top of page
VENEZUELA
venezuela.png
Venezuela.jpg
Venezuela.png

Capital: Caracas

Major Language: Spanish

Area: 916,445 km2

Population: 28.4 million

HDI Rank: 113 of 189

Major Religion:

Catholic: 20 million (71%)

Other Religions:

Protestant: 5 million (17%)

Other: 3.2 million (12%)

General Information:

Arawak and Carib Native Americans lived in Venezuela when Christopher Columbus reached the coast in 1498. The Spanish ruled Venezuela for about three centuries, and the nation won its independence in 1811. Most Venezuelans are Mestizos. The nation has some of the world’s largest oil reserves, and petrol is the cheapest in the world. The country is home to Angel Falls, the world’s tallest waterfall. Crime is rampant in Venezuela, kidnappings are common, and murder rate is one of the highest in the world. Baseball and soccer are national sports.

 

Religious Background:

The Venezuelan Constitution provides freedom of religion. Catholicism is the most widely practiced faith. Protestant Christianity is the second largest religious group. The majority of Evangelicals have converted from the Catholic religion. Another 8% of the population identifies as being antagonist and atheist. Secularism as well as New Age Spirituality is growing. Visit to witch doctors of spiritist and occult shops is common. Santería, a fusion of African and Native American traditional religions with Catholicism, has a small following in Venezuela.

 

Catholic background:

Catholicism was introduced in Venezuela during the colonial era. Dominicans and Franciscans began their missionary work by early 1500s, later followed by the Jesuits. The Catholic Church did not gain much prominence and influential power. There has been an escalation of tensions between the Church and a government attempting to battle a host of social and economic ills. Catholicism continues to remain the faith of the majority in Venezuela. The Church is composed of 9 archdioceses, 26 dioceses and 1,256 parishes. Patron saint: Our Lady of Coromoto.

Prayer Points

 

1. Venezuelans 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 20 million Catholics in Venezuela.

  • The majority are nominal.  Catholicism is heavily focused on Mary, and mixed with Spiritism. Pray that they may have an encounter with Jesus.

  • Pray for God to take authority over the spiritual principalities and powers that are keeping the Catholics bound in sin and deception, and from knowing Jesus.

  • Pray that Catholics would know that whoever puts their trust in Jesus Christ has eternal life, and they have crossed over from death to life.

  • Pray for all the Catholics attending the 1,256 parishes to come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior.

  • Pray for the cardinals, archbishops, bishops, 2,557 priests, 1,628 brothers and 3,775 sisters.

  • Pray that Catholics will be liberated from pagan beliefs and human traditions, and come into a saving relationship with Christ.

​​

3. Evangelicals to grow and multiply

Evangelical Christians have been growing steadily since the 1980s. They have been active in the political and social causes, impacting the nation positively. Pray for development of leaders, and preservation of biblical truth and doctrines. Pray for believers to be filled with boldness to share the gospel  in their communities and neighborhoods.

 

4. Social evils and issues in the country

Venezuelans face social unrest, government corruption, severe economic crises and poverty. Pray for the Prince of Peace to invade the hearts and minds of the people in a nation that is going through much turmoil, and draw them to Him.

 

5. Other Religions

Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons, along with small but influential Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim, Baha'i and Druze communities, are spread all across Venezuela. Pray for whole families, heads of households and men of influence to find Christ.

bottom of page