Pray for Dominica

Dominica is nicknamed the “Nature Island of the Caribbean” for its rainforests, mountains, rivers, waterfalls, and volcanoes. Lined with black sand beaches, this small island nation is dotted with active geothermal openings, including one of the largest boiling lakes in the world. The Kalinago lived on the island centuries before Christopher Columbus arrived in 1493. Today, Kalinago people live modern lifestyles, but they also maintain traditional forms of wood carving and herbal medicine. The nation’s natural beauty and whale watching draw in tourists from around the world, although hurricanes, small airports, and poor roads limit access. Besides tourism, the economy also relies on government services and agricultural production.

Surrounded by both the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, Dominica suffers frequently from natural disasters. In 2017, a hurricane damaged more than 90 percent of the nation’s buildings, displacing thousands of people. Hurricane Tammy followed in 2023, bringing flooding, landslides, and power outages. Hurricanes threaten the nation’s agriculture, which is its main source of income. Limited job opportunities on the island push people to emigrate, drawing skilled workers away from the country. Damaged homes and buildings place economic strain on the nation, and despite being an upper-middle income country, many rural and Kalinago communities are impoverished.

Though more than 90 percent of the island identifies as Christian (the majority of whom are Catholic), church attendance is declining among younger generations. There is also a growing number of people who identify as non-religious and others who challenge the Church’s traditional beliefs. Churches are widespread throughout the country, yet the Bible is not fully translated into Dominican Creole French, so rural communities and older generations have less access to the Gospel. Still, most Kalinago communities identify as Christian and have balanced traditional practices well with biblical teaching. Pray for younger generations to hunger for the Gospel, and for Bible translations to reach those without access.