Guyana
March 12th

“Guyana, build up in your most holy faith!”

“But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.” (Jude 1:17-23, NIV)    

》 Country Profile

Continent | America
Population | 790,000
Area | 214,969㎢, Located on the northeastern coast of South America between Venezuela and Suriname on the North Atlantic Ocean.
Capital City | Georgetown (110,000 people)
People Groups | Total 21 groups, South Asians 41.2%, Africans 30.7%, Multiracial people 20%, Native Americans 8.1%, others 0.5% (Portuguese, Chinese, British)
People Groups Unreached |  1 (4,000 Urdu people)
Official Language(s) |  English, Guyanese Creole
Total Languages | 16
Bible Translations | Completed 6, New Testament 7, Partial 3
Religion | Christianity 57% (Protestant 50%, Catholic 7%), Hindu 33%, Muslim 9%, Non-religious 3%, Ethnic religion 2.6%, Evangelical 15.7% 120,000 people

》 About Guyana

Guyana was a Dutch colony from the 17th century, during which many Africans were brought in as slaves to work on sugar plantations. In 1814, it came under British rule, and after the abolition of slavery in 1834, thousands of Indian laborers were brought in to compensate for the labor shortage. This resulted in divisions and tensions between the Indian and African communities. On May 26, 1966, Guyana gained independence from Britain and changed its name to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. Since independence, it has been largely governed by socialist-leaning administrations, and in 1992, Cheddi Jagan became the first president elected through a free and fair election. Currently, Venezuela in the west and Suriname in the east both lay claims to parts of Guyana’s territory. Mohamed Irfaan Ali has been serving as president since August 2020, with a five-year term.

Guyana’s economy is largely based on agriculture and mining, supported by its natural resources and vast farmlands. However, poverty is widespread due to a lack of government policy and labor shortages, with 20% of the population living in extreme poverty. Sugar, gold, minerals, shrimp, timber, and rice are major exports, making up more than half of the country’s GDP. The increase in gold production has helped balance the decline in sugar production. In 2018, 3.2 billion barrels of oil were discovered offshore, and Guyana became an oil-producing nation starting in 2020.
Guyana’s GDP per capita is approximately $20,626.

》 Scripture Focus

》 Prayer Points

1. In Guyana, where ethnic divisions are severe, Christians who unite beyond ethnic barriers have been an inspiration to society. This unity has been a powerful force, drawing people into the church. While evangelical churches remain active, Christianity has declined in the past decade alongside a shrinking population. Most African-Guyanese and mixed-race Guyanese identify as Christians, though many are nominal believers. Others follow practices like Obeah (spiritualism and witchcraft) and Rastafarianism (which reveres Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie as a savior).
Let’s pray for the Guyanese Evangelical Fellowship and the churches that they would stand against ethnic divisions and build unity through the Holy Spirit and prayer, on the foundation of their most holy faith.

2. Christian missionary organizations like Youth With A Mission (YWAM) and Operation Guyana are providing medical outreach in areas severely affected by AIDS and malaria. Though the rapid increase in AIDS cases during the 1990s has slowed, the issue remains critical among young people. In 2018, over 500 new infections were reported, most affecting the youth, with more than half lacking basic knowledge of AIDS. Other Christian groups, such as the Christian Church (CC), the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and Global Outreach International, continue to plant churches, translate the Bible, and train disciples. The International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES) is also nurturing the next generation and youth through the gospel and prayer. Pray that these organizations will help bring transformation to those living in ungodly ways, rejecting the gospel, and lead them to faith.

3. Indo-Guyanese, who make up 41% of Guyana’s population, are mostly Hindus (70%) and Muslims (14%), and their numbers are growing. The translation of the Bible into Guyanese Creole, the language many Indo-Guyanese speak, is still incomplete. The Indigenous tribes, including the Arawak, Macushi, Patamona, and Akawaio, are mostly Roman Catholic. Pray that Guyanese churches will show compassion to those in doubt and faithfully proclaim the gospel to them. Ask God to save Hindus and Indigenous people, pulling them from the fires of judgment.

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