Pray for Saint Kitts and Nevis

St. Kitts and Nevis is the smallest nation in the Caribbean. The two volcanic islands, roughly 250 miles southeast of Puerto Rico, are home to a people known for their sociability and value of education. First visited in 1493 by Christopher Columbus, these islands were previously occupied by the Carib people. The British landed on the island of St. Kitts in 1623 and on Nevis in 1628. Today 95% of the population is afro-Caribbean with the rest of the population descendant of the British settlers and other migrants. The Kittians and Nevisians emphasize celebrating Christmas because this has traditionally been when countrymen come visiting home from abroad.

The islands became an associate state of the United Kingdom in 1967 and became fully independent in 1983. The island of Nevis voted to secede from the larger more populated St. Kitts in 1998 but did not meet the required two-thirds majority. Formerly the richest of the Caribbean Islands, Nevis produced 85% of the British Empire’s sugar. This economic reliance on sugar production continued until the late 1970’s, when sugar prices fell dramatically, forcing St. Kitts and Nevis toward tourism and offshore finance. The economy experienced contraction between 2009 and 2012, and the nation has one of the world’s highest public debts.

The Anglican Church has played a large role in the daily life of Kittians and Nevisians for centuries, creating solidarity and guidelines for the community. Ninety-five percent of the people are Protestant Christians who come mainly from the Anglican and Methodist traditions. It is estimated that 22% of the population is evangelical. Some forms of witchcraft are also practiced on the islands. The traditional family unit continues to breakdown, as evidenced by 45% of the households led by women and teenagers making up 19% of the births. Many churches and ministries operate on the islands, yet their impact has been limited, and the overall Christian population is shrinking.