Christianity in Dominican Republic

Christianity in Dominican Republic: The country is located on the island of Hispaniola in North Atlantic Ocean. It shares a maritime border with Puerto Rico to the East and a land border with Haiti, another country on the island of Hispaniola, to the West. The capital is Santo Domingo, while the official language is Spanish, though English is spoken in tourist areas.

Dominican Republic has a human population of 11,532,151 spread across five ethnic communities. These are Mixed, 71.72%; White, 18.70%; Black, 7.45%; East Asian, 0.33%; others, 1.8%. Roman Catholicism is the dominant faith, embraced by 52.5% of the population. Others are atheism, 22%; Protestantism, 21%; additional Christian denominations, 1.1%, other faiths, 3.4%.

Brief History of Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic has a history marked by indigenous roots, European colonization, and periods of independence/conflict. Initially inhabited by the Taino people, the island was claimed by Spain in 1492. Later, the western portion was ceded to France and became Haiti. Before its independence in 1844, Dominican Republic was under Haitian control. The country briefly returned to Spanish rule before it regained independence in 1865. The incumbent President is Luis Abinader.

God’s Canvass in Dominican Republic

 The country is home to five terrestrial ecoregions, moist forests, dry forests, pine forests, wetlands and mangroves. Many small offshore islands and cays that form part of the Dominican territory. The two largest islands near shore are Saona, in the Southeast, and Beata in the Southwest. The fauna and flora of the country are presented below.

Fauna

 Dominican Republic has a rich variety of animal species. Notable ones are Manatees, burrowing owls, sharp-shinned hawk, flamingoes, American eel, cane toad, ring-billed gull, woodpeckers and thrush. Some of the animal species are shown below.

Flora

The flora of the country is also diverse, with about 600 tree species identified. These include agricultural crops like coffee, cocoa, banana, coconut palm, royal palm, palm Manila and guano. Some of the plant species are shown below.

Beaches

Culture

Dominican culture is a vibrant blend of Taino, Spanish, and African influences, reflected in the country’s music, cuisine, language and traditions. Family is central to Dominican life, with strong ties and a sense of community often extending beyond the nuclear family to other relatives. Carnival and other festivals highlight the country’s vibrant culture with music, dance, and colourful costumes.

Traditional Attire

The country’s traditional clothing, known as the Creole dress, is a vibrant and colourful ensemble that reflects its cultural heritage. The dress is a mix of European, African, and native Taino Indian influences. The Creole dress is a significant part of Dominican culture, and is often worn during celebrations like carnival and Creole Day. The pictures below capture some Dominican dressing styles.

Dominican Cuisine

The country’s cuisine is an exciting fusion of Spanish, African, and Taino influences. The staples are rice, beans, and plantains. La Bandera, a combination of rice, beans, and stewed meat (usually chicken, beef or pork), is considered the national dish. Notable dishes are shown below.       

Status of Christianity in Dominican Republic

 Only 22% of the ‘Christian’ population in the country endorses the propagation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is because the Roman Catholic Church, which is the dominant faith, promotes the falsehood that all religions are acceptable to God. In the light of the foregoing, we urge all believers in Christ to intercede earnestly for all unsaved persons in Dominican Republic using the prayer points below, or pray as the Holy Spirit leads them.

Prayer Points

1. Pray that God would destroy all false religions in the country, and judge the demonic principalities associated with them.
2. Ask the Father to purge Christian believers of the pollutions from false doctrines propagated by the Catholic Church and other Christian organisations that deny the deity of Jesus Christ.
3. Pray that God would destroy faulty foundations in the lives of Christian believers and lay new ones in Christ alone.
4. Ask the Father to send labourers into His harvest in the country from within and outside its shores.
5. Pray that God would reveal Himself to the atheists who doubt His existence.
6. Ask the Father to empower believers with the Holy Spirit to enable them preach Christ with their lives.
7. Use the President, Luis Abinader as point of contact for all unsaved souls in the country.

Intercession Checklist

 Use the map of Dominican Republic presented 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 people for Christ as His ambassador. The anchor Scriptures are 2 Corinthians 5:20 and Psalm 2:8.

**** Some materials sourced from Artificial Intelligence (AI) Overview on Google search engines; Dominican Republic, https://en.wikipedia.org.