Germany

Capital: Berlin

Major Language: German

Area: 357,022 km2

Population: 84 million

HDI Rank: 6 of 189

Major Religion:

Protestant: 27 million (32%)

Other Religions:

Catholic: 26 million (31%)

Islam: 0.6 million (7%)

Other: 25 million (30%)

General Information:

A region named ‘Germania’ was documented before A.D. 100. In the 10th century, German territories formed a central part of the Holy Roman Empire. Germany is a great power with a strong economy, and has had a great impact on the world. But its history is tainted by the atrocities of the Holocaust and the two World Wars. Martin Luther, Albert Einstein, Karl Marx, and Beethoven are part of German legacy. Germany is also known for Gutenberg, the first printing press, and for the automobile and other technological achievements. Most popular sport is soccer.

Religious Background:

Christianity is the largest religion in Germany, and was introduced to the area of modern Germany with the conversion of the first Germanic tribes in the 4th century. After the Reformation started by Martin Luther in the early 16th century, many people left the Catholic Church and became Protestant. A third of Christians in Germany are Catholics and a third are Protestants. The spiritual health of Germany is currently in decay and a large number of Christians are not affiliated with any church. Many are atheist, agnostic, or otherwise non-religious.

Catholic background:

Catholicism gained a foothold in Germany by the 2nd century. By the end of the 3rd century, there were Catholic bishops in Trier, and by 4th century in Cologne. Catholicism was the only official religion within the Holy Roman Empire, in medieval times. The Reformation in the 16th century caused many to leave the Catholic Church and embrace Protestantism. Secularization has had its impact on the Catholic Church in Germany. The Church is composed of 7 archdioceses, 20 dioceses and 12,488 parishes. Patron saints: Boniface, Peter Canisius, Ansgar.

Prayer Points

1. Germans to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior

Pray that everyone will get an opportunity to hear the gospel and come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

2. Catholics to know Christ

Pray for the salvation of 26 million Catholics in Germany.
The Catholic Church is steeped in secularism. Pray for a spiritual awakening, and for the saving power of the gospel to be revealed to the Catholics.
Ask God to make His Word, the Son of God, known to Catholics. Pray that they would see the emptiness in their lives and discover true meaning in Christ.
Pray that Catholics would understand what it means to be born-again and that they will not simply be content with being a religious person.
Pray for all the Catholics attending the 12,488 parishes to come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Pray for the cardinals, archbishops, bishops, 2,329 priests, 1,018 brothers and 3,288 sisters.
Pray that as many Catholics are seeking the truth, they will find the truth in the gospel and commit their lives to Jesus Christ.

3. Evangelicals to grow and multiply

Despite sharp division on many levels, Evangelical churches now work together across the regions for evangelism, outreach, and mission. Pray for the growth within the Evangelical church, and for the spread of the gospel across the country. Pray for the believers to share the gospel with boldness, and that they will be fruitful in their witness to the lost.

4. Social evils and issues in the country

Humanism, secularism, skepticism along with New Age, Satanism and the occult are on the rise in Germany. Horrible crimes, murders and suicide rates have increased. Pray that the bondage to the spirit world be broken over these lives.

5. Other Religions

Jehovah's Witness, Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism, Yazidism and Islam form the minority religions, with Islam being the largest. Pray that these unreached people will hear the gospel and receive the gift of salvation offered through Jesus Christ.