Challenges for Prayer

1 Peace and national recovery has been delayed by conflicts with Ethiopia and Yemen

2 Freedom of religion is a major issue

3 Christians are largely Orthodox and almost entirely among the Tigrinya, with some Bilen and Kunama

4 Evangelical churches are growing but are limited in resources for training and outreach

5 The return of Christian missionaries to serve the Church is an urgent need

6 The less-reached

a) The Tigre, who are almost entirely Muslim

b) The Jabarti who are a Muslim minority among the Tigrinya

c) The Afar and related Saho peoples in the southeast with a handful of Christians

d) The Beja and Nara peoples of the northwest with no known witness

e) The Arab Rashiada who migrated from Saudi Arabia in the 19th Century

7 Specialist Christian ministries

a) Students

b) Radio

c) The JESUS film has had limited use, but is available in five languages and is in preparation in three others

Geography

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Area 121,100 sq.km. Arid, mountainous, temperate plateau and hot desert lowlands along the Red Sea Coast.

Population (2000) 3,850,388 +3.86%AGR

Capital Asmara 460,000.

Peoples

Semitic 78.2%; Cushitic 16.9%; Sudanic 4.9%.

Literacy 20%. Official language none. Tigrinya, Arabic and English most widely used. All languages 11. Languages with Scriptures 5Bi 1NT 1por 1w.i.p.

Economy

Devastated by 30 years of war, periodic drought and lack of infrastructure for development. HDI 0.346; 167^th/174. Public debt 9% of GNP. Income/person $230 (0.70% of USA).

Politics

Italian colony 1890-1941.

Religion

Freedom of religion, but the fine balance between the Muslim and Christian halves of the population tempers that freedom with restrictive policies.

Churches in Eritrea

Missionaries from Eritrea

24 in 2 agencies; 23 in Eritrea

Missionaries to Eritrea

33 in 10 agencies from 4 countries

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