Prayer Points
- For fruitful and sustainable ministry that yields thriving churches.
- For believers working in HIV/AIDS related ministry to spread hope through Christ.
- For the mighty hand of God to banish animistic traditions in the church.
- For more Christian workers with adequate resources for ministering to IV drug users.
- For work among the youth, that God’s word will be effectively shared.
LOCATION:
Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
POPULATION:
2 185 159 (2017 est.)
RELIGION:
Christian 80%,
Indigenous beliefs 20%
INTERNET USERS:
444 376 (2017)
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE:
28% ( 2014 est.)
MISSIONARIES (2010):
Sent: 60
Received: 730
LEAST REACHED PEOPLE GROUPS:
0
BROADCAST MEDIA:
1 state-owned TV station and 2 state-owned radio stations; government controls most private broadcast media; satellite TV subscription service available; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters obtainable (2008)
We Pray...
Father, we pray that churches in Lesotho will be fruitful and united in their efforts to further Your Kingdom. Lord, will you strengthen the believers that are working in HIV/AIDS related ministries. May their lives be a testimony of the hope we have in Christ. Father, we ask that you will banish animistic traditions in the church of Lesotho.
We pray that people will know that it is through the blood of Jesus Christ alone that we receive forgiveness of sin. Lord, we pray that your Word will transform the lives of the youth of Lesotho and that Your purposes for their lives will be made known.
State of the Church
The Church in Lesotho has many challenges. It plays a big role in helping people who are suffering from Aids, as well as running feeding schemes for those who don’t have food.
Another challenge is the geography of the country. Many people still live in the mountains and their communities can only be accessed by foot or donkey. In addition to this, a lot of these people are herders who look after cattle. This means that they are constantly moving around, looking for good pastures, which makes it difficult to locate them. These herders are seen as a lower class of people, preventing them from becoming part of communities and churches. However, we are starting to see change in this situation.
Like many countries in Africa Christianity is mixed with traditional beliefs.
Overview
Lesotho was founded by the Basotho chieftain Moshoeshoe in the early 1800’s. Later Lesotho became a buffer zone between the “Voortrekker” republics in what is now known as central and south-eastern South Africa and the British ruled Cape Colony. Many Basothos left home to go and work as seasonal workers on the farms surrounding them. It is still common practise for people from Lesotho to go and work on farms and mines in South Africa
In 1868 Britain annexed Lesotho for two reasons:
Since the establishment of the “Voortrekker” republics, the British tried to annex them, because there were important trade routes which the British could not access anymore. Many of the Voortrekkers were farmers and thus needed workers to help them work the land. The workers grew in loyalty towards the Voortrekkers. This was bad for Britain as this meant that the Voortrekkers will have more people to fight against them should they (Britain) try to take back the routes by force. Lesotho was an important vantage point to get these routes and people back.
The reason why Lesotho agreed to be part of a British protectorate was that many of the Voortrekkers started to move into the territory of the king and they needed protection from this. This is how the border line of Lesotho was formed.
Looking a bit further ahead, Lesotho gained independence from Britain in 1970. Since then, they have experienced four coup's. Three of which were successful and the most recent one in 2014 that was unsuccessful. The hotly contested elections in 2007 has caused the country to be in some political instability. The people were unhappy with the way seats were awarded in the assembly. In May 2012 a competitive election was held with 18 parties taking part. Prime Minister Motsoahae Thomas Thabane won, forming the country's first ever coalition government, that ousted the 14-year incumbent, Pakalitha Mosisili, who peacefully transferred the power the following month.
Although things were peaceful after the 2012 elections, the attempted coup in 2014 caused Prime Minister Thabane to flee to South Africa. With South Africa as mediator, peace has been restored to the country.
Lesotho has one of the world's highest HIV-Aids infection rates. The poverty is deep and widespread and the UN describes 40% of this nation as "ultra-poor". Furthermore, the food output is affected by the death of many farmers with Aids.
More Resources:
- Regional Prayer Initiative: Pray4sea
- African Prayer Initiative: Pray Africa
Bibliography
- INcontext ministries – http://incontextministries.org/
- CIA World Factbook
- Atlas of Global Christianity – Todd M.Johnson & Kenneth R. Ross (Published by – Edinburgh University Press) (Missionaries and national workers: Africa 2010, page 267)
- Prayercast – http://prayercast.com/
- Unreached people groups – http://www.joshuaproject.net
- The voice of the Martyrs – http://www.persecution.com/
- Jul-Dec, 2010 International Religious Freedom Report – http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2010_5/index.htm
- Operation World – http://www.operationworld.org/african-countries