Syria Syrian Arab Republic Asia Geography Area: 185,180 sq km Fertile plain on Mediterranean coast; 60% desert in centre and east but crossed by the Euphrates River. Population: 22,505,091 Annual Growth: 3.31% Capital: Damascus Urbanites: 54.9%
HDI Rank: 107 of 182 (UN Human Development Reports 2009) Peoples Peoples: 33 (45% unreached) Official language: Arabic
Languages: 22 Religion Largest Religion: Muslim Christians 1,426,823
Evangelicals 23,663 Muslim 20,254,582 Challenges for Prayer Syrian Christian minorities enjoy freedom and stability, possibly unparalleled through the Middle East. The Orthodox and Catholic churches existed since before Islam and endure still with many godly members. The majority are Arab, but there is also a large Armenian community. Christians are concentrated in the cities, but finding housing and employment is increasingly challenging due to discrimination. Their proportion steadily declines through continual emigration. Pray against this trend. Thank God for their longstanding presence and the wise leadership of the Christian communities, and pray that these communities might flower again. Pray for renewal in these ancient traditions. The Protestant presence is small but growing. Most Protestant converts come from Orthodox and Catholic backgrounds. There is an evangelical presence in most cities, but rarely in smaller towns. Growth can only occur if more leaders (ordained and lay) receive theological and leadership training; the signs are that many are willing. TEE is very helpful in this area pray for more TEE tutors. Pray that all believers might gain a deep desire to grow in godliness and outreach.
Nestled between Turkey and Lebanon, modern-day Syria boasts a population of over 22 million people, 90% of which are Arabs. Damascus, its capital, is considered to be the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world.
Many unreached people groups in Syria, like the Sunni Arab majority and the Bedouin, Cirassian, Turkmen, and Gypsy minorities, have never even heard the Gospel message. The faith-filled New Testament church of Antioch was long ago housed in Syria. May the Syrian body of believers rediscover the zeal and faith of their fathers to cause Christ's love and hope to be poured out on a nation in great turmoil.
Prayercast Syria: http://youtu.be/uoueXfbRCZE
www.operationworld.org/today |