Pray Today August 25th for the Republic of Mali in Africa

Mali

Republic of Mali

Africa

Geography

Area 1,240,192 sq km. Landlocked state. Dry

southern grasslands merge into the Sahara Desert.

The Niger River runs through the southern part

of the country.

Population Ann Gr Density

2010 13,323,104 2.40% 11/sq km

2020 16,767,115 2.26% 14/sq km

2030 20,466,789 1.93% 17/sq km

Capital Bamako 1,698,520. Urbanites 33.3%.

Pop under 15 yrs 44%. Life expectancy 48.1

yrs.

Peoples

Sub-Saharan African peoples 89.4%. 55

peoples. Major people clusters:

Malinke-Bambara 30.2%. Bambara 28.9%.

Gur 17.4%. 23 peoples. Senoufo(4) 10.0%; Dogon(15)

5.4%; Bobo (Bomu/Bwa) 1.4%.

Soninke 12.5%. Soninke 8.1%; Bozo(4) 4.4%.

Malinke 10.2%. 9 peoples. Kita 6.9%; Khasonke 1.4%;

Maninka 1.2%.

Fulbe 9.7%. Maasina Fulani 7.0%; 4 other groups.

Songhai 7.2%. Songhai(3) 6.5%; Idaksahak 0.7%.

Other Sub-Saharan Africans 2.2%.

Arab/Berber 10.5%. Tuareg (speaking two

Tamacheq languages and including Bella, the former

slaves of the Tuareg) 5.1%; Arab 5.4% including Moor

3.0%.

Other 0.1%. Mostly French.

Literacy 19%. Official language French.

Trade languages Bambara, Fulbe, Songhai. All

languages 60. Indigenous languages 56.

Languages with Scriptures 4Bi 10NT 20por

17w.i.p.

Economy

One of the world’s poorest nations. Subsistence

farming and fishing occupies 80% of the

population; drought, locust plagues and

desertification frequently devastate the land.

The exports of gold and cotton are highly

vulnerable to market fluctuations.

HDI Rank 178th/182. Public debt 72.5% of

GDP. Income/person $657 (1% of USA).

Politics

The modern successor to the great Malian

empire of AD 1230-1400. Independent from

France in 1960. Popular protests ousted a

military dictatorship in 1991. Elections and a

multiparty democracy have since endured.

Tuareg unrest in the northeast sees frequent

outbreaks of violence, usually settled by

government concessions over autonomy or

poverty reduction. But restive Moors in the

north and Al-Qaeda add to the trouble,

augmented even further by rapidly growing

drug cartels using the desert as a transshipment

point for drugs from South America into

Europe.

Religion

A secular state with freedom of religion

despite the large Muslim majority. Islam is

strongest in the north and centre. The

traditionally animist peoples, such as Dogon,

Bobo and Senufo, are now largely Muslim; the

window of opportunity to reach them before

their Islamization is now all but closed.

Religions Pop % Population Ann Gr

Muslim 87.38 11,641,728 2.6%

Ethnoreligionist 9.88 1,316,323 0.8%

Christian 2.64 351,730 2.5%

Non-religious 0.10 13,323 2.4%

Christians Denoms Pop % Affiliates Ann Gr

Protestant 17 0.70 93,000 2.5%

Independent 8 0.01 1,000 5.1%

Catholic 1 1.92 256,000 2.4%

Marginal 1 0.01 1,000 1.5%

Churches MegaBloc Congs Members Affiliates

Catholic Church C 45 143,017 256,000

Evang Protestant Ch P 260 22,000 43,000

CMA P 360 9,875 39,500

Assemblies of God P 67 1,107 3,100

Seventh-day Adventist P 4 1,650 2,250

Alliance Mission P 24 486 1,020

Jehovah’s Witnesses M 11 275 880

Church of Pentecost I 13 583 670

Norwegian Prot Mission P 18 264 660

Evang Baptist Mission P 8 242 460

Other denominations[15] 116 1,662 3,521

Total Christians [27] 926 181,161 351,061

Answers to Prayer

1 The continuing stability, in the midst of poverty, is a reason for praise. Mali stands as a

role model of democracy and stability in a sea of troubled nations, free from the coups,

civil wars and shady politics of its neighbours. It remains secular despite strong pressure from

neighbouring countries to become an Islamic state.

