Challenges for Prayer

1 Suriname's post-independence experience was disastrous

2 Nearly half the population professes to be Christian, but few know much of a personal faith in Christ and Christian belief is often mixed with spiritism

3 The evangelical witness has grown significantly from a very small percentage in 1960 through a variety of Pentecostal and charismatic movements in nearly every culture

4 Christian leaders with a warm personal faith and biblical message are few

5 Most of the six Amerindian peoples are now at least nominally Christian

6 Missions and their ministries have resumed after the years of disruption

7 Less-reached peoples:

a) The Javanese are predominantly Muslim — but nominally so

b) The Indian community has shown little response to the gospel

c) Chinese are responding to the ministry of two Chinese CMA missionary couples, and there are two growing congregations

d) Bush Negroes are descendants of escaped slaves who formed their own distinctive communities

e) The Laotian Hmong live in several villages

8 Specialist Christian ministries

a) The Suriname Bible Society (UBS) has played a key role in not only Bible translation and distribution, but also in producing a daily 20-minute TV programme, promoting ministry for families, AIDS issues, etc

b) Bible translation continues through the ministry of The Bible Society and SIL

c) Student ministry. JSS(IFES) has expanded ministry since the 1980s

d) The JESUS film has been extensively used in film showings and on TV in the 4 major languages

Geography

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Area 163,820 sq.km. Northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana.

Population (2000) 417,130 +0.39%AGR

Capital Paramaribo 210,000.

Peoples

Asians 51%; Afro-Caribbean 41%; Amerindian 7%; Other 1%.

Literacy 93%. Official language Dutch. Trade language Sranang Tongo (Taki-taki). All languages 16. Languages with Scriptures 4Bi 4NT 4por 4w.i.p.

Economy

Bauxite, aluminium, rice, forest products and eco-tourism are the main sources of foreign exchange. HDI 0.757; 64^th/174. Public debt 40% of GNP. Income/person $1,000 (4% of USA).

Politics

Independent from the Netherlands in 1975.

Religion

There is full freedom of religion.

Churches in Suriname

Missionaries from Suriname

8 in 6 agencies

Missionaries to Suriname

156 in 28 agencies from 9 countries

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