also today: French Guiana

Challenges for Prayer

1 Tahiti is a paradise gone tragically wrong

2 Those with a vital personal faith are now rare

3 Nearly half the population belong to the LMS-planted ECP. Liberal theology is predominant and evangelical believers are few

4 The evangelical witness is very small and largely confined to two Assemblies of God and some charismatic groups

5 The less-evangelized – almost all adhere to a form of Christianity, but many are without a clear gospel witness:

a) The outer island groups are largely Catholic with little evangelical presence

b) The Chinese are 4% Protestant and 4% Catholic and largely secular

c) The French community lives a life apart, having minimal contact with any church

also today: French Guiana

Geography

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Area 3,521 sq.km. Five island archipelagos and 118 islands – (Society, Tuamotu, Marquesas, Austral and Gambier) in south-central Pacific. Tahiti is the largest island at 1,042 sq.km. and is where over 80% live.

Population (2000) 235,061 +1.78%AGR

Capital Papeete 139,000.

Peoples

Polynesian 68.5%; Mixed Race 15.1%; European 11.6%; Chinese 3%; Other 1.8%.

Literacy 95%. Official languages French and Tahitian. All languages 9. Languages with Scriptures 3Bi 1NT 2por.

Economy

Tourism, aid and the French military are the main sources of income, but the wealth generated has not benefited all. Unemployment 15% (unofficially nearer 50%). Income/person $14,910 (47.5% of USA).

Politics

French colony in 1880, Overseas Territory in 1957, increased autonomy since 1977 but with representation in the Senate and Assembly in Paris.

Religion

There is complete religious freedom, but society is increasingly materialistic and secular.

Churches in French Polynesia

Missionaries from French Polynesia

6 in 2 agencies.

Missionaries to French Polynesia

30 in 6 agencies from 8 countries

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