Christianity in Dominica

 Christianity in Dominica: The Commonwealth of Dominica is an island nation in the Caribbean Sea. Its closest neighbours are Guadeloupe and Martinique, both owned by France, to the Northwest and Southeast respectively. The capital is Roseau, while the official language is English. The country has a human population of 72,412 spread across five ethnic groups. These are African, 75%; Multi-racial, 19%; Kalinago, 4%; European, 0.8% and unspecified, 0.2%. Roman Catholicism is the dominant faith embraced by 61% of the population. Others are Protestantism, 22.4%; Seventh-Day Adventist, 6%, folk religion, 3%; other faiths, 1.7% and atheism, 0.9%.

Brief History

         The Native American Arawak tribe originally settled in Dominica until the warring Carib people displaced them in the 1300s. The first Europeans to visit the area were Spaniards led by Christopher Columbus in 1493. However, the Europeans did not settle due to hostilities from the Carib natives. Over 100 years later, the French laid claim to the island. In the course of various wars throughout the 1700s, the island changed hands between the French and British a few times before finally ending up in British control. It officially became a British colony in 1805. Dominica got its independence on November 3, 1978, and elected its first female Prime Minister, Mary Eugenia Charles in 1980. The incumbent Prime Minister is Roosevelt Skerrit.

God’s Canvass in Dominica

Dominica is known as the “The Nature Island of the Caribbean” due to its lush scenery, as well as varied flora and fauna. It is largely covered by rain forest and is home to the world’s largest hot spring, Boiling Lake. Other notable features are its volcanic peaks. The country is especially vulnerable to hurricanes and landslides. The fauna and flora are presented below.

Fauna

Flora

The lush Dominica forests are home to a wide variety of tropical trees and plant life, including fruit trees, orchids, ferns and flowers. The pictures below capture the essence of the country’s flora.

Beaches

Dominican Culture

Dominica is a vibrant tapestry of European and African cultures, and has the only remaining population of pre-Columbian Carib Indians in the Caribbean. African language, foods and customs often mingle with European traditions as part of the island’s Creole culture. The Caribs still carve dugouts (canoes), build houses on stilts, and weave distinctive basketwork.

Rastafarian and Black pride influences are also common. The core of Dominican culture is embedded in the English tradition, reflected in the etiquette, courtesies, mannerisms, and bureaucracies. The country is often seen as a society that is migrating from collectivism to that of individualism. The economy is a developing one that previously depended on agriculture. Signs of collectivism are evident in the small towns and villages that are spread across the island.

Traditional Attire

 Dominica’s National Dress, the Wob Dwiyet, significantly represents its cultural heritage. Both men and women wear it during important events. Another attire, the Jupe, is worn by women as a more casual alternative. This piece of clothing blends African and French influences, showcasing the islands history and cultural identity. Some of the traditional attires are shown below.

Cuisine

 The country’s cuisine is similar to that of other Caribbean islands, particularly Trinidad and Tobago, as well as Saint Lucia. Breakfast is an important daily meal, typically including saltfish, dried and salted codfish, and “bakes” fried dough. Traditional British-influenced dishes, such as eggs, bacon and toast are also popular, as are fried fish and plantain. Some of the notable dishes are shown below.

Status of Christianity in Dominica

          According to Joshua Project, an organisation intent on taking the Gospel of Christ to unreached people of the world, only 18.4% of Dominicans are Evangelical by orientation. This implies that most of the people who identify with the Christian faith do not align with the heart of God for unsaved souls. Acts 4:12 declares that there is no other name given among men by which we can be saved except the name of Jesus. The Lord Himself affirmed in John 14:6 that He is the only WAY to the Father. Some institutional churches have come up with their own version of the truth, asserting that all religions lead to the Father. Given the dominance of this school of thought in Dominica through the Roman Catholic Church, it is hardly surprising that evangelism is not given due attention in the country by its Christian population. We need to intercede for those who have not embraced the mercy of God through His Son Jesus Christ, nor pursue an intimate relationship with Him. The following prayer points are for guidance. Pray as the Holy Spirit leads you.

Prayer Points

1. Thank the Father for His manifold blessings on Dominica, including its human and material resources, as well as its weather.
2. Ask Him to judge and uproot all demonic principalities and powers contesting ownership of this island and its people with Him.
3. Pray that God would destroy all infrastructure and platforms that are used by the kingdom of darkness to keep Dominicans in bondage.
4. Ask the Father to remove the covering of darkness over their hearts, minds and spirits, and unstop whatever the enemy has used to block their ears from hearing and understanding the Gospel of Christ.
5. Pray that the Father would destroy faulty spiritual foundations laid in the lives of Christian believers through errors and demonic doctrines.
6. Ask the Father to sanctify them with His word, the only unchangeable and unalterable truth.
7. Pray that God would fill these believers with His Spirit to empower them to minister Christ with their lives.
8. Ask the Father to send labourers into His harvest in the country, from within or outside its shores.
9. Use the Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit as point of contact.

Intercession Checklist

         Use the map of Dominica provided in the text to select a town, city or region for focused prayer. Present the chosen geographical space to the Father and tell Him that you are claiming its inhabitants for Christ as His ambassador. The anchor Scriptures are Psalm 2:8 and 2 Corinthians 5:20.

***** Some materials sourced from Brief History of Dominica, https://ducksters.com; Dominica Flora and Fauna, https://activecaribbeantravel.com; Discover History & Culture of Dominica…., https://discoverdominica.com; Culture of Dominica, https://en.m.wikipedia.org; Dominican People Groups, Languages and Religions, https://joshuaproject.net; Dominica, https://en.m.wikipedia.org.