also today: Korea, North

Challenges for Prayer

1 The once strong Congregational Church (Kiribati Protestant) is losing members and pastors to other Protestant groups and also to Catholics, Baha'i and Mormons

2 Evangelical Christians are steadily growing in numbers – largely through the witness of the Church of God with rapidly growing congregations, 33 pastors and a Bible School with 79 students in 1992. The AoG also has a growing presence

3 The more needy:

a) I-Kiribati migrate for work on Nauru and as seamen on foreign ships

b) Migrant communities moving eastwards to populate the isolated Line and Phoenix Islands

also today: Korea, North

Geography

click to enlarge

Area 849 sq.km. Three archipelagos – Gilbert, Rawaki (Phoenix) and Line, with 33 coral atolls scattered across 2,000,000 sq.

Population (2000) 83,387 +1.43%AGR

Capital Bairiki 2,500.

Peoples

Indigenous 98.9%; Other 1.1%.

Literacy 90%. Official languages Kiribati, English. All languages 2. Languages with Scripture 2Bi.

Economy

Dependent on copra, fish and remittances sent from I-Kiribati abroad. Public debt 24% of GNP. Income/person $920 (2.9% of USA).

Politics

Independent from Britain in 1979 as a democratic republic.

Religion

Freedom of religion.

Churches in Kiribati

Missionaries from Kiribati

n.a.

Missionaries to Kiribati

6 in 3 agencies.

Internet Links