2 The consolidation of the gospel is an answer to prayer:

a) The Church is taking root in a number of the cultures and peoples of Mali as believers

persevere and second-generation Christians emerge.

b) A diversity of ministry sees church planting, development work and all types of holistic

approaches bear fruit. Most missions combine outreach with works of compassion, since both

are clearly needed.

c) Partnerships have formed for all Protestant ministries in Mali – Association des Groupements

d’Églises et Missions Protestantes Évangéliques au Mali (AGEMPEM) – and for the evangelization

of seven of the largest or most strategic peoples in Mali or West Africa generally: the Bozo,

Fulbe, Malinke, Soninke and Tuareg.

Challenges for Prayer

1 Mali’s socio-economic quandary is sobering. It is one of the poorest nations on earth,

with people making on average $1.5US/day. Cotton growing employs one-third of the

population but is highly vulnerable to world market fluctuations and competing growers

elsewhere. Functional literacy is low and secondary school enrolment is under 20%. About onefifth

of children will not survive to the age of five, and of those who do, one-third will be

malnourished. Two-thirds of the land area is desert or semi-desert, and the threat of desertification

is ever present. Pray that Mali’s leaders have wisdom and insight in knowing how to provide health,

education, gainful employment and long-term stability to their people.

2 Islam in Mali tends to be moderate and uniquely West African. The large majority practice

a tolerant brand of Islam that incorporates elements of African traditional religions and

superstitious folk practices. Large amounts of aid from Libya and Saudi Arabia keep the population

further tied to Islam. In Bamako alone, over 3,000 Qur’anic schools and individual marabouts teach

about 40% of children. Pray for Muslims in Mali to have the opportunity to hear, read about and

experience Jesus and the assurance of salvation He alone offers.

3 The number of Christians has not increased by enough to even keep pace with

Mali’s rapid population growth – evangelicals fell from 0.91% of the population in 1990

to 0.69% in 2010. Most growth is biological, and many who make decisions for Christ return

to their former religion. This could be addressed with better follow-up through evangelism

activities, discipleship programmes, pastoral training and Bible schools, but lack of funds to train

for and support such ventures is a real problem. There are nearly 700 evangelical congregations,

but most of them are not actively engaged in evangelism and outreach, despite many in Mali

being spiritually open. Pray for boldness, passion and a burden for the unsaved to awaken in the

churches and for a new wave of evangelism such as happened in the 1980s.

TransBloc Pop % Population Ann Gr

Evangelicals

Evangelicals 0.7 93,630 2.5%

Renewalists

Charismatics 0.2 29,347 6.2%

Pentecostals <0.1 4,120 2.7%

4 Opportunities abound for a positive impact by caring Christians. Pray for the many

agencies actively involved in the following: church planting and evangelism (Avant,

CAPRO, World Venture); relief; local development to conserve soil, vegetation and water

(CRWM, Norwegian Lutherans); education (UWM); digging wells; and medical outreach (CMA,

Allianz Mission). All of these groups minister in more than just one way, and many others work in

Mali as well. The door is open to serve in Mali; ask God to send more workers for the harvest.

5 Missions have multiplied and few areas of the country are untargeted, but breakthrough

has not yet been seen. Mali is still a pioneer missions country, with two-thirds of the

population unevangelized. For years there were only four Protestant missions – Avant, CMA,

and then UWM and Evangelical Baptists. Only in the more receptive Avant and CMA areas

have strong churches emerged. There are now over 40 agencies from all continents, comprising

several hundred workers. But the trickle of responses has not yet become a flood. More and

more African and even Malian ministries work here; pray for them to collaborate with foreign

missions and to have a galvanizing effect on the national churches.

6 Bamako, the capital and only major city in the country, has 60 small churches and over

100 expatriate missionaries, but only a minority are involved in urban church planting.

Many suburbs are still without a meaningful witness, even as the city rapidly grows and spreads.

