Central African Republic
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DEMOGRAPHY
ECONOMY |
LIFE & LIBERTY |
Contents |
[edit] Geography
[edit] Location
[edit] Climate
[edit] Natural Resources
[edit] Demographics
[edit] Peoples
[edit] Provinces
[edit] Life
[edit] Economy
[edit] Government
- Kindly join us in praying for STABILITY and SECURITY in Central African Republic.
- National political dialogue is being planned which is to bring together all the actors and stake holders in both the political, economic, as well as religious groupings. This could become volatile if not covered with prayers. Ask for the wisdom of God for all delegates as well as international organisations invited.
- Pray against the continued the exercise of negative influence over the nation by foreign governments, and that the CHURCH in CAR will be more proactive in issues of national and regional importance.
[edit] Religion
[edit] Islam
[edit] Buddhism
[edit] Christianity
[edit] History
- The Roman Catholic Church began work in Oubangui-Chari, a French colonial territory, in 1894. It has expanded into a thriving work that today comprises five dioceses under an African archbishop.
- Protestant work began in January 1921, when Baptist Mid-Missions personnel arrived in Rafia to work among the Azande people. That same year, the Grace Brethren International Mission began its own work, followed by the Lutherans, then Swedish Baptists and Swiss Pentecostals.
- Reports describe a mass movement towards Christianity beginning in the 1960s and 1970s. Some reports are so optimistic that, if accurate, they would show CAR to be among the most Christianized nations in Africa. Conflicting statistics make definitive statements difficult, but perhaps eighty percent consider themselves "Christian." Yet for most their faith is nominal.
[edit] Churches
- Widespread evangelism since the 1960s has yielded a massive response. The CAR has Africa’s highest percentage of Evangelicals, but lack of effective discipleship of both the new and second- and third-generation Christians has created multiple problems: Evangelical nominalism and a syncretistic world-view is fairly common, and there is little depth of commitment or mature grasp and application of truths of Scripture.
- Divisions in the Church have hindered cooperative efforts:
- Ethnic based denominations enhance tribalism and create barriers.
- Widespread breakdown between church leaders and missionaries have caused deep heartache, multiplied splits and isolated ministries from one another. Pray for repentance, healing of past wounds and a deeper appreciation and level of trust among God’s servants, both national and expatriate.
- Spiritual pride, greed, misuse of funds, lack of trust, selfishness, paternalistic attitudes and rigid doctrinal views have all played their part.
- The unity of the Church is a fundamental need. There is some working together within the main Baptist, Pentecostal and ‘Evangelical’ blocs, but this needs to be widened and deepened. Pray for the AEC (Alliance Evangélique Centrafricaine) and others that they might work effectively for a unified, God-glorifying witness in the country.
[edit] Church and State Relations
- Ask for divine grace for believers whose churches have been burnt down by rebels in the north and for quick resettlement of those that have been displaced from their homes. These waves of persecution coupled with the unpreparedness of the church to face such challenges are driving believers tro abandon their faith. Pray for CONEM (National Evangelism and Missions Commission) as it seeks to refocus the Church on the mandate of evangelism and discipleship.
[edit] Mission
[edit] Broadcasting
[edit] Councils and Networks
[edit] Future Trends
[edit] For More Reading
