AFWIS Joins OW in prayer for the Republic of Zambia, Africa

Zambia

Republic of Zambia

Africa

See Prayer Information

Geography

Area: 752,614 sq km
Landlocked central/ southern African country; largely savannah grasslands with forested areas.
Population: 13,257,269    Annual Growth: 2.46%
Capital: Lusaka
Urbanites: 35.7%
HDI Rank: 164 of 182 (UN Human Development Reports 2009)

Peoples

Peoples: 82 (5% unreached) All peoples
Unreached Peoples Prayer Card

Official language: English. Trade languages Bemba and Nyanja spoken by large segments of the population    Languages: 72 All languages

Religion

Largest Religion: Christian

Religion		Pop %	Ann Gr
Christians	11,527,195	86.95	2.6
Evangelicals	3,406,297	25.7	3.2

Challenges for Prayer

The “brain drain” of many of Africa’s brightest and best to richer nations impacts Zambia deeply. While Zambian doctors, lawyers, businessmen, professionals and pastors set up shop in South Africa, Europe and North America, their home nation cries out for precisely the skills and resources they have to offer. Pray for conviction to return to be blessings and the ideal missionaries to their country.
Growth among Protestant and Independent churches is encouraging. Growing Pentecostal churches are matched by evangelical and renewalist growth in mainline churches such as the United Church. Yet there are dangers:
a) Superficiality and lack of biblical understanding and teaching. Too few know the Word of God or how to live a Christian life. Good teachers and trained pastors are greatly needed.
b) Imported forms and structures of worship cause a disconnect between African culture and the gospel, but syncretism with indigenous beliefs and practices that are not biblical is no improvement. The flourishing of truly African but also truly biblical expressions of Christian lifestyle, theology and worship patterns is essential; praise God that this is already happening.
     For an additional 12 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 Zambia.