Jul. 07, 2024

FOCUS ON INDONESIA

Continent: Asia Capital: Jakarta

Population: 279,798,043 % Urban: 57.3%

Population under 15 Yrs.: 26.2%

Official Language: Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia)

Languages: 722 Literacy Rate: 93% Life Expectancy: 67.6 yrs.

% Christian: 15.9% % Evangelical: 5.6% Largest Religion: Muslim

% Largest Religion 80.3% People Groups: 787 Least Reached People Groups: 240 % Unevangelized: 39% Persecution Ranking: 33/50

Prayer guide for July 7: Sumatra is the largest unevangelized island on earth. Most of its largest people groups are strongly Muslim. Others practice folk Islam. Many spiritual strongholds must be broken. Christianity is strong here among previously animist peoples (the Batak, Nias, Mentawai), and among Chinese. The Batak people are successful and migrate all over Indonesia. But their ethnic pride, strong devotion to old customs, and frequent conflict with Sumatran Muslims all hinder their Christian witness. The Chinese live in most cities, and operate 60% of businesses. Pray for Christians to reach beyond their own ethnic groups and witness to the non-Christian peoples around them.

FOCUS ON COLOMBIA

Continent: Latin American Capital: Bogota

Population: 52,340,774 % Urban 81.7% Population Under 15 Yrs.: 22.6% Official Language: Spanish Languages: 83 Literacy Rate: 94% Life Expectancy: 72.8 Yrs. % Christian 94.4% % Evangelical 7.5% Largest Religion: Christian at 94.4% People Groups: 121 Least Reached People Groups: 13 % Unevangelized: 1% Persecution Ranking: 22 /50

Prayer guide from April 24: Pray that peace might hold in this nation so troubled by violence in the past. A long-lasting armed conflict included the government, left-wing guerrillas, right-wing paramilitaries, foreign multi-national corporations, and drug cartels. The historic peace deal in 2016 is now being followed up by the Special Jurisdiction of Peace—an effort to bring justice to those victimized during the conflict, and to those who committed human rights violations or broke international law. Pray that believers in Colombia might be peacemakers amidst continuing tensions and violence. Pray also for the Church to love their neighbors—including the millions of Venezuelans who find themselves in such desperate need.