“This is the day of good news for the Central African Republic!”
Then they said to each other, “What we’re doing is not right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves. If we wait until daylight, punishment will overtake us. Let’s go at once and report this to the royal palace.”(2 Kings 7:9,NIV)
》 Country Profile
Continent | Africa
Population | 5.45 million
Area | 622,984㎢, Located in the central part of Africa.
Capital City | Bangui (958,000 people)
People Groups | Total 81 groups, Banda 19.7%, Gbaya 17%, Sango 9.6%, Mandjia 6.2%, Fulani 4.4%, Bokoto 3.6%
Unreached People Groups | 6 (8.6% of the population)
Official Language(s) | French, Sango (national language)
Total Languages | 80
Bible Translations | Completed 10, New Testament 16, Partial 10
Religion | Christianity 71.2% (Protestant 15%, Catholic 34%), Islam 16.6%, Ethnic religions 10.9%, Evangelical 32% (1.7 million people)
》 About Central African Republic
The Central African Republic(CAR) became a French colony in 1889 when France established a military base in Bangui, the capital. It gained independence in 1960, but the country has since faced continuous coups, dictatorships, and armed uprisings. In 2005, François Bozizé took power through a coup and was re-elected in 2011 amid allegations of election fraud. However, political instability persisted due to frequent rebel uprisings. From 2012 to 2015, due to violence by Islamic rebel groups, CAR endured a brutal civil war between Christian militias in the south and Islamic rebels in the north. A peace agreement was signed, but conflicts between armed groups and political disputes led to the deaths of tens of thousands and displaced over a million people. The country operates as a presidential republic, with Faustin-Archange Touadéra serving as president since 2016.
CAR’s economy is largely dependent on agriculture, with more than 80% of the population engaged in farming. Despite rich deposits of diamonds, gold, uranium, timber, and cotton, economic development remains minimal due to poor infrastructure. The country faces major challenges, including its landlocked geography, inadequate transportation systems, and decades of war, violence, and ethnic and religious conflicts. It is one of the poorest countries in the world, with 62% of the population living below the poverty line. Central African Republic’s GDP per capita is approximately $550.
》 Scripture Focus
| 2 Kings 7:1-2, 9, 16-17(NIV) 1 Elisha replied, “Hear the word of the LORD. This is what the LORD says: About this time tomorrow, a seah of the finest flour will sell for a shekel and two seahs of barley for a shekel at the gate of Samaria.” 2 The officer on whose arm the king was leaning said to the man of God, “Look, even if the LORD should open the floodgates of the heavens, could this happen?” “You will see it with your own eyes,” answered Elisha, “but you will not eat any of it!” 9 Then they said to each other, “What we’re doing is not right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves. If we wait until daylight, punishment will overtake us. Let’s go at once and report this to the royal palace.” 16 Then the people went out and plundered the camp of the Arameans. So a seah of the finest flour sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley sold for a shekel, as the LORD had said. 17 Now the king had put the officer on whose arm he leaned in charge of the gate, and the people trampled him in the gateway, and he died, just as the man of God had foretold when the king came down to his house. |
》 Prayer Points
1. In the Central African Republic, Christianity is mostly nominal and many Christians still practice animism or mix their faith with traditional beliefs. Let us pray that the churches will truly seek the living God and intercede for their war-torn nation. Let us pray that leaders who fear God and boldly share the gospel will be raised up through schools like the Bangui Evangelical Graduate School of Theology and other Bible institutions. Let us pray that disciples of Christ, equipped with the gospel and prayer, will bring hope to people living in despair and unbelief.
2. Church divisions and conflicts between local leaders and foreign missionaries have sometimes broken relationships and hindered ministry. Let us pray that churches and organizations will rise above differences in theology and leadership to work together in reaching unreached people groups. In the past decade, the Bible has been translated into five local languages, but many people still cannot read. Let us pray that literacy programs will accompany Bible distribution efforts. Let us pray that groups like ACATBA and the Bible Society will continue their work faithfully, even in the face of political instability. Though the country is poor and troubled, let us pray that the Central African Republic will be used by God to send missionaries across Africa and to the nations.
3. A coup in 2013 created over one million refugees. Let us pray that God comforts their pain and helps them return and rebuild their lives. Even after the 2019 peace agreement, 1.5 million children still suffer from violence and lack of basic needs. Let us pray for organizations such as Children’s Evangelism Fellowship (CEF), Scripture Union (SU), and Adonai Heritage, May these ministries protect the next generation in the Central African Republic and effectively spread the good news of Jesus Christ. Let us pray that the good news of Jesus Christ will be preached throughout the country. Once, they fled as refugees, but now they bring the Bread of Life to those in despair.
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