“Panama, boast in knowing God and in His acts of love, justice, and righteousness!”
“but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.”(Jeremiah 9:24,NIV)
》 Country Profile
Continent | America
Population | 4.4 million
Area | 75,420㎢ The narrowest point on the isthmus of Central America, located between Costa Rica and Colombia.
Capital City | Panama City (1.93 million people)
People Groups | Total 23 Mestizos 58%, Native Americans 12.3%, Jamaicans 9%, Europeans/Americans 6.7%, Asians 6.5%
People Groups Unreached | 2 (0.3% of the population)
Offical Language(s) | Spanish
Total Languages | 23
Bible Translations | Completed 11, New Testament 9, Partial 2
Religion | Christianity 88.2% (Protestantism 21%, Catholicism 56%), Non-religious 4.7%, Ethnic religion 4.7%, Islam 0.6% Evangelicals 21.6% 850,000 people
》 About Panama
Panama was a Spanish colony in the 16th century, gaining independence in 1821 to join the Republic of Gran Colombia. Following the breakup of Gran Colombia in 1830, Panama remained part of Colombia. In 1903, Panama agreed to a treaty with the United States to separate from Colombia in exchange for the construction of the Panama Canal and granting sovereignty over part of its territory (the Panama Canal Zone) to the U.S. The canal was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers between 1904 and 1914. A new treaty signed in 1977 led to the full transfer of the canal’s control from the United States to Panama in 1999. After a U.S. military intervention ousted dictator Manuel Noriega, democratic politics stabilized in 1994. José Raúl Molino has been serving as the President of Panama since 2024, with a five-year term.
Panama’s economy is largely driven by industries related to the Panama Canal, such as free trade zones, logistics, finance, tourism, and construction. Services account for 75% of the GDP, and Panama is a hub for offshore finance. Despite well-developed infrastructure, the country faces high poverty rates and significant income inequality. Excessive government spending, construction of public projects, and the impact of COVID-19 contributed to a public debt exceeding $39.684 billion by 2021. Panama’s GDP per capita is approximately $29,000.
》 Scripture Focus
| Jeremiah 9:3-6, 23-24(NIV) 3“They make ready their tongue like a bow, to shoot lies; it is not by truth that they triumph[a] in the land. They go from one sin to another; they do not acknowledge me,” declares the Lord. 4 “Beware of your friends; do not trust anyone in your clan. For every one of them is a deceiver, and every friend a slanderer. 5 Friend deceives friend, and no one speaks the truth. They have taught their tongues to lie; they weary themselves with sinning. 6 You live in the midst of deception; in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me,” declares the Lord. 23 This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, 24 but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord. |
》 Prayer Points
1. Let us bless Panama, a nation with the motto “Bridge of the World, Heart of the Universe,” to also become a bridge and heart for the gospel. While 56% of the population identifies as Catholic, nominalism is widespread, and the number of believers is declining. Instead, many are drawn to lies such as New Age beliefs, occultism, and spiritualism. On the other hand, let us give thanks for the growing number of Evangelicals, which now make up over 21% of the population. However, despite this growth, their societal impact remains limited, as issues like divorce, illegitimacy, violence, lack of morals, and drug abuse are rampant. Even though this land may not see it fit to acknowledge God because of deception, let us pray that the church remembers the Word and continues to preach the gospel of the cross. Let all churches earnestly seek to fulfill the Lord’s Word: “Let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice, and righteousness on earth.”
2. The church is increasingly embracing a vision for missions, rising as a sending country for missionaries. The Panamanians Reaching the World (PAAM) initiative serves as a unifying body connecting various mission organizations and denominations. International mission groups such as Youth With a Mission (YWAM), Assemblies of God (AoG), and Free Will Baptists are mobilizing churches for mission work. Pray that Panama, a melting pot of diverse ethnicities, will not take pride in human wisdom, wealth, or might but instead become a nation that boasts only in the gospel and delights in missions.
3. Panama is a young nation with 42% of its population under the age of 24. Therefore there is a need for active efforts to reach youth, college students, and young adults with the gospel. Campus ministries like Campus Crusade for Christ, Minamundo, and CEC (part of IFES) are actively working in this area. Additionally, due to Panama’s strategic location and the Panama Canal, it is home to diverse ethnic groups, including Chinese, South Asians (predominantly Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs), and Jewish communities. These groups also need to hear the gospel. Under the the lie and deception of the world, every one is a deceiver and every friend a slanderer. However, even in times like these, let us pray that the church acts in love, justice, and righteousness, testifying the gospel of Jesus Christ with all boldness.
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