Answers to Prayer

1 After years of little growth in evangelical churches, there is an increase in the number of believers in Calabria, Sicily and Campania/Naples

2 Emerging cooperation between churches to reach Italy and beyond

Challenges for Prayer

1 This great and gifted nation has decisively affected Western and world culture in legal systems (Roman law), language (Latin), culture (Renaissance art, music), and innovation (clothes, cars), yet is in deep spiritual need

2 The Roman Catholic Church shows ambivalent signs of persistent crisis and renewed power

3 The unresponsiveness of Italians

4 Protestantism has had an 800-year history in Italy

Geography

click to enlarge

Area 301,000 sq.km. A long, mountainous peninsula that dominates the central Mediterranean Sea.

Population (2000) 57,297,886 -0.01%AGR

Capital Rome 3.8 mill.

Peoples

Indigenous 94.7%; Non-indigenous peoples 5.3%.

Literacy 98%. Official language Italian, but vigorous use of nine regional languages akin to Italian. All languages 33. Languages with Scriptures 7Bi 3NT 14por.

Economy

Highly industrialized, Italy is the world's 7^th largest economy. HDI 0.900; 19^th/174. Public debt 125% of GNP. Income/person $20,170 (64% of USA).

Politics

United as a single state in 1870.

Religion

Roman Catholicism ceased to be the state religion in 1984.

Churches in Italy

Missionaries from Italy

217 in 19 agencies to 18 countries

Missionaries to Italy

549 in 94 agencies from 29 countries

click for legend

Internet Links