Published on Operation World (http://www.operationworld.org)
Jan 23: The Americas, The Church in the Americas
The Americas
World
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Answer to Prayer
Political stability and a steady shift toward democratic structures, and away from the military regimes of the past, are profound blessings. The end of the Cold War, which made Latin America a contested area between the USA and USSR, and the leftward swing of national politics have been crucial in the early formation of government by and for the people.For an additional 9 Answers to Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.
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The Operation World book, CD-ROM, and DVD-ROM provide far more information and fuel for prayer for the people of The Americas.The Church in the Americas
The Americas
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Challenge for Prayer
The Roman Catholic Church has passed through 50 years of tumultuous change, in part spurred by the growth of evangelicals. The traditional monolithic structure that once dominated most of the continent has gone forever. Even South America, the world’s most Catholic continent has gone from 92% Catholic in 1960 to 77% in 2010. Many regret the misused four centuries of monopoly that bred complacency, condoned syncretism and, more recently, endorsed the now largely discredited liberation theology. In recent years, an emphasis on Bible reading, the charismatic movement and efforts to make Catholicism more accessible to the masses have slowed its decline. Various powerful movements are discernible:a) The charismatic movement. As many as half of Hispanic and Latin American Catholics gravitate toward charismatic expressions. The more egalitarian nature of this movement and the balance between adoration and activism give it a vitality lacking in much of the Catholic Church globally.
b) Traditional Catholicism. As a result of the conservativism of the last two popes, traditional Catholicism has re-emerged as a strong force and is leading to a further cooling of relationships with evangelicals. Pray for Catholics to come to a personal faith in Christ. Millions still strive to earn their entrance into heaven and gain temporal blessings by their pilgrimages, works and ceremonies.
c) Folk Catholicism is still the prevalent expression of spirituality for most Catholics. Heavily syncretized with pre-Columbian religious influences, this is a faith of saints, fiestas and hoped-for miracles, an escapist expression rather than one that engages the sources of the suffering from which its practitioners seek relief.
For an additional 5 Challenges for Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.
