Benin

Pray for Africa

Prayer Points

  • For righteous leaders who will be good stewards of the country.
  • For the Togo refugees staying in Benin.
  • For the people of Benin to be released from the stronghold and fear of Voodoo.
  • That political freedom will last and that Christians' testimonies will touch many hearts.

LOCATION:
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo

POPULATION:
11 458 611  (2017 est.)

RELIGION:
Muslim 27.7%

Catholic 25.5%

Protestant 13.5% (Celestial 6.7%, Methodist 3.4%, other Protestant 3.4%)

Vodoun 11.6%

other Christian 9.5%

other traditional religions 2.6%

other 2.6%, none 5.8%  (2013 est.)

INTERNET USERS:
1 232 940  (2017)

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE:
NA %

MISSIONARIES (2010):
Sent: 55
Received: 660

LEAST REACHED PEOPLE GROUPS:
13

KEY CITY

Porto-Novo

Population of  city:

500 000 

Urbanization Rate:

3.67% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major religion in  city:

Muslim

We Pray...

Father, we thank you for the people of Benin. Thank you for creating them and blessing them with so many resources. Thank you for enabling them to create a safe haven for so many Togo refugees.

Lord Jesus, we pray for righteous leaders who will be good stewards of the country, that they will not search for personal gain, but that they will sincerely look after the people of Benin.

Father we ask that You will break the stronghold of Voodoo and release the people of Benin from the fear of Voodoo.

Lord we ask that you will touch their lives, especially the people in the Northern parts where they have been fighting over land for decades against tribes from Burkina Faso. Lord, please change their hearts so that may be content with what they have.

Lord, thank you that the people of Benin may have political freedom to honor Your name in public. We pray that it will be lasting and that their testimonies will touch many hearts and bring glory to Your name.

State of the Church

The constitution and other laws and policies protect religious freedom. The constitutional court determines rules on religious matters as part of its mission to guarantee respect for religious freedom. Benin's court declares that it is illegal to block access of any group to its religious premises and that discussion and debate regarding religious belief is a protected right of free speech. There have been sporadic attacks on Christians in the last 7 years, but not many.

Overview

Benin formed part of what was known as the Dahomey kingdom. The Dahomey Kingdom rose to prominence in the 1600's and later became a regional power before France colonized it. Instability marked the first years of Benin after independence from France in the 1960's, but as time went on Benin grew economically and has become one of Africa's leading suppliers of cotton.

There is conflict in the north, on the border with Burkina Faso, where farmers are involved in land claim disputes. This conflict finding its origin when colonizers drew up borders cutting of certain people groups from certain areas (more info on the subject can be found @ The Long Run Effects of the Scramble for Africa)

Most of those living in the north identify themselves as Sunni Muslims whereas, in the South, the majority are Christian. Many individuals who identify themselves as Christian or Muslim also practice Voodoo or other traditional religions.

More Resources:

Bibliography