WORLD PRAYER FOCUS-THE PHILIPPINES

      The Republic of the Philippines is an Asian country made up of 7,250 islands, of which over 700 are inhabited.   The vast majority of the population is concentrated on eleven of these islands.  Over 75% of the country is mountainous, and prone to devastating typhoons.

Mountainside Village

     Massive gaps between rich and poor exist in the Philippines.  High population growth, widespread corruption, wreaked havoc on the economy, leading to widespread poverty and unemployment.  Remittances from Filipinos working abroad are a crucial source of income, and over 30% of the population lives below the poverty line.

Aftermath of a Typhoon

     Pray for areas of the Philippines affected by Typhoons Nesat and Nalgae which slammed into the country last week.  Pray for rescue efforts to reach those people who remain trapped in flooded villages and for the families of those killed by the storms and flooding.  Nalgae was the 17th weather disturbance this year to batter the disaster-prone Philippines, which is lashed by about 20 storms and typhoons annually.  Pray for recovery from the damage storms have caused to this already impoverished country.

   
     From 1565 to 1898, the country was a Spanish colony.  As a result of this Spanish heritage, 76% of the population is Catholic, but nearly all evangelical denominations continue to grow at a rate significantly faster than national growth rates.  However, both Catholic and Protestant churches face issues with the influence of animism, witchcraft, and other pagan sects and cults.  In some parts of the islands, Catholicism is a thin veneer over indigenous superstitions.   Pray for the church to find effective ways to minister and communicate the Biblical gospel to those caught in these practices and groups.