The churches struggle with limited facilities and with expanding what facilities do exist. A

prominent, visible Christianity – with actual buildings as symbols of growth and presence –

would be an answer to prayer; a dynamic, growing movement of people to Christ irrespective

of physical infrastructure would be even greater!

7 Of the 60 indigenous ethnic groups, only five are more than 1% evangelical – the

Bambara (1.1%), Bobo (2.9%), Dogon (3.5%) and Senufo (1%). All peoples are in desperate

need of the good news; 35 of them are categorized as unreached. Pray also for the smaller

(therefore often neglected) groups of 25,000 people or less with no or few known believers

(Wolof, Fulbe Jeeri, Kagoro, Banka, Yalunka, Jahanka, Humburi-Senni, Pana, Tiemacewe). Ask

God to reveal the right approach so that they might be reached with the gospel. Pray for a

decisive breakthrough among all peoples.

8 There are a few strategic peoples among whom pioneer work has been established,

but for which prayer is requested:

a) The Bambara are a key people for the evangelization of the country. Many agencies work

among them, and most denominations include some Bambara speakers. There are small

victories in evangelism but no major breakthroughs. Pray for the spiritual and numerical

growth of the church among this strategic people.

b) The Fulbe (mostly Fulbe Maasina), who are often semi-nomadic, reside throughout the

country but are concentrated in central Mali. Several groups of believers are discipled by

workers from nine different agencies, including the Norwegian Lutherans, CRWM, Pioneers

and the Eglise Protestante. Some solid foundations are laid for a more significant spiritual

breakthrough among these peoples.

c) The Northern peoples are more strongly Muslim, yet hard pioneering work has resulted in

some congregations and believers among the Tamacheq/Tuareg and Songhai.

i Work among the desert-dwelling, semi-nomadic Tamacheq is often disrupted by frequent

insurrections, but upheaval, desertification and urbanization create opportunities for the

gospel. The Idaksahak, a distinct Muslim people living among the Tamacheq, appear

responsive. There are now congregations of Tamacheq believers and a NT.

ii The Songhai, once rulers of an empire, practice folk Islam with strong elements of sorcery.

There is Baptist work among them, and the JESUS film and portions of Scripture –

especially in audio format – are proving effective.

d) The Dogon, including 15 sub-groups, are known for their traditional religion with rich

mythology, songs and masks. But many looking for alternatives now turn to Islam. The

Dogon are more evangelized than most groups in Mali through the CMA, and they have a

relative wealth of Christian resources (NT, the JESUS film, audio resources, holistic ministry

projects); this unprecedented opportunity for the gospel must not be missed.

e) The Soninke group, including the four Bozo fishermen peoples, has very few Christians but

are engaged by teams from many different missions. The Soninke presence across much of

Answers to Prayer

1 The continuing stability, in the midst of poverty, is a reason for praise. Mali stands as a

role model of democracy and stability in a sea of troubled nations, free from the coups,

civil wars and shady politics of its neighbours. It remains secular despite strong pressure from

neighbouring countries to become an Islamic state.

2 The consolidation of the gospel is an answer to prayer:

a) The Church is taking root in a number of the cultures and peoples of Mali as believers

persevere and second-generation Christians emerge.

b) A diversity of ministry sees church planting, development work and all types of holistic

approaches bear fruit. Most missions combine outreach with works of compassion, since both

are clearly needed.

c) Partnerships have formed for all Protestant ministries in Mali – Association des Groupements

d’Églises et Missions Protestantes Évangéliques au Mali (AGEMPEM) – and for the evangelization

of seven of the largest or most strategic peoples in Mali or West Africa generally: the Bozo,

Fulbe, Malinke, Soninke and Tuareg.

Challenges for Prayer

1 Mali’s socio-economic quandary is sobering. It is one of the poorest nations on earth,

with people making on average $1.5US/day. Cotton growing employs one-third of the

population but is highly vulnerable to world market fluctuations and competing growers

elsewhere. Functional literacy is low and secondary school enrolment is under 20%. About onefifth

of children will not survive to the age of five, and of those who do, one-third will be

malnourished. Two-thirds of the land area is desert or semi-desert, and the threat of desertification

is ever present. Pray that Mali’s leaders have wisdom and insight in knowing how to provide health,

education, gainful employment and long-term stability to their people.

