Feb 24: Australia, Norfolk Island
Australia
Commonwealth of Australia
Pacific
See Prayer Information
Geography
Area: 7,682,300 sq kmThis island continent is the world’s driest, but better watered in the east, southeast and southwest coastal regions, where most live in highly concentrated urban areas. There are three permanently inhabited dependent territories: Norfolk Island (35 sq km; 2,037 pop), Christmas Is. (135 sq km; 1,408 pop), Cocos Is. (14 sq km; 591 pop).
Population: 21,507,384 Annual Growth: 1.07%
Capital: Canberra
Urbanites: 89.1%
HDI Rank: 2 of 182 (UN Human Development Reports 2009)
Peoples
Peoples: 143 (8% unreached) All peoplesUnreached Peoples Prayer Card
Official language: English. 20% of the population use English as a second language Languages: 207 All languages
Religion
Largest Religion: Christian| Religion | Pop % | Ann Gr | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christians | 14,947,632 | 69.50 | 0.5 |
| Evangelicals | 3,106,949 | 14.4 | 1.1 |
Answer to Prayer
Australia’s Christians, particularly evangelicals,are facing the challenges of a post-Christian and multicultural nation with faith, dynamism and considered strategies. Recognizing social change and relative Christian decline, small but growing numbers of ministries and congregations are adapting to become more dynamic in reaching out to the majority population and to become more strategic and missiologically astute in reaching the immigrant minorities, who often come from other faith backgrounds. There is a long way to go, but a transition is becoming visible in Australian Christianity.For an additional Answer to Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.
Challenge for Prayer
Evangelicals are a dynamic and diverse entity.They are strong in the Sydney Anglican diocese and a growing minority in the Melbourne diocese. Some mainline churches have evangelical majorities; all have at least significant and active minorities. The greatest growth is among Pentecostal/charismatic groups – put together, they would constitute Australia’s third-largest denomination. Some of this is transfer growth from other churches, but much is also from conversion growth. Pray for the following issues:a) Mainline churches are in varying degrees of polarization over issues such as ordination of women, homosexuality and traditional church structures, all leading to further division.
b) Christian holistic ministry – such as ministry to the disabled, to addicts, to the poor and homeless – is an area of great opportunity, since the state cannot meet all the needs and increasingly leaves such activities to charities. But increasing government legislation and controls in these areas create many hurdles that must be overcome.
c) The ideological debate with secular materialists may be the greatest battle facing the Church. Issues of human origin, human sexuality and the existence of God are hot topics for debate. Pray that evangelicals communicate the truth in love; pray for a bold witness to the uniqueness of Jesus that comes through with humility and compassion.
For an additional 8 Challenges for Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.
More Information
The Operation World book, CD-ROM, and DVD-ROM provide far more information and fuel for prayer for the people of Australia.
Norfolk Island
Pacific
See Prayer Information
Geography
Area: 14 sq kmOne main and two smaller islands. 1,500 km east of Australia.
Population: 2,234 Annual Growth: 0.74%
Capital: Kingston
Peoples
Languages: 2 All languagesReligion
Largest Religion: Christian| Religion | Pop % | Ann Gr | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christians | 1,533 | 68.60 | 0.5 |
| Evangelicals | 508 | 22.7 | 1.3 |
Challenge for Prayer
The isolation of the islands and their limited resources make Christian ministry difficult. Isolation also makes their communities’ very existence somewhat precarious – depending on assistance from Australia, potential disaster from violent weather and a great distance from immediate help. Pray for God to move among the existing churches to foster renewal and awakening, and for believers to reach out effectively to others, particularly to the Malays of Cocos Island and the Chinese of Christmas Island.For an additional Challenge for Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.
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