Gary Miller Ministry

Apr 29: Congo

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Congo

Republic of Congo [Brazzaville]

Africa

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Geography

Area: 342,000 sq km
West of Democratic Republic of Congo (Congo-Zaire), with which it is often confused. Around 60% of the country is covered with tropical rainforest, which is declining from deforestation. Grasslands and bush in the central and southwest, forest in the north.
Population: 3,758,678    Annual Growth: 1.93%
Capital: Brazzaville
Urbanites: 62.1%
HDI Rank: 136 of 182 (UN Human Development Reports 2009)

Peoples

Peoples: 77 (4% unreached) All peoples
Unreached Peoples Prayer Card

Official language: French. Trade languages Lingala, Munukutuba (Kongo Creole)    Languages: 66 All languages

Religion

Largest Religion: Christian

Religion		Pop %	Ann Gr
Christians	3,372,286	89.72	1.9
Evangelicals	598,234	15.9	2.4

Challenges for Prayer

Church life is a complex mix of physical need and spiritual diversity. Catholics, African Initiated Churches, mainline Protestants, Western cults, conservative evangelicals and Pentecostal/charismatics all vie for the faith of the people. Thankfully, relations are improving among denominations with strong evangelical values. But poverty and instability not only interrupt and undermine long-term ministry, but they also cause many Christian leaders to leave for other lands. Pray for a greater commitment to biblical unity and for long-term stability in which to build stronger leadership and ministry.
Training for Christian leaders is a point for concern. Pray for full restoration of this strategic ministry. UWM has a four-year residential school and a TEE programme. The Salvation Army runs a Bible college. CMA has a Bible school in Brazzaville and a facility in Pointe-Noire that includes a Bible school and TEE centre. The Evangelical Church of the Congo has a Seminary and Bible Institute; the Haggai Institute is active in training leaders as is MANI. Beyond theology, biblical leadership and management principles also need to be instilled.
     For an additional 11 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 Congo.