2 Islam in Mali tends to be moderate and uniquely West African. The large majority practice

a tolerant brand of Islam that incorporates elements of African traditional religions and

superstitious folk practices. Large amounts of aid from Libya and Saudi Arabia keep the population

further tied to Islam. In Bamako alone, over 3,000 Qur’anic schools and individual marabouts teach

about 40% of children. Pray for Muslims in Mali to have the opportunity to hear, read about and

experience Jesus and the assurance of salvation He alone offers.

3 The number of Christians has not increased by enough to even keep pace with

Mali’s rapid population growth – evangelicals fell from 0.91% of the population in 1990

to 0.69% in 2010. Most growth is biological, and many who make decisions for Christ return

to their former religion. This could be addressed with better follow-up through evangelism

activities, discipleship programmes, pastoral training and Bible schools, but lack of funds to train

for and support such ventures is a real problem. There are nearly 700 evangelical congregations,

but most of them are not actively engaged in evangelism and outreach, despite many in Mali

being spiritually open. Pray for boldness, passion and a burden for the unsaved to awaken in the

churches and for a new wave of evangelism such as happened in the 1980s.

TransBloc Pop % Population Ann Gr

Evangelicals

Evangelicals 0.7 93,630 2.5%

Renewalists

Charismatics 0.2 29,347 6.2%

Pentecostals <0.1 4,120 2.7%

4 Opportunities abound for a positive impact by caring Christians. Pray for the many

agencies actively involved in the following: church planting and evangelism (Avant,

CAPRO, World Venture); relief; local development to conserve soil, vegetation and water

(CRWM, Norwegian Lutherans); education (UWM); digging wells; and medical outreach (CMA,

Allianz Mission). All of these groups minister in more than just one way, and many others work in

Mali as well. The door is open to serve in Mali; ask God to send more workers for the harvest.

5 Missions have multiplied and few areas of the country are untargeted, but breakthrough

has not yet been seen. Mali is still a pioneer missions country, with two-thirds of the

population unevangelized. For years there were only four Protestant missions – Avant, CMA,

and then UWM and Evangelical Baptists. Only in the more receptive Avant and CMA areas

have strong churches emerged. There are now over 40 agencies from all continents, comprising

several hundred workers. But the trickle of responses has not yet become a flood. More and

more African and even Malian ministries work here; pray for them to collaborate with foreign

missions and to have a galvanizing effect on the national churches.

6 Bamako, the capital and only major city in the country, has 60 small churches and over

100 expatriate missionaries, but only a minority are involved in urban church planting.

Many suburbs are still without a meaningful witness, even as the city rapidly grows and spreads.

The churches struggle with limited facilities and with expanding what facilities do exist. A

prominent, visible Christianity – with actual buildings as symbols of growth and presence –

would be an answer to prayer; a dynamic, growing movement of people to Christ irrespective

of physical infrastructure would be even greater!

7 Of the 60 indigenous ethnic groups, only five are more than 1% evangelical – the

Bambara (1.1%), Bobo (2.9%), Dogon (3.5%) and Senufo (1%). All peoples are in desperate

need of the good news; 35 of them are categorized as unreached. Pray also for the smaller

(therefore often neglected) groups of 25,000 people or less with no or few known believers

(Wolof, Fulbe Jeeri, Kagoro, Banka, Yalunka, Jahanka, Humburi-Senni, Pana, Tiemacewe). Ask

God to reveal the right approach so that they might be reached with the gospel. Pray for a

decisive breakthrough among all peoples.

