click to enlarge

GEOGRAPHY

Area 69,700 sq.km. Black Sea state between the Caucasus Mountains and Turkey. Formerly called the fruitbasket of the USSR.

Capital T'bilisi 1,450,000. Urbanites 56%.

PEOPLES

Indo-European 94.2.%

Caucasian 82.5%. Georgian 3,030,000; Mingrelian 500,000; Armenian 467,000; Abkhazian 100,000.

Iranian 2.7%. Ossetian 100,000; Kurds 33,000.

Slav 7.0%. Russian 312,000; Ukrainian 35,000

Other 2.0%. Greek 100,000.

Turkic/Altaic 5.6%. Azerbaijani 278,000.

Other 0.2%. Jews 14,500; Assyrian 7,000.

Literacy 98%. Official language Georgian. All indigenous languages 10. Languages with Scriptures 1Bi 1NT 1por 2w.i.p.

ECONOMY

Productive soil and good climate for fruit, tea, cotton, wine, tourism; the supplier of 90% of the former USSR's tea and citrus fruit. Much potential for hydro-electric power and mining, but rebel activity has seriously damaged production. The economy is only very slowly recovering from the USSR's collapse and the civil strife of the early 1990s. Very dependent on imports and remittances from the 500,000 Georgians working in Russia. HDI 0.729; 85^th/174. Public debt 25.1% of GNP. Income/person $860 (2.7% of USA).

POLITICS

Centuries of domination by surrounding empires. Annexed by Russia in 1801. Briefly independent 1920-21 before conquest by Bolsheviks. Independent in 1991, but the first president became dictatorial and was the main cause of four conflicts in the early 1990s – two between ethnic Georgians and secessionist wars by the Abkhazian and South Ossetian minorities, the latter two aided by the Russian military. The Ossetians and Abkhazians have de facto independence. Shevardnadze, the subsequent president, has survived assassination attempts and continual interference by Russia which still maintains military bases in the country. The Chechen war has further destabilized the country. Georgia is the only non-Russian state that shares a common border with the war-torn Chechen Republic.

RELIGION

Over the centuries the Georgian Orthodox Church was the one stable factor preserving Georgian culture and nationalism. Georgia and neighbouring Armenia are surrounded by Muslim ethnic groups; many are small and part of Russia. Since independence, some Orthodox leaders have sought to deny non-Orthodox Christians the opportunity to build churches and to evangelize openly. Persecution Index 77^th in the world.

Missionaries from Georgia
P,I,A 11 in 2 agencies; Central Asia 10.

Missionaries to Georgia
P,I,A estimated 24 in 6 agencies.

click for legend

Answers to Prayer

1 Since independence in 1991, interest in spiritual things and the Christian faith in particular has increased greatly. The former Department of Atheism at the national university is now a theological faculty. Christian groups of all expressions are experiencing growth in this nation.

Challenges for Prayer

1 Georgia's independence, gained with such hope has been soured by a series of inter-ethnic wars aided and abetted by Russian efforts to undermine and control the country. The lot of most Georgians is harsh due to massive unemployment and profound economic setbacks. Pray for peace, an ending of Russian interference, economic stabilization and ethnic harmony so that the nation might gain the opportunity to recover.

2 The Georgian Orthodox Church has a history stretching back to AD 150. Communist repression, infiltration and subversion brought both martyrdom and compromise. By 1970 only 80 congregations were still functioning. Stalin, the USSR's most cruel ruler, was a Georgian. Since Communism's collapse and Georgian independence, many have returned to the Church of their ancestors with even the President being baptized. Pray that this return to their spiritual roots might be accompanied by spiritual life – for most it is more an expression of nationalism.

3 The small Protestant Church struggled for survival under Communism. Since independence there has been sustained hostility and opposition from factions in the Orthodox Church. Evangelical ministries have been repressed, their work maligned as sectarian. They have had problems in acquiring buildings and the necessary permits for holding meetings. There have been incidents of meetings broken up, sometimes violently, and materials confiscated. Pray for religious freedom and an acceptance of the validity of diversity of beliefs which this implies.

4 Baptists and Pentecostals form the major component of the evangelical witness. They have experienced some growth since the late 1980s. There are major issues that hinder witness:

a) Poverty of the people. Village unemployment/underemployment is nearly 100%. Few congregations have the resources for supporting pastors, refurbishing and building churches or for outreach. Most meetings are in homes.

b) Disunity. The deep divide between the Baptists and Pentecostals hinders united witness and this issue is only now beginning to be addressed.

5 The spiritual need of ethnic minorities. Georgian believers are best placed to reach the ethnic minorities but need sensitivity and encouragement in doing so. There is some outreach to Muslims. Lack of resources and expectations of foreign funds hold back local initiatives. Pray for these believers and for a burden for these peoples:

a) Muslim Abkhazians and Ossetians who are a minority within their ethnic groups but need to be reached. The majority are Orthodox Christians. Both peoples have been embroiled with the Georgian government in bitter wars of secession. The New Testament is being translated for both peoples.

b) Jews. There is no known witness to them. They face a rising tide of anti-Semitism in a country which has historically been a haven for them.

c) The Chechens and Kish. Over 10,000 impoverished Chechens have taken refuge in the Pankisi Canyon in northeast Georgia where the related Kish live. The Russian military have made incursions and bombings in their attempts to quell the Chechen resistance. Pray that the limited aid programmes to assist these desperate people may be stepped up. Christian aid is being given to some by World Concern. There are no known Christians or churches.

d) Azerbaijanis who are Muslim. There are few Azeri Christians in Georgia.

e) The Muslim Mingrel (500,000) and Laz (2,000) peoples related to Georgians.

6 Christian help ministries for prayer:

a) Literature distribution. EHC plans a national literature campaign reaching every home, and the Georgian Bible Society is distributing Christian materials to refugees.

b) The Georgian Bible in current use was translated 900 years ago. Two new translations have recently been completed, as well as a Children's Bible. The Bible Society projects are a welcome success in inter-confessional ministry; they also produce a Bible magazine and run a Bible shop.

c) Christian radio programmes prepared in Georgia are broadcast by HCJB in Ecuador. Two hours a week is a decrease in broadcast time from the early 1990s, despite the programmes being very well received and popular. A local studio where Georgian language programmes can be produced is being planned.

d) The JESUS film has been completed in Georgian, Russian, and Ossetian, and is in production in Abkaz, Georgian Jewish, and Svan.

Internet Links