Ecuador
April 21st

“Ecuador, put your hope in God; for He will appear and help you!”
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.(Psalm 42:5,NIV)

》 Country Profile

Continent | America
Population | 17.29 million
Area | 283,561㎢ (Located on the Pacific coast of northwestern South America between Colombia and Peru.)
Capital City | Quito (1.93 million), Guayaquil (3.1 million)
People Groups | Total 36 groups, Mestizos (mixed indigenous and white) 74.5%, White 9.8%, Native Quichua 5.6%, Mulatto 2.7%, African 2.4%
People Groups Unreached | 1 (600 Jews)
Official Language(s) | Spanish
Total Languages | 27
Bible Translations | Completed 9, New Testament 13, Partial 2
Religion | Christian 93.7% (6.8% Protestant 6.8%, 77.6% Catholic 77.6%), Non-religious 4.6%, Ethnic religion 0.9% Evangelical 10.6% (1.81 million)

》 About Ecuador

Ecuador was part of the northern Inca Empire until Spain conquered it in 1533. It won independence from Spain in 1822, briefly joined the Republic of Gran Colombia, and then became its own nation, the Republic of Ecuador, in 1830. After gaining independence, Ecuador went through a lot of political instability due to frequent leadership changes and conflicts between regions. The country was relatively stable in the 1980s and early 1990s, but political tensions rose again in the mid-1990s. A border conflict with Peru in 1995 was settled by 1999. Rafael Correa served as Ecuador’s president for three terms over ten years, and since 2021, Guillermo Lasso has been the president with a four-year term.

Ecuador’s economy depends on exporting oil, bananas, coffee, rice, and shrimp, along with remittances from Ecuadorians living abroad. After a financial crisis in 1999 tied to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Ecuador switched to using the US dollar in 2000 to stabilize its economy. The country has large foreign debts, with China being its biggest lender since 2008. Ecuador’s economy struggled when oil prices fell and was further hit by a strong earthquake in coastal areas in 2016. Under President Moreno, the countryEcuador sought IMF assistance to address a growing budget deficit and has continued to work on securing financial support. The economy took another major hit in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ecuador’s GDP per capita is approximately $10,300.

》 Scripture Focus

》 Prayer Points

1. Let’s thank God that Ecuador, once one of the most unreached countries in Latin America, has seen a growth in evangelical Christians to about 1.81 million, which makes up roughly 11% of the population. While churches in urban areas have grown rapidly, there are still few Christians in rural, indigenous regions. In one of the major citiesy of Guayaquil, about 20% of the population are evangelical, compared to 2%but in the southern regions., only about 2% are. Let us pray that the churches in urban areas unite with those in rural regionareas for theto spread of the gospel.
Also, let’s pray for the 78% of Catholics in the country to hear the gospel of the cross, and break free from false teachings, and being born again. Though there are many heresies and syncretism within the church, let us pray that pastors will not lose heart andbut place their hope in God, asking for a revival where He will surely come and bring help.

2. In 1956, five young American missionaries, including Jim Elliott, were killed by the Waorani (Auca) tribe in Ecuador, bringing global attention to the mission work there. Since then, many missionaries have come, churches have been established among almost all the tribes, and the Bible has been translated. Yet, few are now living as true disciples of Christ. Let us pray that churches will rise in obedience to the Word so that the blood of the martyrs will not be have been shed in vain.
Pray that missionary organizations such as Assemblies of God (AoG), Avant Ministries (AV), Christian Brothers (CB), HCJB Radio and Training, and Missionary Air Force (MAF) will humbly collaborate with and serve the churches. Domestically, the Evangelical Missionary Association of Ecuador (AMEE) is mobilizing and training believers for missions. Pray that pastors and church members will thirsthunger for the living God and respond to His call to engage in both domesticnational and international missions.

3. Indigenous groups in Ecuador, such as the Kichwa, Shuar, Apuar, and Chachi, make up around 25% of the population, with the second-highest proportion of indigenous people in Latin America after Bolivia. Despite being the original inhabitants of the land, they have faced deep neglect and oppression, resulting in feelings of inferiority. Many also have grievances regarding land rights, education, autonomy, and access to water. Living mostly in the context of Catholicism and indigenous religions, the evangelization rate among them is very low.
There is a need for the gospel to be actively preached to the middle class, who generally respond poorly, and to Afro-Ecuadorians as well. Missionaries also work with the residents of the Galápagos Islands, known for their eco-tourism, to share the gospel. Pray that the gospel of the cross will reach these small and marginalized communities, bringing the same longing for salvation and renewal that a deer has for water, allowing them to be restored.

》 Urgent prayer requests around the world need your prayer!