also today: Holy See

Answers to Prayer

1 Evangelical Christians have increasingly and openly stood against voodooism and the Satanic dedication of the country in 1791 by the slaves plotting revolt against the French

Challenges for Prayer

1 Haiti needs to be freed from the bondages of its past

a) The powerful spirits that underly voodooism might be bound in the name of Jesus and that this demonic system no longer be seen as Haiti's 'cultural heritage'

b) This nation might find true liberty and social change through the power of the gospel

2 Haiti needs godly leaders that put first the good of the nation and the addressing of its massive problems

3 The Catholic Church is in crisis with its credibility lost and voodooism unchallenged

4 The steady growth of Protestant churches in the difficult economic and spiritual climate is cause for praise

a) The rural poor have responded more than the urban elite

b) Church-mission relationships have often been poor

c) The fragmentation of denominations on issues of personality, charismatic growth and liberation theology have confused and divided Christians

5 Leadership training is too limited because of the poverty of the churches

6 Desperate physical and social needs have attracted a wide range of Christian community development agencies

7 The less evangelized sections of the population:

a) The Mulatto elite are wealthy, French-orientated and isolated from the majority

b) The youth

c) Refugees have fled by boat in their thousands — to USA, Cuba, Bahamas and elsewhere

8 Missions continue to play a significant, but increasingly supportive role

9 Christian Ministries:

a) The Bible Society published the Creole Bible in 1986

b)Christian broadcasting is an effective tool

c) The JESUS film has been widely shown in French and Creole

also today: Holy See

Geography

click to enlarge

Area 27,400 sq.km. Western third of the island of Hispaniola; shared with the Dominican Republic.

Population (2000) 8,222,025 +1.69%AGR

Capital Port-au-Prince 1,700,000.

Peoples

Afro-Caribbean 90%.

Mulatto (Eurafrican) 9.9%.

Euro-American 0.1%.

Literacy 48%. Functional literacy may be as low as 20%. Official language French (10% speak it). Common language Haitian Creole.

Economy

The poorest state in the Western hemisphere, aggravated by over-population, soil erosion, pollution, drought and famine. Unemployment 50-70%; 75% live in abject poverty. HDI 0.430; 152^nd/174. Public debt 31% of GNP. Income/person $310 (1.2% of USA).

Politics

A slave revolt against the French in 1804 created the first black republic in the world.

Religion

The Roman Catholic Church's role as the State Church ended in 1987.

Churches in Haiti

Missionaries from Haiti

19 in 7 agencies to 6 countries

Missionaries to Haiti

449 in 76 agencies from 13 countries

click for legend

Internet Links