Pray for Dominican Republic

During his first voyage in December 1492, Christopher Columbus landed on the island of Hispaniola, shared today by Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The same rugged highlands and lush valleys that Columbus explored are now home to more than 10 million Dominicans, many of whom are descendants of African slaves. Since his voyage, the Caribbean nation has endured the process of colonization and independence four times. Ruled by Spain, France, Haiti, and the United States, the Dominican Republic has functioned as a republic since the dictator Rafael Trujillo was assassinated in 1961. Despite their painful past, Dominicans have an infectious passion for life and are quick to say, “Tranquilo, todo bien,” or “Relax, everything is fine.” The sound of music playing in the streets of its cities gives Dominicans a great excuse to dance whenever they want. Though precious metals and medicine are processed in this country and shipped around the world, some say music, like merengue and bachata, is really its largest export.

The nation’s economy is one of the fastest growing in the Caribbean, but 10 percent of Dominicans own 40 percent of the wealth, leaving 20 percent of the population in poverty. Among these are hundreds of thousands of Haitian refugees, many of whom are undocumented, exploited, and poorly paid. Human rights organizations have raised concerns over the government’s treatment of Haitian migrants, pointing to harsh conditions in detention centers and mass deportations without due process. Systemic corruption means public money rarely reaches the poor, leaving essential services underfunded. An underfunded police force struggles to control high crime rates, also leaving people vulnerable to theft, home invasions, and violence.

Though the Dominican Republic is over 90 percent Christian, spiritual interest is declining and fewer traditional Catholics are practicing. Many Dominicans practice a mixture of Christianity and African spiritism. However, the evangelical church is unified and growing. Despite almost collapsing under political pressure and severe internal divisions in the 1970s, the evangelical Church represents 10 percent of the country today. This growth has created a need for more physical resources. It will take courage and faithfulness for active Christians to engage their nominal neighbors and lead them into an authentic relationship with Jesus.