Eritrea
State of Eritrea
Africa
Geography
Area: 121,100 sq km
Arid, 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 peoples
Unreached 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
Prayercast
Answer to Prayer
The growth of the Church in Eritrea is strong, despite steadily intensifying government oppression. Persecution and restraints on personal freedoms test believers sorely. But the closure of most denominations and ministries has prompted the flowering of a hard-pressed but growing house church movement. There are growing renewal movements in the mainline churches: Medhaniel Alem (Orthodox) and Tebadasso (Catholic). Many in prison or en route to refugee camps in another country have received the gospel of Jesus Christ in their time of trial, including some from the less-reached people groups of Eritrea.
Challenge for Prayer
Missionaries, as such, are no longer welcome in Eritrea. Since 2002, almost all foreign aid workers, Christian or otherwise, have been expelled or forced to leave. Much work has largely been suspended or terminated as a result. The few that remain, along with the national workers, keep well under the radar and are confined in their activities. Pray for open doors for workers to return to Eritrea; pray that those who do have access will move quickly, taking advantage of every opportunity to demonstrate Gods love.
For an additional 5 Challenges for Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.