Pray for Cape Verde

The tides of the Atlantic Ocean quietly lapped against the uninhabited Cape Verde islands for centuries. Then, in 1456, the Portuguese began settling the islands’ shores to create trading centers for the African slave trade. Since gaining independence in 1975, Cape Verde has come a long way from its history of colonial rule and neglect. It has become one of Africa’s most stable and secure democracies and is the second nation ever to be removed from the U.N.’s list of least-developed countries. About half a million people live on its ten islands and numerous smaller islets, where high winds and sand have shaped exquisite natural rock formations. Generations of living on small islands frequently visited by drought have made Cape Verdeans a resourceful and resilient people.

Because dry weather makes farming incredibly difficult, three-fourths of the nation’s economy is based on services, especially tourism. However, this makes the islands particularly vulnerable to global crises that discourage travel, and the nation has struggled to fully develop other industries, such as fishing. Throughout the islands’ history, famines have taken tens of thousands of lives and driven many Cape Verdeans to move away. Estimates say up to 1.5 million Cape Verdeans live in other countries, often forming their own small communities in places like the United States and Portugal. The nation’s government has often appealed for international food aid during severe droughts, and about a quarter of the population still lives in poverty today.

Catholicism has a significant influence on the islands because it held a privileged position during Portuguese rule. While nearly 90 percent of Cape Verdeans still identify as Catholic, Christianity is mixed with superstitions and African fetishism. Some Cape Verdeans will attend church on Sundays but practice traditional rituals throughout the rest of the week. Cape Verde has had a longstanding Nazarene presence, while Pentecostal churches have also grown. Geographical isolation and a unique dialect make it difficult to equip local believers with resources, creating a need for the Church to raise up mature leaders who can disciple their congregations.