Ecuador
Welcome to Ecuador… home of the Amazon rainforest, the Andes mountains, kind and hospitable people, the Panama hat, and the world’s highest active volcano. Located between Columbia and Peru, this South American country is just slightly smaller than Nevada. Deep in the midst of its slow-paced cities and exotic terrain, Ecuador is a nation suffering from political corruption, economic need, and people—Ecuadorians—in desperate need of Christ.
Like most of South America, Ecuador is predominantly (95%) Roman Catholic. There are also small Muslim and Jewish minorities and a growing number of Mormon and Protestant denominations. Ecuadorians are a very religious people, plagued by superstition. Witchcraft is prevalent, and many have been deceived into thinking they do not need the Gospel. While the mountain people tend to be more quiet and reserved than those from the cities and coastal regions, Ecuador’s openness to the Gospel has increased in the past decade. What a difference the freeing power of Christ could make in the lives of these people who for generations have been in bondage!
Suffering from economic disaster in the late 1990’s, the economy was stabilized after the adoption of the U.S. dollar as the official currency in 2000. Poverty continues to be a major issue though, with 38% of the population living below the poverty line. Parental support and care is lacking, with children often suffering from neglect, abuse, and living on the streets. Juvenile delinquency is a problem, and many young people are leaving the country in search of a better life.
Now is the time to have an impact in Ecuador! Churches need support, families need equipping, children need care, and countless others need the Gospel. There are over 13 million people in Ecuador waiting to see the power of Christ through the light of a life willing to follow Him. Will you go?
Article written by Elizabeth Warner
