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GEOGRAPHY

Area 2,780,092 sq.km. Latin America's second largest country with a great range of climate, rainfall and topography. The 16,300 sq.km. Islas Malvinas (Falkland Islands) are claimed by Argentina, but remain under British rule. There is one federal district and 24 provinces.

Capital Buenos Aires City 3,500,000; conurbation 12,400,000. Other mega cities: Cordoba 1,407,000; San Justo 1,246,000; Rosario 1,228,000. Urbanites 88%.

PEOPLES

European 81.4%. A fusion of many nationalities, but largely Spanish, Italian and other East and West Europeans. Many minorities have retained their cultural identity.

Mestizo 10%. Many Bolivian, Chilean & Paraguayan immigrants.

Amerindian 3.7%. 18 peoples; largest: Quechua(3) 1.08m; Mapuche 54,000; Aymara 27,000; Wichi (Mataco) 28,000; Toba 20,000; Chiriguano 16,000.

Middle Eastern 4.7%. Lebanese, Syrian & Palestinian Arabs 1.1m; Jews 500,000.

Other 0.2%. Korean, 35,000; Japanese 32,000; Chinese 30,000.

Literacy 95%. Official language Spanish. All languages 23. Languages with Scriptures 3Bi 7NT 4por.

ECONOMY

Blessed with abundant natural resources which were squandered by inept governments for most of the 20th Century. The transformation under President Menem since 1989 has been dramatic. Inflation was tamed, corruption exposed and restructuring promoted, but there is still much poverty. Unemployment is 16%. HDI 0.827; 39^th/174. Public debt 23% of GNP. Income/person $8,060 (23.5% of USA).

POLITICS

Independent from Spain in 1816. Peronist misrule, inflation and leftist urban terrorism provoked the 1976 military takeover. Military incompetence, adventurism and a bad record on human rights led to the restoration of democratic rule in 1983. The commitment to democracy and openness has laid many of the agonizing demons of past divisions to rest.

RELIGION

Roman Catholicism has state support, but there is freedom of religion and considerable respect for Evangelicals, though not all legal discrimination against religious minorities has ended.

Missionaries from Argentina
P,I,A 477 in 39 agencies to over 50 countries: Argentina 151, Spain 23, Uruguay 16, many in the Middle East.

Missionaries to Argentina
P,I,A 729 in 92 agencies from 22 countries: USA 405, Korea 74, UK 56, Brazil 46, Spain 38, Sweden 26.
C 9,350. M 500.

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Answers to Prayer

1 Renewal, much prayer and large-scale evangelism since 1983 have deeply affected the nation and touched the world through Argentinian evangelists, teachers, missionaries and leaders.

2 Out of dictatorship and the defeat in the Falklands/Malvinas war in 1982 have come significant changes leading to religious hunger, democratic government and economic recovery.

3 Prison ministry has revolutionized the nation's jails. Revival began in Olmos high security prison and by 1996 half its 3,000 inmates were believers with the movement spreading to 200 other institutions. Of the 200,000+ prisoners, 10% were then reckoned to be born again.

Prayer Challenges

1 Spiritual hunger has led to growth. Evangelicals were under 1 million in 1980, but had increased to nearly 3m by 2000. Pray for a deepening of the work of the Holy Spirit in believers. The spiritual hunger in the nation is also winning large followings for cults and Umbanda occultism from Brazil.

2 Renewal has impacted nearly every denomination. Revival based on Scripture (rather than emotion) is needed, which deeply changes individuals, congregations and the nation. Godly and humble leadership, holy living and high ethical standards are in short supply. Pray that the Church might also impact every level of society for good.

3 Spiritual warfare against the forces of darkness has played a prominent part in Christian ministry, with decisive blows struck against bondage, witchcraft and sin. Pray for the protection and continued spiritual health of all in the forefront of the battle.

4 Unity of believers is essential to growth and revival. At a local level, Councils of Pastors meet for prayer in the cities and, slowly, trust is being built and cooperative ministry enhanced. At a national level, the National Council of Christian Evangelical Churches (Consejo Nacional Cristiano Evangelico) has drawn together leaders from across the evangelical spectrum. Pride and fear in the midst of massive changes in church structures and society can damage the desired unity. Pray that leaders may hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church today.

5 Appropriate leadership for the churches is a critical bottleneck to growth. Leaders that disciple and empower other leaders and who know both the power of the Spirit and the depths of the Word are too rare. Pray for those involved in training through seminaries, Bible schools and TEE. Pray also for students, who are hindered by finance, lack of facilities and time.

6 Vision for the future. In 1996, evangelical leaders committed themselves to plant a further 21,000 churches (then 14,000) and double the percentage of evangelicals in 10 years (DAWN). Pray that this may be achieved. Many rural and provincial areas have been little affected by the spiritual fervour of the cities.

7 Amerindians have long been marginalized, exploited and demeaned, their cultures ravaged by the majority. Only in 1996 did the peoples of the Chaco region gain official title to their lands. Over the 20^th Century, Chaco peoples have become Christians through the work of SAMS, (Wichi, Toba, Chiriguano), Mennonites (Wichi) and CBI (Guarani). Pray for the maturation of the indigenous Church and for sensitivity to this on the part of the expatriates in the agencies involved. Pray also for ongoing translation programmes in six indigenous languages (SIL, UBS, SAMS).

8 Specific sections of the population with definite ministry and outreach needs:

a) The estimated 500,000 strong Jewish community, mostly in Buenos Aires, is the world's sixth largest. They are highly secularized and prosperous. Chosen People Ministries and 10 other agencies have ministry to Jews. There are five Messianic assemblies in Buenos Aires.

b) The sophisticated upper class of the capital, who have been harder to reach with the gospel.

c) The urban poor. Local churches are doing more to address social needs among them, but the challenge is enormous.

d) University students, many living below the poverty line, number 927,000 in 1700 tertiary institutions, over half being in Buenos Aires. There are few actively witnessing students. Pray for ABUA(IFES) groups and staff.

e) Quechua and Aymara from Argentina, Chile and Bolivia have flocked to Buenos Aires where they have become a labouring under-class.

f) Chinese number 30,000 and come from both Taiwan and the mainland. Pray for CMA ministry among both groups.

9 The missionary vision of the Argentine Church is growing and maturing with a significant interest in Spain and North Africa. A number of Argentinians are internationally respected mission leaders. The Red. de Cooperación Nacional: Misiones Mundiales (COMIBAM) has a major interdenominational role in stimulating and facilitating the vision for missions. Pray that pastors and churches may gain a vision for the unreached peoples of the world.

10 Expatriate mission agencies have a continuing role in Bible teaching and implanting a missions vision through partnership with national agencies and churches. Pray for the work of missionaries with IMB-SBC (81), AoG (58), YWAM (42), BBF (26), CMA(24), LL (22), Brethren(20), GMU(20).

11 Media ministries for prayer:

a) EHC has been involved in house-by-house distribution since 1958, and covered the country twice.

b) The JESUS film. By 1999 it had been seen by a large proportion of the population, and was available in 3 indigenous languages.

c) GRN. Recordings are available and have been distributed in 5 main Old World and 18 indigenous languages.

d) Radio and television. FM radio stations all over the country are used by Christians for broadcasting. Both TWR and HCJB broadcast by satellite, short wave from Bonaire, and on FM from Buenos Aires with coverage for much of the day. Christian programmes on cable TV are being produced by YWAM.

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