7 The lack of trained, mature leaders is so critical that further church growth is endangered

a) A multiplication of godly role-model pastors

b) Leadership training

c) TEE is an essential alternative, but hampered by lack of teaching personnel and suitable teaching materials

d) Sunday school teachers and youth leaders

8 Vision for the future has been stimulated by Peru Para Cristo (DAWN) through the challenge of planting a church in each of the 90,000 villages and communities

9 Foreign missions have passed through difficult times, especially those from USA (68% of the missionary force); anti-American press reports, spy scares, and the widespread activities of Mormons and JWs have not helped

10 Challenge areas for ministry:

a) Lima is Latin America's fifth-largest city

b) Specific areas with fewer Evangelicals are the coastal provinces and the Amazon Lowland Spanish-speaking farmers

c) Less reached Amerindian tribal peoples

d) The business/professional and upper classes

e) Ethnic minorities

f) Street children have multiplied in Lima especially

g) AIDS is becoming a significant issue with 100,000 carrying the HIV virus

11 Student ministry is strategic for Peru's future

12 Peruvian missions interest is growing, but lack of knowledge and funds limits that growth

13 Christian media

a) Radio has a wide audience

b) Christian programmes on local television are proving important for reaching those living in well-guarded high-rise apartments

c) The JESUS film has been viewed by most of the population

d) Christian literature

e) GRN have made recordings available in 66 of Peru's languages and dialects

Politics

Fully independent from Spain in 1824.

Religion

Religious freedom is guaranteed in the 1978 constitution, but the Catholic Church as the officially recognized state church receives preferential treatment.

Churches in Peru

Missionaries from Peru

362 in 31 agencies to 28 countries

Missionaries to Peru

1,003 in 103 agencies from 28 countries

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Geography

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Area 1,285,216 sq.km. Three main zones – dry coastal plain in the west where most of the cities and industry are located, high Andean plateau which is more agricultural, and Amazon jungles in the east.

Population (2000) 25,661,669 +1.75%AGR

Capital Lima 7,350,000.

Peoples

Amerindian 54.7%.

Mestizo 32%.

White 12%.

Other 1.3%.

Literacy 87%.Official languages Spanish, Quechua. All languages 92. Spanish-speakers 80.3%. . . . Languages with Scripture 25NT 27por 21w.i.p.

Economy

Climatic changes during the 1990s and the devastation of guerrilla insurgency led to the collapse of the fishing and mining industries and reduced the majority of the population to desperate poverty with raging hyper-inflation. HDI 0.739; 80^th/174. Public debt 32% of GNP. Income/person $2,600 (8% of USA).

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