The Bahamas / Virgin Islands
April 4th

“It gave me great joy that the Bahamas and the Virgin Islands walk in the truth!”
It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it.(3 John 1:3,NIV)

The Bahamas

》 Country Profile

Continent | America
Population | 350,000
Area | 13,880㎢, 700 coral islands in the Atlantic Ocean east of North America between Florida, USA and Cuba.
Capital City | Nassau (280,000 people)
People Groups | Total 9 groups, African Caribbean 62.3%, Bahamian 23.8%, Haitian 7.9%, American 2.1%, Jamaican 1.6%, European 1.5%
People Groups Unreached | 0
Official Language(s) | English
Total Languages | 6
Bible Translations | Completed 4
Religion | Christian 94.5% (Protestant 58%, Catholic 16%), Non-religious 3.2%, other (Baha’i, etc.) 1.4%, Ethnic religion 0.9%, Evangelical 39.6% 140,000 people

》 About The Bahamas

The Bahamas is the first place in the New World where Columbus landed in 1492, and it later became a base for pirates. Originally a Spanish colony, it became British territory in 1783 through the Treaty of Versailles and gained independence in 1973. As a Commonwealth nation, the British monarch is the official head of state, with a governor appointed to represent them. Prime Minister Philip Davis has been in office since 2021, serving a four-year term.

The Bahamas economy relies heavily on tourism and financial services, making it the Caribbean’s second-highest in per capita GDP among English-speaking countries. Tourism accounts for about 50% of the GDP and employs nearly half of the workforce. Since over 90% of visitors are American, the Bahamian economy is strongly influenced by the U.S. economy. Financial services are the second most important sector for the economy but are often used by foreigners as a tax haven. The Bahamas is also a major transit point for illegal trade, being only 80 km from Florida. The Bahamas’ GDP per capita is approximately $30,800

》 Scripture Focus

》 Prayer Points

1. Let us pray that Christians in the Bahamas would regain the life and power of the gospel. Although more than 94% of people identify as Christians, nominal faith is widespread, and few people read the Bible on their own. Many churches lack proper care from pastors, and while about 40% identify as evangelical, very few are fully committed to the Lord. The younger generation is growing more distant from the church and Christianity, becoming increasingly secular. With the growth of tourism, materialism and pleasure-seeking have spread, leading to higher rates of drug use, out-of-wedlock births, and violent crime. Wealthy Americans often settle on Abaco Island, while poor Haitian immigrants live on Andros Island, which has a negative impact on Bahamians. Let us pray that Bahamian Christians would grow strong in the truth, live by it, and stand as people who belong to God.

2. Churches in the Bahamas are uniting through the Bahamas Christian Council and are praying in events like the National Day of Prayer. Let us pray that, led by the Holy Spirit and God’s Word, they would turn from following the world and the flesh to take up their cross and follow the Lord. May they be sanctified through God’s Word and prayer and rise as temples of prayer with God’s heart for missions. Let us pray that, through the good deeds of the church in following the Lord, many souls would be led to return to the Lord, hear the truth, and find salvation.

Virgin Islands

》 Country Profile

Continent | America
Population | 105,000
Area | 1,910㎢ Located between Puerto Rico, a Leeward Island in the Caribbean, and the British Virgin Islands.
Capital City | Charlotte Amalie (52,000 people)
People Groups | Total 7 groups, Virgin Islanders 48.5%, English-speaking Virgin Islanders 22.3%, Americans 15.5%, Puerto Ricans 11.6%, others 1.9%
People Groups Unreached | 0
Official Language(s) | English, Spanish
Total Languages | 6
Bible Translations | Completed 4, Partial 1
Religion | Christian 94.2% (Protestant 33%, Catholic 30%), Non-religious 3.9%, Hindu 0.5%, Ethnic religion 0.5%, Evangelical 24.4% 25,000 people

》 About The Virgin Islands

The U.S. Virgin Islands began as a Spanish colony in 1555. In 1625, the British and French started to settle or occupy the islands, and in 1653, the French West India Company purchased them. The islands of St. Thomas and St. John were taken by the Danes, who built many plantations and used prison labor. After 1673, they the labor force with enslaved people brought from Africa. In 1917, the United States purchased the Virgin Islands from Denmark due to their strategic location, halfway between New York and the Panama Canal. As a U.S. overseas territory, the islands have a U.S. Navy base. Residents of the Islands have U.S. citizenship but cannot vote in U.S. presidential elections, and they have their own judiciary. Governor Albert Bryan has served since 2019 with a four-year term.

Tourism, trade, other services, and rum production make up most jobs. Around 3 million tourists visit each year, mainly by cruise ships. The farming sector is small, so most food is imported. Manufacturing is developed, including oil refining, electricity, pharmaceuticals, and watch assembly. St. Croix Island, in particular, is home to major oil refineries. However, the islands are vulnerable to storm damage, demonstrated by the two major hurricanes in 2017. The Virgin Islands’ GDP per capita is approximately $37,000.

》 Prayer Points

1. The U.S. Virgin Islands once had a strong Christian presence through the Moravian Church, but it has now lost much of its life and vision. With many Puerto Ricans moving to the islands, the Catholic Church has grown. However, with the large tourism industry bringing about 3 million tourists each year, the culture of luxury, pleasure-seeking, Rastafarian beliefs, and rising crime have led to a decline in the church’s influence. Let us pray that the churches on these islands examine their lives and actions before the truth, turn from following worldly and evil ways, and follow the Lord’s Word. May they find joy in walking in the truth and hold on to the eternal, true hope, not the empty pleasures of the world. Let us pray that they grow strong as people belonging to God and become witnesses of the Gospel in this land. May they also light the way to salvation so that those who do not believe may return to the Lord through them. 

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