Landlocked Bolivia is Latin America's poorest country, yet has potential wealth. In the past 160 years there have been over 200 successful coups or revolutions which have led to unstable government and economic chaos (inflation hit 26,000% in 1984). Paper money was Bolivia's third largest import! The minority European people, of Spanish descent, dominate the political scene and the majority Amerindians exist mainly on a subsistence level.
Catholicism is the official religion but Bolivians are responsive to the gospel, and with the religious freedom that exists, the number of evangelical Christians is growing. Of note are the Aymaras of whom nearly 20% have become evangelical Christians.
Present Work
Over 30 Brethren missionaries serve in Bolivia, eight of these being from the UK. There are around 15 national workers. The current work includes:
Preaching/teaching in assemblies
Camp work: developed campsite near Santa Cruz and others
Children's and youth work: children's centre at Trinidad Beni with developing Christian school and medical facilities
Bible School/Discipleship Training Centre: La Paz, to train Bolivians for evangelism
Prison work: Cochabamba, Trinidad Beni
Radio broadcasting: Cochabamba
Rural Clinics
Needs
Teachers, leaders and motivators
Men and women who can encourage and support the national Christians in evangelism
Children's and youth workers
People skilled and experienced in media communication which is being used to good effect in various locations
Schoolteachers
Statistics
Population 7,957,000
Principal Cities La Paz, Santa Cruz, Cochabamba
Languages Spanish, Aymara, Quechua
% Evangelical 8.4%
Assemblies 360 (approximately)