Brazil Geography Located in Eastern South America bordering

Brazil

Geography �Located in Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean �Total area: 8, 515, 770 square kilometers �Capital city: Brasília �Other big cities: Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Belo Horizonte

Political �Following more than three centuries under Portuguese rule, Brazil gained its independence in 1822, maintaining a monarchial system of government until the abolition of slavery in 1888 and the subsequent proclamation of a republic by the military in 1889. Brazil underwent more than half a century of populist and military government until 1985, when the military regime peacefully ceded power to civilian rulers. �Current government type: federal presidential republic �Current president: Michel Temer

Michel Temer �Temer is a Brazilian lawyer and politician serving as the 37 th President of Brazil since 2016. Political scandal resulted in the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff in May 2016, a conviction that was upheld by the Senate in August 2016 and Michel Temer, her vice president, will serve as president until 1 January 2019, completing her second term. �In his first speech in office, Temer called for a government of “national salvation, ” asking for the trust of the Brazilian people and expressing his intention to overhaul the pension system and labor laws and to curb public spending. �In 2017, a poll showed that Temer’s administration had 7% popular approval, with 76% of respondents in favor of his resignation. Despite widespread protests, Temer has refused to step down and is due to be succeeded by President-elect Jair Bolsonaro on January 1, 2019

People �Population: 208, 846, 892 (July 2018) �Ethnic groups: white 47. 7%, mulatto 43. 1%, black 7. 6%, Asian 1. 1%, indigenous 0. 4% (2010) �Religions: Roman Catholic 64. 6%, other Catholic 0. 4%, Protestant 22. 2%, other Christian 0. 7%, Spiritist 2. 2%, other 1. 4%, none 8%, unspecified 0. 4% (2010) �Languages: Portuguese (official and most widely spoken), Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, English, minor Amerindian languages �Literacy: 92. 6% of the total population ages 15 and over can read and write �Major infectious diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, dengue fever,

Economy �Brazil is the eighth-largest economy in the world, but is recovering from a recession in 2015 and 2016. Multiple corruption scandals involving private companies and government officials has negatively affected the economy. �GDP – per capita: $15, 600 (2017) �GDP– composition by sector of origin: agriculture 6. 6%, industry 20. 7%, services 72. 7% (2017) �$1 = 3. 91 Brazilian Real �Population below poverty line: 4. 2% (2016) �Unemployment rate: 12. 8% (2017)

Transnational Issues �There is an uncontested boundary dispute between Brazil and Uruguay over Braziliera Island in the Quarai River that leaves the tripoint with Argentina in question. �Smuggling of firearms and narcotics continues to be an issue along the Uruguay-Brazil border. �There are currently 84, 746 refugees from Venezuela (2018) and 294 stateless persons as of 2017. �Brazil is the second-largest consumer of cocaine in the world, an illicit producer of cannabis, there are trace amounts of coca cultivation in the Amazon region, and it is a major transshipment country for Bolivian, Colombian, and Peruvian cocaine headed for Europe. There is significant illicit financial activity in the Tri-Border Area.

Operation World: Prayer Challenge Catholics in Brazil number more than in any other country, but the Church itself remains in crisis. The defection rate has slowed, but it continues to lose members to evangelicals, to Spiritists and to non-religion. By 2025, Catholicism could be a minority religion, having held 95% of the population in 1950. Around 70% of ex-Catholics are now evangelicals. Even within Catholicism, only a small minority remain traditionally Catholic and faithful in practice; many others are influenced by Spiritism, nominalism or the charismatic renewal. The grassroots “Base Community” movement, the engine room of liberation theology, has lost much of its drive, but nearly one million “Bible circles” persist, hosting studies of Scripture. Pray that the Bible and its truths may mould the lives of Catholics.

Operation World: Prayer Challenge Cont. Other points for prayer: �A desperate shortage of priests. Of the current 18, 000, many are foreigners. Another 100, 000 are needed to meet all the needs; currently there is one priest for every 6, 300 Catholics. �Increasing loggerheads with the government as the Church loses its preferred status and influence in areas such as contraception, abortion, homosexuality and transgender issues. �The charismatic movement grows in strength, numbers and maturity; over 15 million are a part of this. �The successes of evangelical denominations have stimulated a more peoplefriendly, contemporary worship and ministry and a greater growth of evangelical Catholics, as well as an increase in traditional mass attendance.

Operation World: Prayer Challenge Cont. The emergence of evangelicals in Brazil has been dramatic. Yet despite the growth – from 2. 9% in 1960 to 26. 3% in 2010 – there are many prayer needs: �Numerical rather than spiritual growth is the emphasis of too many groups, to the point of dishonest inflation of numbers and disregard for discipleship. As a result, churches have “multiplied”, but congregations are filled with immature, unfed spiritual infants whose faith is overly based on emotionalism, petty legalism and the personality of leaders. Such zeal without maturity leads to spiritual error, nominalism, widespread church-hopping without commitment to a particular church and large-scale backsliding. �Prosperity theology has shaped much of Pentecostalism in Brazil, with those on top of the pyramid enjoying celebrity status and lifestyles – as well as financial scandals – while millions of poor hold out for a miracle of healing or financial blessing. Pray for a right balance between expectation of blessing and daily sanctification.

Operation World: Prayer Challenge Cont. �Leadership models are sorely lacking, as witnessed by the scandals and moral failures of some high-profile leaders characterized more by their wealth, power and lack of accountability than their humility and faithfulness. The celebrity bishop model is unsustainable, and there needs to be new ways of shaping and growing leaders who will be well suited for bringing discipleship and societal impact to Brazil’s evangelicals. �Effective appropriate training is a key to addressing the above issues. Rapid growth, especially among Pentecostals, has generated a dearth of trained leaders. With over 200, 000 evangelical congregations, traditional education models are inadequate to meet the need. Many are making pastoral training a top priority now; Baptists, Presbyterians and Foursquare examples of such groups developing new seminaries, TEE programmes and in-service training opportunities. Ao. G has over 17, 000 students on 420 extension campuses, but even this is not enough to meet the need. Pray for wise and creative solutions to this challenge.

Operation World: Prayer Challenge Cont. �Unity. Evangelical denominations have mushroomed in the last 20 years as new groups form with almost every theological disagreement or interpersonal conflict. There could be over 4, 000 distinct evangelical groups. The success mentality based on numbers and income can induce rivalry and jealousy. Pray for the Evangelical Association of Brazil to be a means of fostering lasting unity, fellowship and prayerful cooperation