Seychelles

Until the 1500’s the Seychelles was a collection of 155 unoccupied volcanic and coral islands in the Indian ocean. It was their discovery by European explorers that brought life to their shores. Control of the islands was long contested, but it eventually fell to the English, who governed until the territory’s independence in 1976. A year later, a violent coup d’état instigated the country’s becoming a socialist state. For sixteen long years, the country endured much unrest and many attempted coups. In 1993, a new constitution was adopted, and elections were held bringing a new area of freedom to the citizens.

The United Seychelles is the smallest African country: approximately two and a half times the size of Washington, DC. It also has the fewest inhabitants with fewer than a hundred thousand citizens. These islanders are mostly Creoles who can trace their heritage to either East Africa, Madagascar, Arabia, Europe, or Asia. The majority speak Seychellois Creole, although French and English are also official language,. Ninety percent of the Seychellois have made their home on the largest and capital island of Mahe. It boasts a high literacy rate of over ninety-five percent of its citizens.

It is not surprising, considering the strong European influence, that Roman Catholicism claims the majority of people. With such a diversity of backgrounds, however, almost every major faith can be found in these tiny tropical islands, excepting, perhaps, true Gospel-preaching churches. There is very little Gospel influence in these islands, and the question still remains, "How shall they hear without a preacher?"

Missionaries in Seychelles:

Missionaries in Africa (listed with BIMI account numbers)