March - 24

CAPE VERDE ISLANDS Population 444,000 Peoples African 28%; mainly from Guinea-Bissau. Caboverdian Creole (mixed race) 71%. European 1%. Literacy 70%, but 84% of adults over 25 have had no formal education. Official language: Portuguese. Trade language: Portuguese Creole. Cities Capital: Praia 82,000. Urbanization 35%. Economy Deforestation and overgrazing followed by 20 years of drought have devastated the economy. Heavily dependent on aid and remittances from Caboverdian migrants. Unemployment 25%. Public debt/person $292. Income/person $760 (3.6% of USA). Politics Independent of Portugal in 1975 as a one-party socialist republic. A revised constitution in 1990 led to multi-party elections and a peaceful change of government. Religion The privileged position of the Catholic Church ended in 1975. A secular state with freedom of religion. Non-religious/other 1.4%. Christian 98.6%. Affil 95.6%. Growth 2.4%. Protestant 3.5%. Growth 5.7%. Roman Catholic 95%. Affil 91.3%. Growth 2.1%. Marginal 1.12%. Growth 24.1%. 1. The new democratic leaders face a daunting task in repairing the damage of years of ecological neglect and socialist planning. Pray for the government, for stability and for social and economic betterment. 2. Caboverdians are Christian in name, but in practice are more influenced by superstitions and African fetishism. Pray for true conversions among them. Christian literature in Creole is lacking, most only partially understanding Portuguese. 3. The steady growth of Evangelicals has been primarily through the ministry of Nazarene missionaries. There are now churches on most islands with Caboverdian pastors, but the poverty of the islands retards the maturing and growth of the churches. 4. There are 430,000 Caboverdians who live in migrant communities, the largest being in New England -- USA (250,000), Portugal (50,000), Angola (40,000), Senegal (25,000), Italy (10,000), France (9,000), Sao Tomé (8,000), Spain (8,000), Brazil (3,000), and Guinea-Bissau (2,000). Pray that many in these communities may become true disciples of Jesus and a blessing to their homeland.   CAYMAN ISLANDS Population 28,000 Peoples Residents come from 120 nations, 48% being foreign-born. Afro-Caribbean 59%, including Jamaicans 4,800. Euro-American. 30%. American, Canadian, British. Latin American/Hispanic 7.9%, mainly Honduran, Cuban, Nicaraguan. Jews 1.9%. Asian 1.2%. East Indian, Filipino, Middle Eastern. Literacy 97.5%. Official language: English. Cities Capital: George Town 13,000. Economy Very wealthy through offshore banking and trading. Income/person $19,200 (91% of USA). Politics A British dependent territory. Religion Non-religious/other 6%. Jewish 1.9%; Baha'i 0.7%; Muslim 0.2%. Christian 91.2%. Affil 76.9%. Growth 5.6%. Protestant 81.2%. Affil 74.85%. Growth 5.6%. Roman Catholic 8.8%. Affil 0.7%. Growth 0%. Marginal 1.2%. Affil 1.29%. Growth 7.6%. 1. The pursuit of wealth and pleasure is the main preoccupation of the residents. Pray for a spiritual awakening in the churches. 2. The numerous foreign residents need to hear the gospel. Pray for effective outreach to those whose first language is not English, for whom little is being done at present.