8 There are a few strategic peoples among whom pioneer work has been established,

but for which prayer is requested:

a) The Bambara are a key people for the evangelization of the country. Many agencies work

among them, and most denominations include some Bambara speakers. There are small

victories in evangelism but no major breakthroughs. Pray for the spiritual and numerical

growth of the church among this strategic people.

b) The Fulbe (mostly Fulbe Maasina), who are often semi-nomadic, reside throughout the

country but are concentrated in central Mali. Several groups of believers are discipled by

workers from nine different agencies, including the Norwegian Lutherans, CRWM, Pioneers

and the Eglise Protestante. Some solid foundations are laid for a more significant spiritual

breakthrough among these peoples.

c) The Northern peoples are more strongly Muslim, yet hard pioneering work has resulted in

some congregations and believers among the Tamacheq/Tuareg and Songhai.

i Work among the desert-dwelling, semi-nomadic Tamacheq is often disrupted by frequent

insurrections, but upheaval, desertification and urbanization create opportunities for the

gospel. The Idaksahak, a distinct Muslim people living among the Tamacheq, appear

responsive. There are now congregations of Tamacheq believers and a NT.

ii The Songhai, once rulers of an empire, practice folk Islam with strong elements of sorcery.

There is Baptist work among them, and the JESUS film and portions of Scripture –

especially in audio format – are proving effective.

d) The Dogon, including 15 sub-groups, are known for their traditional religion with rich

mythology, songs and masks. But many looking for alternatives now turn to Islam. The

Dogon are more evangelized than most groups in Mali through the CMA, and they have a

relative wealth of Christian resources (NT, the JESUS film, audio resources, holistic ministry

projects); this unprecedented opportunity for the gospel must not be missed.

e) The Soninke group, including the four Bozo fishermen peoples, has very few Christians but

are engaged by teams from many different missions. The Soninke presence across much of

West Africa makes them strategic. A spiritual breakthrough amid all the ministry in Mali

could easily spill into several other countries.

9 Christian specialist and support ministries for prayer:

a) Bible translation. Translation work is in progress for 18 languages. Nine languages have

definite translation needs; another four have probable needs. Only eight Malian languages

have a NT and only one has the entire Bible. Bible translation is a key ministry that must

involve all confessions. Pray for effective partnership among SIL, the Malian Bible Society

and all the churches and missions working with each people group in Mali.

b) Literacy projects to raise Mali’s low literacy rates are essential if Bible translations are to be

useful. UBS (Alpha Project), World Vision and a host of others have projects that will help

spread the Word and uplift the people.

c) Oral learning projects are much more in keeping with the strong oral traditions of Mali.

One-story (IMB) and Listening to the World (UBS) are two initiatives that train believers to

share stories from Scripture in a style that connects with Malians.

d) Media ministry is crucial in a culture where functional literacy could be as low as 15%.

i Audio resources. With such low literacy rates, cassettes, digital audio Scriptures and stories

are greatly appreciated and highly effective. GRN has made recordings in 43 dialects and

languages. FCBH, The God’s Story Project, and The Story of Jesus are all Christian audio

resources available in several languages.

ii Christian programmes on Radio Mali have a wide audience. The 42 FM stations run under

the auspices of the ACCM/Christian Association of Communication in Mali (but run

by several different missions and churches) cover Bamako and six other states. Most of

these stations broadcast many hours a day and in several languages: French, Bamanankan

(Bambara), Pulaar (Fulani), Songhai, Tamacheq and others. IBRA, FEBA and TWR also

broadcast in shortwave into Mali.

iii TV is another crucial medium with high-perceived value but only one national station.

Pray for the biblical TV programmes produced by ACCM (70 minutes per week) to have

great impact; pray also for provision of funds for production and broadcast expenses.

iv The JESUS film is a major instrument for opening whole areas and peoples for church

planting. It is available in 17 languages. Pray for the effective use of this precious resource

and for many to respond as they see and hear the gospel in their heart language.

e) Student ministry. GBEEM(IFES) began in Mali in 1980 and has 330 students in over 20

groups. YWAM also works among young people and students from six different locations.

f) Bible training and correspondence courses are beginning to be used, and TEE classes are

helping to train Christian leaders. New seminaries and training centres are popping up,

including Bethel Bible Institute, Global Mission Institute and, vitally, FATMES (Faculté de

Théologie et de Missiologie Evangélique au Sahel).

g) Christian education is a potent tool to bless a country in need of educational development

and to make clear the gospel to students and families alike. There are dozens of schools run

by Christians.