Published on Operation World (http://www.operationworld.org)
May 17: Eritrea
Eritrea
State of Eritrea
Africa
See Prayer Information
Geography
Area: 121,100 sq kmArid, 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 peoplesUnreached Peoples Prayer Card
Official language: Tigrinya. Tigre, Arabic and English (especially for secondary and tertiary education) also widely used Languages: 18 All 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 |
Challenges for Prayer
Peace and national stability remain out of reach for Eritrea, in and out of conflict with neighbouring countries for decades, most notably with Ethiopia. Pray for:a) The establishment of peace with Ethiopia. Unresolved border disputes have led to mounting tensions and failed UN peacekeeping missions. Pray for humility, willingness to compromise on the parts of the leaders, just and wise actions by the international community and an end to the hostilities that neither country can afford.
b) National economic recovery and progress are virtually impossible, since the majority of the workforce are conscripted to military service for an indefinite period. Facing mandatory military careers, many young people flee Eritrea, seeking a brighter future elsewhere, an action that can bring reprisals against family members left behind.
c) Adequate food and resources. The ongoing threat of war, international relations and severe drought leave millions of Eritreans dependent on foreign assistance for food, whether through relatives abroad or the promise of humanitarian aid often not received. Many face extreme poverty with no relief in sight.
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 5 Challenges for Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.
