Pray for Argentina

Argentina is located in South America.
It is bordered by Paraguay and Bolivia in the north, Brazil and Uruguay in the northeast and Chile
to the west and south.

Buenos Aires is the capital.
The population is 41 million.

FACTS
Argentina is the 2nd largest country in Latin America and the 8th largest in the world.

Argentina comes from the the Latin word 'Argentum'  which means 'Silver.'
The country was named this because the Spanish arrived in the area following rumors
of the existence of silver mountains.

Buenos Aires is the most visited city in South America.

Gauchos (South American cowboys) were very important in both Uruguay and Argentina.

Football is a huge passion.
There are 17 stadiums in the country, most of them big enough for 40,000 fans.

Argentina has the largest Jewish population in Latin America and the fifth largest
in the world.

DEMOGRAPHICS
61% White
26% Mestizo
1%  Black
1%  Mulatto
1%  Amerindian

78% Catholic
9%  Protestant
9%  Agnostic/Atheist
2%  Muslim
1%  Jewish
1%  Mormon

HISTORY
Various indigenous tribes lived in Argentina for thousands of years.

The Inca Empire ruled north-western Argentina from 1480 through the 16th century.

Argentina was ruled by Spain from the early 16th century trough 1810.

Throughout most of the 20th century Argentina was badly governed.

From 1976-1983 there was severe factions both within and against the government.
During this time death squads targeted anyone opposing the government.
Between 10,000 and 30,000 citizens mysteriously disappeared.

In 1982 The Falkland/Malvinas War broke out over control of the Falkland Islands.
The conflict lasted two months and resulted in over 200 deaths.

The was deeply affected the nation.
Relations with Britain have been tense since then.
There is still dispute over the Falkland islands.
Diplomatic relations between Argentina and Britain were not resumed until 1990.

Argentina suffered through an economic crisis from 1999-2002.

CONDITIONS
Argentina is Latin America's third-largest economy.

The country has an export-oriented agricultural sector and a diversified industrial base.

The country has a strong middle class and a highly literate population.

There is a wide gap between the rich and poor.

13 million people live in poverty.
43% of children live below the poverty line.
As many as 500,000 live in slums in and around Buenos Aires.

There are nearly a million university students - many of them live below the poverty line.

Native Amerindians in the Chaco region have been exploited and oppressed.

SPIRITUAL CONDITIONS
78% of the population is Catholic, but for many religion is purely cultural.
9% of the population are irreligious.

There is an increasing spiritual hunger among the population.
There has been increased church growth in cities.
10% of people in jail have become Christians.

Spiritual openness has also seeing many drawn into cults and occultism.

PRAYER NEEDS
Pray that political leaders make wise decisions for their country.

Pray that disputes with Britain be settled peacefully.

Pray that the dispute over the Falkland islands be resolved peacefully.

Pray that solutions for economic and political problems be found.

Pray for those suffering in poverty.

Pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to draw many to Himself and to do
a deep work in believers.

Pray for continued revival in prisons.

Pray that church leaders will be committed to pursuing unity,personal holiness
and discipleship.

Pray that Christians will be vigilant agains false teaching.

Pray for those who work with campus students.

Pray that oppression and exploitation of Amerindians stop.

Pray that the gospel spread among the Amerindians.

Pray that the Christians will continue to impact their communities.

Pray that the Christians will do more to address the enormous poverty.

Pray that the move of God will spread into rural areas.