also today: Slovenia

Challenges for Prayer

1 Slovakia, as a nation, needs a sense of direction after the years of foreign rule, Communist economics and the 'velvet divorce' from the Czech Republic

2 Slovakia has a strong Christian heritage, but the Catholic and mainline Protestant churches (Lutheran and Reformed) are more traditional and the majority of congregations are declining in numbers and attendance

3 Evangelical denominations are few and small

4 Vision for the future is still limited

5 Training for leaders and believers alike is essential

6 There is much room for growth in missions – both sending and receiving

7 Less reached peoples:

a) Hungarians make up more than 10% of the population

b) The Roma (Gypsies) have a very different culture and worldview

8 Special ministries:

a) Youth work is an exciting area and many youth congresses and prayer meetings occur yearly

b) The JESUS film is completed for every language in Slovakia, except for some of the Roma dialects

c) Christian literature. Only recently has specifically Slovak evangelical literature been published

d) Radio

also today: Slovenia

Geography

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Area 49,035 sq.km. Central European state once the eastern 40% of Czechoslovakia.

Population (2000) 5,387,191 +0.12%AGR

Capital Bratislava 452,053.

Peoples

Slavic 80.7%; Other 19.3%.

Literacy 96%. Official Language Slovak. All Languages 9. Languages with Scripture 5Bi 1NT 1por 1 w.i.p.

Economy

The transition from Communism to market capitalism has not been easy for Slovakia. HDI 0.813; 42^nd/174. Public debt 23% of GDP. Income/person $3,410 (12% of USA).

Politics

Part of Czechoslovakia until Slovakia's separation from the Czech Republic in 1993.

Religion

The constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the government respects this in practice.

Churches in Slovakia

Missionaries from Slovakia

7 in 3 agencies

Missionaries to Slovakia

131 in 29 agencies from 12 countries

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