Answers to Prayer

1 Praise God for the major improvements in the country since 1984:

a) Political and economic liberalization, but pray for stability, political leaders who place national interests above their own

b) Complete religious freedom, a reaction to the Marxist-Muslim years of terror which has made Muslims more receptive to Christianity

c) The presence of more than 20 evangelical missions and the intensification of evangelism to the unreached

2 Mission awareness has grown in the last few years

Challenges for Prayer

1 The Christian population is still a small minority, and concentrated in Conakry and the southeast forests

2 Leadership training for pastors and laymen is a great need

3 Guinea is one of the least evangelized countries in Black Africa

a) Malinke

b) Fulbe or Futa Jalon, who are strongly Muslim and known as the custodians of Islam throughout West Africa

c) Susu

4 Young peoples' ministry is vital in Guinea, since 50% of the population is 16 or younger

5 There are still 18 peoples without missionaries

a) The Muslim Wassulunke

b) The Manya live amongst the more Christianized Toma, but they have generally been neglected in outreach

c) The Mandéni, Tukulor, Jakanke, Fulacunda, and several Baga subgroups have hardly any believers and no missionaries

d) The more than 600,000 refugees from civil strife in Liberia and Sierra Leone

6 Missions

7 Help ministries:

a) Cassette ministry is important in this multi-lingual land

b) Literature is a challenge

c) Bible translation is going to be one of the major missionary tasks for years to come

d) The JESUS film also has great potential in evangelizing Guinea

Geography

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Area 245,857 sq.km on Africa's west coast; between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone.

Population (2000) 7,430,346 +0.76%AGR

Capital Conakry 1,425,000.

Peoples

Mande 46%; West Atlantic 43%; Mande-Fu 11%; Other 0.04%.

Literacy 36%. Official language French. Major vernacular languages Fulbe, Malinke, Susu, Kissi, Guerze and Toma. All languages 30. Languages with Scriptures 1Bi 9NT 2por 7w.i.p.

Economy

Potentially the richest state of former French West Africa with abundant land, fertile soil, water and minerals. Unemployment 65%. HDI 0.398; 161^st/174. Public debt 78% of GNP. Income/person $560 (2% of USA).

Politics

French colony until independence in 1958.

Religion

The former government leaders espoused Marxist rhetoric and a pro-Islamic stance.

Churches in Guinea

Missionaries from Guinea

27 in 3 agencies – 24 in Guinea.

Missionaries to Guinea

320 in 32 agencies from 19 countries

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Internet Links