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GEOGRAPHY

Area 112,088 sq.km. A mountainous land with rain forests and fertile coastal plains on the Caribbean and Pacific coasts.

Capital Tegucigalpa 813,900. Urbanites 43%.

PEOPLES

Spanish-culture 89.7%. Mestizo(Ladino) 5,668,000; Afro-American 130,000; White 120,000.

Amerindians 8.1%. Eight peoples whose languages are rapidly disappearing. Largest: Non-tribal (mainly Lenca origin) 266,000; Lenca 76,000; Garifuna (Black Carib) 39,000; Miskitu 19,000; Chorti 12,000; Sumo 1,000.

English-speaking 1.2%. Afro-Caribbean 65,000; US/British 8,000.

Other 1%. Arab 50,000; Chinese 5,000; Armenian 1,300; Turk 1,100.

Literacy 73%. Official language Spanish. Other languages English on the northern coast. All languages 9. Languages with Scriptures 2Bi 3NT 1w.i.p.

ECONOMY

The broken terrain and unequal distribution of land and wealth have hindered development. Insensitive exploitation by multinationals and corruption of politicians have also helped to keep Honduras poor. The devastating super-hurricane 'Mitch' in 1998 was a major set-back with 60% of the country's infrastructure destroyed. Many decades will be needed to recover from it. Unemployment 40%. HDI 0.641; 114^th/174. Public debt 88% of GNP. Income/person $660 (2.3% of USA).

POLITICS

Independent from Spain in 1821 but 134 revolutions by 1932. Military rule for much of the 20^th Century. Democratic civilian government since 1984 has been hampered by the power and autonomy of the military and US preoccupation in the 1980s with civil wars in neighbouring El Salvador and Nicaragua. Only in recent years have the human rights abuses of the military been curbed.

RELIGION

The Roman Catholic Church is officially recognized, but there is separation of Church and State with religious freedom.

Missionaries from Honduras
P,I,A 133 in 20 agencies to 18 countries: Honduras 63, USA 35.

Missionaries to Honduras
P,I,A 435 in 69 agencies from 14 countries: USA 377, El Salvador 16.

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Answers to Prayer

1 The 40 year growth of Evangelicals took off with the successful Evangelism in Depth programme of 1963. In 1960 Evangelicals numbered 32,000 and were 1.7% of the population. They are now 1,250,000 and nearly 20%. Some believe the figure even higher.

2 The indigenous peoples of the eastern rainforests – the Miskitu, Garifuna, Sumo and Tol have won significant concessions to preserve their endangered habitat and cultures in the face of logging companies and agri-business. For years they have been a voiceless, legally disadvantaged, underclass.

Challenges for Prayer

1 The government is seeking to establish genuine democratic rule, but is hampered by a culture of crime, institutional violence with the military and vigilante death squads closely linked, and also by a corrupt judicial system that protects the privileged and is open to 'influence'. Pray that God-fearing, moral leaders may be raised up for the country. An election was due in 2001.

2 Hurricane 'Mitch' killed 11,000 people and left millions destitute. Many towns, villages and churches were devastated. Many national and international aid organizations helped in the immediate aftermath, but there is need for much input for decades to allow long-term recovery and self-sustaining, income-generating projects and industries to be established. Pray for all involved (World Relief, TEAR Fund, WVI, Lutheran World Relief, etc.).

3 The Roman Catholic Church has suffered from limited funds and personnel. Over 80% of the latter are foreign. Nominalism, pagan practices and immorality have been widespread, together with a large loss of adherents to other churches. Only about 20% of Catholics are actively involved in the Church. There is a considerable level of agreement between Catholics and Evangelicals in communal and social issues.

4 The growing numbers and influence of Evangelicals is praiseworthy, but the fragmentation of their witness into numerous denominations and the jealousies and isolationism this brings, is a hindrance – often the result of the exclusivistic views of the missionaries. Pray for the Confraternidad Evangélica (founded in 1990) and its members as they seek to address the need for fellowship and cooperation. Much must be done to tackle the social and economic crisis in the post-'Mitch' years.

5 Leadership training is now the vital need to supply the growing number of congregations. There are a number of seminaries and Bible schools, but many of the denominational Bible schools are in deep trouble (costs, staffing, cooperation). This enhances the importance of the networks of TEE programmes run by various denominations. Pray that the trainers may both give Biblical knowledge and be models for spiritual ministry.

6 The Amerindian peoples have been partially assimilated into Spanish culture. Among the Lenca the ministry of WGM and CAMI has borne much fruit. The peoples of the eastern forests (Miskitu, Garifuna, Sumo and Tol) have retained more of their cultural identity. In recent years many have come to Christ. MOPAWI (Mosquitia Pawisa) is an indigenous body founded on Christian principles which is dedicated to the development of local cultures, community projects and to pressing for full equality under the law. Pray for the healthy development of churches among them and for all forms of exploitation to end.

7 Missions vision is developing. FEMEH (an interdenominational evangelical missions clearing house) sponsored a national missions convention in 1998. There are several small indigenous mission agencies. YWAM provides some cross-cultural training. Lack of trust and cooperation hinder the development of this vision.

8 The less reached:

a) The street children. Poverty has led to many living on the streets without a home. In 1998 there were reckoned to be 8,000 in the capital, but this number has grown since 'Mitch'. These unfortunate children face being abused, exploited for sex (30% are HIV+) and most suffer from severe malnutrition. Pray for:

i) The several agencies seeking to meet their physical and spiritual needs,

ii) Honduran churches to own this challenge, and

iii) The basic causes of poverty, injustice and moral breakdown to be addressed and mitigated.

b) The minority Arab and Chinese communities, among whom there is little specific outreach.

9 Missions continue to play an important partnering role in leadership training, specialized ministries and in community projects that alleviate suffering and poverty. Pray for humble sensitivity and effective endorsement of Honduran leadership and initiatives in the exercising of their ministry. The largest agencies are: IMB-SBC (42), WGM (33), AoG (26), CWRM (24), CAMI (20), Brethren (15), SAMS (15), BIM (10) and CoGWM (10).

10 Specialist Christian ministries. Pray for:

a) Student outreach by both CCCI and IFES – the latter with 20 campus groups.

b) Christian literature – Hosanna and Vida's bookstores are an important resources for Christian growth.

c) Radio – national radio gives time to several evangelical churches (WGM, CAMI) and there are 41 evangelical radio stations and 2 TV channels.

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