8 The less reached:

a) The upper classes have long held exclusive control of the reins of power, but were shocked by the national disasters of the '80s

b) The rural villages — a high proportion of the Quechua, Aymara and lowland peoples live in hard-to-access mountain or forest regions

c) The 100,000 tertiary students in the nine universities are disillusioned with traditional Catholicism, often secular, promiscuous, consumed with feelings of guilt and inadequacy and discouraged by interrupted courses and bleak future prospects

d) The youth are largely neglected, yet over 53% of the population is under 19

e)Children. Over 80% live in extreme poverty, and 100,000 under 14 in urban areas have to work

9 The lowland tribes have been largely evangelized through great sacrifice and with considerable success

10 Major goals for 2000-2010

a) Bolivia to be 30% evangelical by 2010

b) A strong Church active in outreach and missions

c) Strong, servant leaders who give a good role model to others

d) Effective DAWN programme accomplished with a church in every community

11 Foreign missions

12 Bible translation and distribution

13 Christian Media

a) TV and radio have continued to make a big impact

b) Christian literature — especially tracts, teaching materials and books — is in short supply in Aymara and Quechua

c) The JESUS film, widely used with considerable impact in Spanish, Aymara, Quechua and Chiriguano, has been seen by a high proportion of the country

Politics

Independence from Spain in 1825 after a long war for freedom.

Religion

The Catholic Church retains State Church status, but rapid growth of non-Catholic religious bodies has threatened this.

Churches in Bolivia

Missionaries from Bolivia

95 in 16 agencies to 9 countries

Missionaries to Bolivia

1,790 in 100 agencies from 28 countries

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Geography

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Area 1,099,000 sq.km. Landlocked Andean state.

Population (2000) 8,328,665 +2.35%AGR

Capital La Paz (administrative) 1,458,000; Sucre (legal) 200,000.

Peoples

Mestizo 30.5%; Amerindian 63.9%; European 5.1%; Other 0.5%.

Literacy 77%; functional literacy less than 50%. Official languages Spanish, Aymara, Quechua. All languages 39. Languages with Scriptures 4Bi 16NT 9por 7w.i.p.

Economy

Once South America's richest area, but corrupt, unstable governments, the fall in silver, tin and cotton prices on the international markets, and lack of adequate roads and railways led to decline and economic disaster in the 1980s. HDI 0.652; 112^th/174. Public debt 55% of GNP. Income/person $830 (3% of USA).

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