Madagascar
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| Statistics Capital: Antananarivo Population: 18 million Area: 587,040 sq. km Life Expectancy: 57 years Average Monthly Income: $21 (0.8% of USA) Religions: 52% Indigenous Beliefs 41% Christian Less than 9% Evangelical Christian 7% Muslim Literacy: 46% and declining Total Languages: 6 Languages with Bible in print: 2 Official Languages: Malagasy, French Exports: coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar, cotton cloth, petroleum products | Upcoming events Groundwork beinng laid |
| Notes The earliest settlers on the island of Madagascar were likely from Asia, and thus life in Madagascar is influenced by both African and Asian cultures. Madagascar gained its independence from France in 1960. Attempted socialist takeover and isolated socialist experimentation in the 1970s cost the country greatly, both economically and in lives lost during the violent suppression of protests. Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world. The island is subject to tropical cyclones, which can cause great destruction. Thousands were left homeless after storms hit the island in 2000 and 2004. Indigenous beliefs are very influential in Madagascar. The Malgasy focus a lot of time and energy on ancestral tombs and the dead. Remains of ancestors are frequently removed from tombs for processions and then reburied. Madagascar suffers from frequent food shortages, as much of the land has been destroyed by poor farming practices. Malnutrition has become a significant problem. The current president is an active Christian. Prayer A spiritual hunger is noticeably present in Madagascar. Pray that God would send laborers into the harvest fields of this nation. Much of the Christian community is characterized by spiritual deadness rather than the life of God, in addition to a mixture of Christian beliefs, indigenous traditions, and witchcraft. Pray that God’s power would be made evident and that revival would begin. Pray for the seminaries and Bible schools. Many of these institutions are heavily influenced by traditional culture, integrating practices such as astrology into their teaching. Pray for well-trained, biblically-based leaders to rise up in the evangelization of Madagascar. Pray for missionaries who are willing to make difficult journeys to the nearly inaccessible areas of the nation, which contain five million people. Pray for strength, favor, faith, and provision for these missionaries. | |
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