Gary Miller Ministry

May 17: Eritrea

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Eritrea

State of Eritrea

Africa

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Geography

Area: 121,100 sq km
Arid, temperate highland plateau and a strategic desert plain along the busy Red Sea Coast shipping lanes.
Population: 5,223,994    Annual Growth: 3.15%
Capital: Asmara
Urbanites: 21.6%
HDI Rank: 165 of 182 (UN Human Development Reports 2009)

Peoples

Peoples: 19 (47% unreached) All peoples
Unreached Peoples Prayer Card

Official language: Tigrinya. Tigre, Arabic and English (especially for secondary and tertiary education) also widely used    Languages: 18All languages

Religion

Largest Religion: Muslim

Religion		Pop %	Ann Gr
Christians	2,471,472	47.31	3.3
Evangelicals	111,400	2.1	4.6
Muslim	2,625,579	50.26

Answer to Prayer

The growth of the Church in Eritrea is strong,despite steadily intensifying government oppression. Persecution and restraints on personal freedoms test believers sorely. But the closure of most denominations and ministries has prompted the flowering of a hard-pressed but growing house church movement. There are growing renewal movements in the mainline churches: Medhaniel Alem (Orthodox) and Tebadasso (Catholic). Many in prison or en route to refugee camps in another country have received the gospel of Jesus Christ in their time of trial, including some from the less-reached people groups of Eritrea.
     For an additional Answer to Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.

Challenge for Prayer

The Christian Church faces terrible ongoing persecution, both outside the recognized churches and, to some degree, within. Many leaders and lay members are in prison, and more are under house arrest; the government has seized many church assets. Christians are largely Orthodox, mostly from among the Tigrinya, with some from among the Kunama, Bilen or other peoples. Evangelicals are fewer, but are present to varying degrees within most denominations. Christians of all denominations have been refined and drawn together in fellowship through recent decades due to war, drought and government oppression. But the intense suffering of the Church in Eritrea is one of the untold stories of the past decade – a story of tragedy and ultimately, we pray, great spiritual harvest. Pray that Christians may remain fervent for Jesus amid hardship and make a significant impact on their nation and beyond.
     For an additional 6 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 Eritrea.