. Pray for denominational barriers to be lowered to enable trans-denominational national goals to be set so that all Brazil be permeated with the gospel. 5. Spiritism is a dynamic force for evil in Brazil. It appeals to the emotions and offers physical healing; both traits make it an attractive alternative to traditional Christianity. In 1975 there were at least 14,000 spiritist centres guided by 420,000 mediums. There are seven million Brazilians practising Kardecism ("high" spiritism) and millions more practising Umbanda and Macumba ("low" spiritism with African roots). A majority of Brazilians are involved -- most still claiming to be Christian. Pray both for Christians willing and spiritually equipped to minister to those bound by Satan, and for the deliverance of many. Freemasonry among Baptist and Presbyterian pastors is on the increase. 6. The challenge to reach less evangelized people groups. Pray for: a) The squalid favelas (slums), a blight in every major city. Over 13 million live in such places, where poverty, hopelessness, crime and disease make these people hard to reach. Pray for Christian congregations and agencies to be raised up who will give spiritual and economic uplift to these communities. b) The northeast, which is poor and underdeveloped and also has Brazil's lowest percentage of Evangelicals (5%). There is a great exodus of poor to the Amazon and the cities of the southeast. c) An estimated eight million children who have lost all or most links with their families. Many live on the streets and in the sewers, and live from crime. Prostitution, drug-taking and AIDS are "normal". Pray that Christians may minister love, healing, identity and salvation to these unfortunates. d) The secularized, wealthy middle and upper classes. These have been generally less responsive. e) Young people who face many pressures -- especially in university. There are about 1,500,000 students in 871 universities. Pray for more workers to minister to them. The CCC and Navigators are active, and the ABU(IFES) is having a significant impact with groups in most universities. They help students come to the Lord, build them up in the Word and encourage missionary vision. The ABU is also pioneering a ministry to Christian graduates. f) The one million Japanese who are over 60% Roman Catholic and only 3% Protestant. There are 80 evangelical churches with 7,000 adult Japanese believers. Pray for the witness of the Japan Holiness Church (OMSI), Japan Evangelical Mission and UFM. Pray that these Japanese churches may enter into the mainstream of Brazilian life. g) The 160,000 Chinese. They live largely in Sao Paulo, where there are 12 small evangelical congregations, but the percentage of Christians (1.7%) is low. By contrast, there are 42 churches for the 60,000 Koreans. h) The little settlements along the many rivers in the vast Amazon jungle. These communities are poor and needy -- physically and spiritually -- and believers are few and often isolated. UFM is doing pioneer work in the Lower and Central Amazon region, planting little churches. These churches need prayer -- they constantly suffer the loss of key members to the towns and cities. Pray for those engaged in pioneer evangelism by means of river launches -- a hard ministry. i) Pioneer colonies along new roads being driven through the virgin jungles of the west and north -- the Brazilian Church is seeking to reach out to these rough settlements and plant churches. j) The Amerindian tribes yet to be reached. Possibly about 40 small tribal groups totalling around 5,000 remain to be contacted with the gospel. About 52 tribes are "assimilated" into national life, and a further 45 marginally so. Until curtailed by the government in 1978, SIL was working in 41 tribes, NTM in 20, UFM in five; but in a number of these a viable indigenous church had yet to be planted. Some of these restrictions have since been eased, but international interest in the Amazon makes this a sensitive issue. Pray for the complete evangelization of these tribes and the preservation of the integrity of their societies in the face of disastrous and exploitative invasions into their territories by gold-seekers and settlers. 