Published on Operation World (http://www.operationworld.org)
Dec 16: Venezuela
Venezuela
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Latin America
See Prayer Information
Geography
Area: 912,050 sq kmAbout 80% of the population live along the Caribbean coastal belt in the north; the centre and south are grasslands and tropical forest.
Population: 29,043,555 Annual Growth: 1.68%
Capital: Caracas
Urbanites: 94%
HDI Rank: 58 of 182 (UN Human Development Reports 2009)
Peoples
Peoples: 66 (3% unreached) All peoplesUnreached Peoples Prayer Card
Official language: Spanish Languages: 47 All languages
Religion
Largest Religion: Christian| Religion | Pop % | Ann Gr | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christians | 24,553,421 | 84.54 | 0.8 |
| Evangelicals | 3,147,421 | 10.8 | 3.2 |
Challenges for Prayer
The religious climate of the country reveals a spiritual battleground:a) Venezuela is not the Catholic bastion that it seems. The majority of Catholics are nominal – only 10% attend mass – making Venezuela one of the least-churchgoing nations in Latin America. A secular, materialist mindset prevails in public life. Its privileged position is eroding, and literally millions are opting for evangelicalism or no religion at all.
b) Spiritism is dangerously strong. The majority of Venezuela’s “Christians” have to some degree dabbled with Spiritism. There are thousands of occult and spiritist shops where witch doctors and their ilk are frequented by rich and poor alike. The animist cult of Maria Lionza is one formalized expression of this, attracting up to half a million devotees.
c) All manner of spiritual forces draw Venezuelans away from Christ. New Age spirituality is increasing, especially among the educated and rich. Satanists actively seek to destroy the Church. Caracas is the site of Latin America’s largest mosque. Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons claim large numbers and are still growing. Pray that the powers blinding Venezuelans to the truth might be bound, and that the exalted Christ might be revealed to all, drawing many to faith in Him.
Venezuela’s evangelical breakthrough was later (1980s) and less dramatic than in other Latin nations, but has remained stable. Early Protestant growth was slow, but some indigenous churches (especially those linked with the work of the AoG and the Brazilian neo-Pentecostal groups) are growing at 10% a year or higher. Evangelicals are also active in the political and social arenas, trying to impact the nation positively. The poor are particularly responsive to evangelical ministry.
For an additional 10 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 Venezuela.
Venezuela
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Latin America
See Prayer Information
Geography
Area: 912,050 sq kmAbout 80% of the population live along the Caribbean coastal belt in the north; the centre and south are grasslands and tropical forest.
Population: 29,043,555 Annual Growth: 1.68%
Capital: Caracas
Urbanites: 94%
HDI Rank: 58 of 182 (UN Human Development Reports 2009)
Peoples
Peoples: 66 (3% unreached) All peoplesUnreached Peoples Prayer Card
Official language: Spanish Languages: 47 All languages
Religion
Largest Religion: Christian| Religion | Pop % | Ann Gr | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christians | 24,553,421 | 84.54 | 0.8 |
| Evangelicals | 3,147,421 | 10.8 | 3.2 |
Challenges for Prayer
The religious climate of the country reveals a spiritual battleground:a) Venezuela is not the Catholic bastion that it seems. The majority of Catholics are nominal – only 10% attend mass – making Venezuela one of the least-churchgoing nations in Latin America. A secular, materialist mindset prevails in public life. Its privileged position is eroding, and literally millions are opting for evangelicalism or no religion at all.
b) Spiritism is dangerously strong. The majority of Venezuela’s “Christians” have to some degree dabbled with Spiritism. There are thousands of occult and spiritist shops where witch doctors and their ilk are frequented by rich and poor alike. The animist cult of Maria Lionza is one formalized expression of this, attracting up to half a million devotees.
c) All manner of spiritual forces draw Venezuelans away from Christ. New Age spirituality is increasing, especially among the educated and rich. Satanists actively seek to destroy the Church. Caracas is the site of Latin America’s largest mosque. Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons claim large numbers and are still growing. Pray that the powers blinding Venezuelans to the truth might be bound, and that the exalted Christ might be revealed to all, drawing many to faith in Him.
Venezuela’s evangelical breakthrough was later (1980s) and less dramatic than in other Latin nations, but has remained stable. Early Protestant growth was slow, but some indigenous churches (especially those linked with the work of the AoG and the Brazilian neo-Pentecostal groups) are growing at 10% a year or higher. Evangelicals are also active in the political and social arenas, trying to impact the nation positively. The poor are particularly responsive to evangelical ministry.
For an additional 10 Challenges for Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.
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