Praying for the Central African Republic If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.  - John 14:14

Geography President: Faustin Archange Touadera Land area: 622,436 sq km A landlocked state in Africa’s geographical centre. Variation from tropical forest in the southwest to semi-desert in the northeast. Population: 5,625,118 Capital: Bangui Official language: French and Sango (trade language used by most of the population Languages: 82

With ample supplies of diamonds, gold, uranium, and oil, Central African Republic (CAR) should be thriving and rank as one of the world’s richest nations. But instead, it suffers from abject poverty and competition between rival warlords. CAR gained its independence from France under the strong leadership of Barthelemy Boganda. But since then the nation has oscillated relative stability and disunity from constant coups.

Most of the leaders squandered the nation’s resources through corruption, played favorites among the ethnic groups, and stirred resentment between the Christian south and Muslim north. Although religious differences had little to do with the initial coups, current warlords have used it as a wedge to gain power.

Though the capital Bangui is relatively calm, numerous armed groups roam the countryside. Each one sets up blockades, operates mines, and executes revenge killings in their separate domains. The chaos has decimated the nation, leaving half of the population under the age of fifteen. Over one million of CAR’s 4.6 million people have been displaced and live in camps that provide little sanitation, have limited access to clean water, and are a quagmire of mud and disease.

CAR had once been one of the world’s most evangelized nations CAR had once been one of the world’s most evangelized nations. To this day, half of the population professes Christianity, with 15% being Muslim, and 35% adhering to animistic faiths. However, Christianity is often mixed with local animistic traditions, and there is little depth of commitment and limited grasp of Biblical truth. National missionaries and agencies, however, are increasing, and indigenous-led Churches are rising up to meet the great spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of their people. 

The Economy Violence and fighting has left the justice system, schools, and administration centers understaffed and inefficient. The economy is dependent on subsistence agriculture, yet even with World Bank loans, economic recovery is prevented by a lack of secure infrastructure and the threat of resurgent rebel factions. Unemployment: 6.22% Per capita income: $400

Religion 1,406,270 843,760 Religion Pop % Ann Gr Indigenous beliefs Largest Religion: Christian Religion                 Pop % Ann Gr Indigenous beliefs 1,968,790 35.0 Roman Catholics 1,406,270 25.0 Evangelicals Muslims 843,760 15.0

Prayercast CAR The business, academic and professional elite. Pray for progress in evangelism among these influential groups. Haggai Institute, Operation Africa and others are reaching out to them. Christian literature is increasing. More than five new literature depots in the country make material available to more than 30% of the population each year. Pray for ACATBA, a national literacy programme, for World Missionary Press, and for oral evangelism work by local groups such as Evangelists without Borders.

Evangelicals - challenges Mission agencies play an important role in education, health and work with children at risk as well as in planting churches, translating the Scriptures and other areas. The largest are BMM, Grace Brethren, InterAct, ELCA, RG. Pray now for greater partnerships between the emerging national mission movements and foreign missions.

Open Doors - 21 Christian civilians are caught in the violent conflict between the mainly Muslim Seleka militia and self-defense militant groups called anti-Balaka that have effectively turned into criminal gangs. Church buildings of Christian leaders who have denounced the violence have been burned and ransacked. Converts to Christianity face severe persecution from their immediate family members. They are forced to renounce Christianity through violence.

Prayer points Pray for a peace that enables national resources to be developed for economic stability. • Pray for availability of more oral Christian materials for the largely illiterate population. • Pray for fully funded Christian education for nationals called to minister to their people. Pray that all denominations will send students to be trained as missionaries and that those so trained will not be tempted to become city pastors. Pray for proper coordination of Christian radio programmes and training of administrators to ensure effective ministry.