AFWIS Joins Operation World in Prayer for the Republic of Liberia - Africa

Published on Operation World (http://www.operationworld.org)

Home > Aug 14: Liberia

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Aug 14: Liberia

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Liberia

Republic of Liberia

Africa

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Geography

Area: 99,067 sq km
Heavily forested coastal state adjoining Sierra Leone, Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire.
Population: 4,101,767    Annual Growth: 4.23%
Capital: Monrovia
Urbanites: 61.5%
HDI Rank: 169 of 182 (UN Human Development Reports 2009)

Peoples

Peoples: 40 (10% unreached) All peoples
Unreached Peoples Prayer Card

Official language: English    Languages: 31 All languages

Religion

Largest Religion: Ethnoreligionist

Religion		Pop %	Ann Gr
Christians	1,699,362	41.43	4.9
Evangelicals	600,533	14.6	4.6
Ethnoreligionist	1,743,251	42.50

Prayercast

Challenges for Prayer

Rebuilding after two civil wars is Liberia’s greatest challenge. The country was devastated and the people traumatized. War was a blight that also poisoned Sierra Leone and Guinea. Its roots fed on deep ethnic hatreds, greed and corruption, lust for power and Christians’ failure to have a redemptive effect on society, all giving Satan opportunity. Pray specifically for:
a) The president and government. Elections have given legitimacy to the current regime, but wisdom and forward thinking are essential. A culture of graft, patronage and corruption must be overturned. The task force against corruption must achieve – and be seen to achieve – results. Pray for uprightness and justice to characterize Liberia’s leaders.
b) Economic recovery. Almost the entire nation needed rebuilding as of 2005. Already deeply in debt, Liberia must manage its considerable natural resources shrewdly, responsibly, and in its own best interests, not those of foreign speculators. Poverty still affects the majority of the population; unemployment grips the nation.
c) Reconciliation among the ethnic groups involved in fighting, atrocities and massacres – especially the Mandingo and Krahn on one side and the Mano and Gio on the other. Several agencies are doing reconciliation and peacebuilding work.
d) Healing of the terrible physical, psychological and spiritual wounds of war – 65% of the population were uprooted. Almost the entire population are either victims or perpetrators of harsh crimes, some unspeakably cruel.
Christian help ministries are essential in this land of great spiritual hunger, great spiritual needs, but few material resources:
a) Bible translation and distribution ministries were gravely disrupted. The Bible Society and Lutheran Bible Translators projects have recommenced; 12 projects are active but another four languages have definite Bible translation needs. The completion in 2005 of the Bassa Bible (Liberia’s second largest indigenous language) was a major achievement.
b) Christian literature. Many pastors and Christians have lost all they owned, and there is a great lack of Bibles, New Testaments and Christian literature, and few available bookstores. EHC continues nationwide literature distribution; recent focus was on the Mandingo people. Literacy is also a huge challenge in this country where almost a whole generation never had a proper chance to learn to read.
c) The JESUS film has been viewed by the majority of the population and continues to have a converting impact on Muslims. It is available in 13 languages; six more are in production.
d) GRN audio recordings are being used in 67 languages and dialects. These are essential for low-literacy contexts and oral learners. GRN has a Liberian base from which it has conducted nationwide outreaches and distribution. This base is well positioned to produce many more Christian recordings for evangelism, discipleship and training.
e) Christian radio. SIM’s Radio ELWA might still be Africa’s best known station, despite being evacuated four times and destroyed twice during the wars. ELWA has been resurrected, with eight hours daily in English and with broadcasts in nine Liberian languages, and plans for three more. Other local stations include Worship FM and a station by the Christian Education Foundation of Liberia as well as a station planned by the AoG and United Methodist Church. Praise God for the message that goes out. Pray for the provision of funds for these ministries and for the production of excellent content that will both reach and bless the entire nation.
     For an additional 7 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 Liberia.