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GEOGRAPHY

Area 86,504 sq.km. Sparsely inhabited jungle territory in northeast South America. Great diversity of flora and fauna with over 400,000 species known.

Capital Cayenne 67,000. Urbanites 73%.

PEOPLES

Afro-Caribbean 70%. Creole 86,000; Haitian 25,000; Maron 8,000; Antillean 7,000.

European 11%. Mainly French.

Asian 8%. Chinese 5,000; Laotian Hmong 2,000; Javanese 1,200; Lebanese 1,000.

Brazilian 8%.

Amerindian 3%. Speaking six languages.

Literacy 83%. Official language French. Guiana Creole widely spoken. All languages 10. Languages with Scriptures 2Bi 3NT 2por 2w.i.p.

ECONOMY

Partially developed coastal strip, and undeveloped jungle hinterland. Heavily subsidized by France. Main exports – gold, shrimp and forest products. The Kourou satellite launching site is the major source of income and is bringing rapid development. Unemployment 24%. Income/person $10,580 (37% of USA).

POLITICS

Overseas Department of France. For years infamous as a French penal colony. There is little desire or incentive for independence.

RELIGION

Freedom of religion but secular in outlook.

Missionaries from French Guiana
P,I,A 4 in 2 agencies.

Missionaries to French Guiana
P,I,A 17 in 8 agencies from 6 countries.

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Challenges for Prayer

1 The penal colony image is only now wearing off, yet the economic, moral and spiritual effects remain. Of the 70,000 prisoners who were incarcerated here between 1852 and 1939, 90% died in Guiana. Only a handful of the Guianese Creole speakers are active Christians. Almost 80% of births are illegitimate, and indifference to spiritual things is widespread. Pray for the WT thrust to this specific people group. A translation of the New Testament for them is definitely needed.

2 The most responsive peoples are the Haitians, Antilleans, Hmong and Brazilians, and it is among these peoples that the AoG, Baptists, (SBC, CMA) and Brethren are growing. Pray for men and women to be called into the ministry and for the young churches to mature in understanding and vision.

3 The least reached peoples:

a) The Amerindian tribes – never has any permanent work been established among the inland tribes, but Christians of these tribes in Suriname and Brazil have made evangelistic forays. Pray for the Arawak (200), Wayana (200), Palikur (800), Oyapi (500) and Emerillon (200).

b) The nominally Catholic Caribs (1,900).

c) The inland settlements of largely animistic Maron set up by escaped slaves.

d) The Chinese. There has been a small outreach by Suriname Chinese Christians.

e) The French and European communities linked with the space programme – few are active Christians.

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