Central & South America

Overview

“God, gold and glory” was the rallying cry of the Spaniards who went to the New World. God was the motivator for many Jesuit missionaries, and that put them in conflict with those who came to take the gold and enslave those who needed God. The original inhabitants were decimated by European conquests and diseases in the 16th and 19th Centuries. In 1900, almost the entire Spanish-speaking population was considered Catholic but since then, changes have been dramatic—from narrow traditionalism with strong opposition to Protestant activity to freedom of religion and a rapid growth of Evangelicals. Spiritism has grown rapidly in influence in many countries. The divinely ordered convergence in Latin America of greater freedom of religion, more open and accountable democracy, a series of military, natural and economic disasters which loosened the hold of traditional structures enabled many to come to Christ. Today there has been a rapid growth and maturation of missions vision which has sparked numerous initiatives to the unreached. Among the 21 countries in Central and South America, 97 least-reached peoples remain, from the 50.9% of the population of Guyana in 5 least-reached groups to the 15.4% of Brazil’s population in 46 different people groups, to the more than 600,000 Jews in Argentina, their remaining least-reached people.

Prayer Points

Cooperation Not Competition

Request that God removes competition and imparts a sense of cooperation to every believer, that we join hands with Him and one another to complete the task of reaching every “no-choice people”. “The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:8-9

Releasing New Leaders

Ask God that every new believer would exercise the gifts He has given them to encourage other believers and to share the gospel with others who have not yet heard. “From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Ephesians 4:16

The Word In Their Own Language

Request God to speed the Word to every Least-Reached People in their own language so they can grow thereby. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105

Disciple-makers

Pray that every new believer immediately shares with those around him the hope within him in Jesus and becomes a disciple-maker. “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.” Proverbs 11:30

Kings, Leaders & All Those In Authority

Pray for God to place righteous leaders in power that rule justly and that God gives favor to believers trying to minister, that they may live quiet lives in all godliness and see His kingdom coming on earth.