By Matthew Castro
Population: 16.3 million. Capital: Ouagadougou (1.9 million). Christians: 1.4 million.. Largest Religion: Muslim. Fastest Growing Religion: Islam, Christianity.
Largest Ethic Groups: Gur (77%), Fulani (7.8%). Language: French, Moore, Julia (south, west).
BURKINA FASO STRUGGLES WITH POVERTY. Pray for aid, development, and small loans for business projects that will lift people out of poverty. Pray against corruption in the government and the aid industry that takes resources away from the people who most need them.
CHRISTIANITY INCREASED STEADILY ACROSS RECENT DECADES. Evangelicals grew from 10,000 in 1960 to 1.44 million in 2010. Pray for discipleship among believers. Also pray for Bible translation projects waiting completion (28 active projects, 12 more needed).
THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT WORLD HAS NOT BEEN BROKEN. Idols, charms, and secret societies have more control in Burkina Faso than in most West African countries. Pray fro the risen Christ to demonstrate His power and set many free.
MORE THAN 25 UNREACHED PEOPLES DO NOT HAVE AN EFFECTIVE WITNESS. Churches and missions that work in their areas often minister to the more responsive groups, or to peoples more similar to themselves.
MISSIONARIES AND CHRISTIAN AID/RELIEF WORKERS The church does not have a strong missions vision, with the exception of VIMAB (the Burkinabe of Assemblies of God). Pray for missionaries’ protection and encouragement.
PROTECTION FROM PERSECUTION This past week 14 were killed by terrorists. Going on Twitter, President Roch Marc Christian Kabore said Sunday that he condemned “the barbaric attack” in the town of Hantoukoura. He offered his “deepest condolences to the bereaved families and wish a speedy recovery to the wounded.” Pray for the families that lost relatives. Pray that Christ would glorify himself and draw people to himself through this horrible event. Here is a link to an article on Christianity Today about the incident.
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