7. The role of missionaries has changed from the past. The most important ministries for missionaries today are in leadership training, missionary preparation for Brazilians and pioneer work in the Amazon region. Missions with the largest number of workers: NTM (693 -- 30% Brazilian), YWAM (610 -- 85% Brazilian), SBC (292), SIL/WBT (208), Baptist Mid-Mission (183), ABWE (113), UFM (106), Brethren (59), BMS-UK (59), CBFMS (53), WEC (48 -- 50% Brazilian), GMU (40). Major missionary-contributing nations: USA (2,390), Germany (265), UK (201), Canada (182), Korea (86). Pray for the wise and strategic deployment of the missionary force to the best advantage of the Brazilian church. 8. Limitations on missionary activity among 48 Amerindian tribes since 1978 was triggered by a combined assault of anti-Christian anthropologists, development agencies seeking Indian lands, gold-seekers and corrupt officials. Pray that this unholy alliance may be thwarted and that evangelism, Bible translation and church planting may continue unhindered. Brazilian commitment has rapidly increased, with 857 missionaries from national and international agencies serving among Amerindians. Bible translation is a major unfinished ministry. Work is in progress in 64 languages, but between eight and 70 additional languages may yet require translation teams. 9. Rapid growth of missions vision is cause for praise! The AMTB is an evangelical association of cross-cultural missionary agencies that links many of the 1,300 cross-cultural Brazilian missionaries serving in 21 national and 45 international agencies. Pray for: a) Suitable training and orientation programmes, sending structures and pastoral care for these missionaries. b) Congregations which have long-term commitment in prayer and giving for their missionaries. Initial enthusiasm has often faded rapidly. Inflation has wrought havoc with the support of missionaries overseas. c) The Associaçao de Conselhos Missionários de Igrejas (ACMI), founded in 1990, which aims to help local churches set up viable missions structures, programmes and channelling mechanisms. 10. Christian literature. Brazil's most widely sold books are about magic and the occult. The evangelical community, as a whole, reads one book per person per year. Pray for change through: a) Christian publishers such as JUERP (Baptist Conv), EVN (New Life, CBFMS), Betania (Bethany Fellowship), Mundo Cristao (EUSA) and ABEB (IFES). Most of these are under the umbrella of the Evangelical Literature Committee of Brazil. b) Christian distributors. CLC, with 10 stores and 59 workers is one among many. c) The Bible Society, which distributes over one million Bibles and 142 million portions or leaflets annually. d) Gideons International, who are distributing 10 million New Testaments in six years. 11. Christian Media -- for prayer: a) The Jesus film. Pray for its effective use by film teams all over the country. Over 100,000 see it every year. The video version has been a valuable means of reaching professionals. Pray for those who respond and for their integration into Bible study groups and churches. b) Radio. Brazilian Evangelicals operate four TV stations and 40 radio stations. Internationally, TWR Bonaire, KYFR USA, and HCJB Ecuador beam in 226 hours of broadcasts per week. Projecto Luz (700 Club) gains huge audiences across the country. Pray for a lasting impact for the Kingdom. c) Cassettes. GRn have prepared tapes in 80 indigenous languages.   BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS Population 12,950 Peoples Afro-Caribbean 90.3% Euro-American 7.5%. East Indian 0.9%; Other 1.3%. Literacy 98%. Official Language: English. Cities Road Town 5,200. Economy The mainstays are tourism and offshore company registrations. Poor agricultural land. Income/person $10,760 (51% of USA). Politics A dependent territory of the UK. Religion Non-religious/other 2.9%. Baha'i 0.9%. Hindu 0.34%. Muslim 0.31%. Christian 95.5%. Affil 90.2%. Growth 0.3%. Protestant 86.5%. Affil 83.9%. Growth 0.1%. Roman Catholic 6.3%. Affil 3.6%. Growth -0.4%. Marginal 2.7%. Growth 7.6%. 1. The tourist trade brings large numbers of people seeking fun but whose lives are empty without Christ. Pray that local believers may have a good testimony to them. 2. The beauty of the islands belies the spiritual need. There are many churches, and most people profess to be Christian, yet sin mars the lives of many. More than three-quarters of all births are illegitimate. Pray for revival and for Christian families to live exemplary lives.