Gabon

Newly Appointed Missionaries: Joel & Lisa Richardson
In early 2001, Desire Rakotondratsimba opened the first United Pentecostal Church in his home.  Bro. Desire and wife and family moved to Gabon from Madagascar, where they were faithfully and actively involved in the local UPC church in their nation.  Area Coordinator Randy Adams reports that the Gabonese church now has 80 constituents and two assemblies.

For more information, please visit the
CIA World Factbook
or the
BBC Country Profile
 
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea
Size:
 267,667 sq. km. (slightly smaller than Colorado)
Elevation varies from sea level to 1,575 meters
Population:
1,356,000 (approximately)
   * 0-14 years: 42.2%
   * 15-64 years: 53.7%
   * 65+ years: 4.1%
Average age: 18.5 years
Life expectancy: 56 years
HIV / AIDS: 8.1%
Religion:
Christian 55-75%
Animist 24-44%
Muslim 1%
Language:
French (official)
Fang
Myene
Nzebi
Bapounou/Eschira
Bandjabi
Government:
Republic
Capital:
Libreville
Independence:
17 August 1960 (from France)