Liberia

   LIBERIA

A. THE COUNTRY

The Republic of Liberia is a heavily forested coastal state in West
Africa.  This presidential republic saw a peaceful election of Africa’s
first elected female leader in 2005.  Rebuilding after two civil wars is
Liberia’s greatest challenge.  Past atrocities and crimes are being
addressed.  Needs in Liberia are many – poverty, illiteracy and
under-education, HIV/AIDS, public health and sanitation, agricultural
reclamation, vocational training.  The country has abundant natural
resources of rubber, iron, diamonds, timber.  Maritime registry of ships
is the second largest revenue source.  Foreign investment and aid are
helping but large debt and the devastated infrastructure slow recovery.

B. THE PEOPLE

The population is ~4,200,000 and official language English.  The
country’s history is unique in Africa as it was founded and colonized by
freed American slaves.
~93.8% are Sub-Saharan African (Mande/Malinka, Kru, Atlantic/Guinean,
~6.2% Other (Americo-Liberian, Kongo, Caucasian, Lebanese, others).
There are thousands of fatherless children and girls who are victims of
sexual abuse.  The 15,000 former child soldiers who survived have little
chance of a normal life and are prone to suicide attempts.

C. RELIGIONS AND CHRISTIANITY/PENTECOSTALISM

Founded as a Christian state, Liberia has religious freedom in theory.
In practice, occult secret societies exercise significant influence.
These figures are mostly estimates due to massive population upheaval
from the wars.  ~42.5% are Ethnoreligionist, ~41.43% claim to be
Christian, ~15.5% Muslim, ~0.3% Other, ~0.27% Baha’i.
In the Christian category:
~18.28% are Protestant, ~9.73% Independent, ~7.1% Unaffiliated, ~4.92%
Catholic, ~0.95% Anglican, ~0.48% are considered ‘marginal’.
Evangelicals represent ~14.6% of the population.
Charismatics represent ~12.5% and of those ~7.7% are Pentecostals.

Donna Siemens

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org

Operation World, Jason Mandryk. Colorado Springs: Biblica Publishing, 2010.