Pray for Our World: Honduras

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Honduras is a mountainous land with rain forests and fertile coastal plains on both the Caribbean Sea and North Pacific Ocean.  It is one of the poorest countries in the Western hemisphere, and was under military rule for most of the 20th century.  Evangelism grew significantly in the 1960’s and went from 1% of the population to 23% of the population by the 1990’s, and continues to grow.

The biggest concern are the children at risk.  More than half of Honduras’ population are children, with the majority living in poverty.  Thousands of children attempt to cross to the USA to find family members working there, but most end up incarcerated in Guatemala or Mexico, in terrible conditions.  The Pepenadores, or garbage dump children, are more prevalent in Honduras than in any other nation in the Americas.  Street children, which number in the thousands, are often exterminated as a nuisance by ruthless groups in the name of social cleansing.  And many get swept up in organized crime as gang members or sex workers.

God weeps over His children.  Please pray for these children and help support them.  They need help where they live, so they do not get swept up in the false hope that leads to crime, sex trade, or prisons.  We will all be accountable for our lives someday, and it won’t necessarily be the things we did that will be of most concern, but the things we did not do.  Don’t miss that chance to make a difference, to help others have a little better life, to ease their pain or give them something to eat.

Pray for Our World: Haiti

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Haiti is one of the most densely populated and poorest countries in the Americas.  Hundreds of thousands of Haitians have fled or emigrated, not including the loss of life from the 2010 earthquake.  It will take billions of dollars and many years of stability and sustained redevelopment to see any long-term progress.  Major sources of income come from aid and relief organizations.  Literacy is 51% and functional literacy may be as low as 20%.  Early slavery from the French, dictatorships, and earthquakes have all but left the people with little hope.  Most identify themselves as Christians, but 75% practice voodoo.

However, since the earthquake in 2010, there has been a spiritual outpouring of faith that shook not only the nation but moved the entire world.  The president called for three days of prayer and fasting in place of Mardi Gras in February 2010, and over one million people showed up.  Churches were filled and overflowing.  Pray that this spirit will continue, as there is still a lot of work to be done and it will take time.  God works miracles, changes hearts and people, and if the people will continue to look to God, there can be much hope and change in their future.

Pray for Our World: Guyana

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Guyana is on the north coast of South America.  It was in Dutch and British rule until its independence in 1966.  The 1960’s seemed to mark its change on the world as many smaller countries were gaining their independence from Europe around this time.  Guyana was in Marxist rule after that until the 1990’s, another similar statistic around the world for that time period, and now it struggles with poverty, living standards and education after the devastation left by Marxism.  Atheism too was promoted until 1985, with considerable tension between the government and churches.  Racial tensions also continue as there are influences from Venezuela to the west and Suriname to the east.

There have been positive movements toward Christianity in Guyana in recent years, but at the same time, Islam is becoming quite influential.  Pray that the people will have the freedom and access to the life-changing truth of Jesus Christ in order to heal their country.

Pray for Our World: Guinea

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Guinea is located on Africa’s west coast.  The country has huge mineral deposits, fertil and plentiful land and water, but an inept and corrupt government has reduce it to poverty.  It was a French colony until 1958, then led by a Marxist-Muslim government that virtually destroyed it, and finally has become more democratic with the elections in 2010.

Christians are a very small minority and Guinea remains largely unreached.  Bible translations and literature are a great challenge.  The Jesus film has been seen by many in the country.  Pray for God’s protection for the Christians that are there, and that the ongoing translations, Jesus film and other means will have an impact for Christ in this area.

Pray for Our World: Guatemala

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Guatemala is located between southern Mexico and Honduras.  Just a few days ago, a 5.2 magnitude earthquake shook off the coast of Guatemala after the catastrophic devastation of the Fuego volcano erupted, the most active volcano in Central America, killing 38 people and leaving many others missing.  In addition to the country being susceptible to earthquakes, it is a major transshipment point for the drug trade, and 70% of the cocaine bound for the US goes through Guatemala.  Murder and violence are common there, and they have the highest murder rate in Latin America. Most of the people live below the poverty line, and are oppressed.

Growth of missionaries and evangelical churches have increased over the years due to freedom of religion.  The Catholic church is predominantly syncretized Christo-pagans, where their traditional Mayan gods become Catholic “saints”.  This has been a challenge to the missionaries, especially those from an American background.  However, the committed Catholics along with evangelicals have joined together to help fight the social problems of street children, substance abuse, homelessness and illiteracy.  Evangelism has occurred by city crusades, Christian schools and institutions, and Christian television, radio, magazines and newspapers.

Pray for the churches, the missionaries, and the people of Guatemala, that they will receive the help they need to have a more abundant life – both physically and spiritually.