Answers to Prayer

1 Praise the Lord for tremendous evangelical growth in the last decade

2 The burgeoning church is not content to rest on its laurels

Challenges for Prayer

1 On a social level, Venezuela is struggling

2 The religious climate of the country is increasingly opposed to Christ:

a) Venezuela is not at all the Catholic bastion that it seems

b) Spiritism is dangerously strong

c) All manner of spiritual forces draw Venezuelans away from Christ

3 Venezuela's evangelical breakthrough only really began in the 1980s, but has accelerated since then

4 Challenges facing the churches

a) True discipleship

b) Commitment in a society ensnared by materialism and poverty

c) Unity

d) Theological orthodoxy

e) Missions vision

5 Leadership training is essential if present growth rates are to be maintained, urban areas evangelized, and theological error avoided

Geography

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Area 912,050 sq.km. About 80% of the population lives along the Caribbean coastal belt in the north; the centre and south are grasslands and tropical forest.

Population (2000) 24,169,722 +2.04%AGR

Capital Caracas 4,200,000.

Peoples

Venezuelans 87.2%; Foreigners 11.3%; Amerindians 1.5%.

Literacy 90.9%. Official language Spanish. All indigenous languages 40. Languages with Scriptures 1Bi 13NT 7por 14w.i.p.

Economy

One of the world's largest oil producers. Unemployment 27%. HDI 0.792; 48^th/174. Public debt 33.6% of GNP. Income/person $3,480 (11% of USA).

Politics

Independent from Spain as part of Gran Colombia in 1821; and as a separate state in 1830.

Religion

Religious freedom is still guaranteed in the constitution.

Churches in Venezuela

Missionaries from Venezuela

265+ in 26 agencies to 21 countries

Missionaries to Venezuela

840 in 61 agencies from 21 countries

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