VENEZUELA

Venezuela was discovered by Columbus in August of 1498 at what today is called Margarita Island (Pearl Island). Amerigo Vespucci gave it the name , (Venezuela) "little Venice" from native huts built on stilts (palafitos) over water, which Vespucci saw first near Maracaibo. Venezuela is larger than Texas and Oklahoma combined.

You can travel West from the snowed capped Andes of Pico Bolivar at 16,500 feet above sea level in Merida, or North to the crystal blue waters and sunny beaches in Morrocoy of the Caribbean, or South through the steaming rain forests, and tepuys of the Amazon Jungle in Canaima to Angel Falls the world‘s tallest at 3,212 feet, or East to the hot sandy deserts and cactus. Everything can be reached in one travel day. The country is a land of beautiful contrast. Everything changes in just few short hours drive.

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The population of Venezuela is more than 27 million. Ninety-three percent of the population is urban ^[2], and thirty-eight percent live in poverty ^[3]. According to Wikipedia ^[4] Venezuela, like most South American nations, is a predominantly Catholic nation. The influence of the Catholic Church was introduced in its colonization by Spain. According to government estimates, 92 percent of the population is at least nominally Roman Catholic, and the remaining 8 percent Protestant, a member of another religion, or atheist. The Venezuelan Evangelical Council estimates that evangelical Protestants constitute 10 percent of the population.^[1]

There are small but influential Muslim and Jewish communities, The Muslim community of more than 100,000 is concentrated among persons of Lebanese and Syrian descent living in Nueva Esparta State, Punto Fijo and the Caracas area. The Jewish community numbers approximately 13,000 and is mainly concentrated in Caracas.

Venezuela is also notable for its significant syncretic religious traditions, most notably those revolving around the figures of Maria Lionza and Jose Gregorio Hernandez.

Primary education is compulsory with 92% enrolled in grades K to 5. Only 68% continue to enroll in secondary school, and an even smaller number attend university. ^[1]

Pray for the Valencia Christians that they can penetrate the barriers that transcend all religious and cultural misconceptions, and that the Gospel of Jesus Christ can be proclaimed as the Way, the Truth and the Life to the millions who walk in darkness.

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(1) http://stats.uis.unesco.org/unesco/TableViewer/document.aspx?ReportId=121&IF_Language=eng&BR_Country=8620

(2) https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ve.html

(3) http://www.embvenezuelauy.org/sociedad.aspx

(4) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Venezuela