República del Perú
Report
PERU
University Bible Fellowship – Washington Chapter
10th Anniversary Celebration
November 8, 2002
Presented by Belssi Chang
Content
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Geographic Setting
Regions
Population
Ethnic Groups
History and Government
Universities
Missionary Work
PERU
Geographic Setting
 Borders Chile, Bolivia, Brazil,
Colombia, Ecuador, and the
Pacific Ocean.
 Total land area of 1.28 million
sq. km. (3.5x size of Japan,
slightly smaller than Alaska).
 Third-largest country in South
America after Brazil and
Argentina.
 Ranks among the world's 20
largest nations.
PERU
Geographic Setting
Continued
PERU
 Terrain: western coastal plain, high
and rugged Andes in center, eastern
lowland jungle of Amazon Basin.
 Landscape: 50 mountains > 6,000
meters above sea level; 1,679
glaciers; 12,000 lakes of varying
sizes and depths; and 262 different
river basins.
 Among the 5 countries with the
greatest biological diversity in the
world.
Regions
 Peru is made up of 24
departments and one
Constitutional Province called El
Callao.
 Main cities:
 Coast: Arequipa, Callao, Trujillo,
Chimbote, Chiclayo and Piura
 Andes: Cusco
 Amazon: Iquitos
PERU
Population
 Current total Peruvian population is about 27
million:
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52%
36%
12%
71%
29%
lives
lives
lives
lives
lives
in
in
in
in
in
the coast,
the highlands, and
the jungle.
urban areas and
rural areas .
 50% (approx.) is under 21.
 90% is Roman Catholic.
 Around 6 million live in the capital, Lima.
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Ethnic Groups
 Ethnic Groups:
 45% Amerindian: Quechuas and
Aymaras
 37% mestizo (mixed Amerindian
and white),
 15% criollo (white),
 3% Black, Japanese, Chinese,
and other
 Languages:
 Spanish (official)
 Quechua (official)
 Aymara
PERU
History and Government
PERU
 Ancient Peru seat of several prominent Andean civilizations, most
notably the Incas
 Inca empire captured by Spanish conquerors in 1533.
 Peruvian independence declared in 1821.
 20th century dominated by military rule, serious economic problems,
and guerrilla activity.
 Dramatic turnaround and significant progress following
 Return of democracy returned in 1980 and especially following
 President Alberto FUJIMORI's election in 1990
 New Constitution issued under his leadership in 1993; left power in 2000)
 Government has 3 branches: executive (5-year term), legislative,
and judicial branches.
 Current President: Alejandro Toledo (elected in 2001)
Universities
PERU
 Total of 78 Universities: ~416,000 students
 33 Public Universities: ~246,000 students
 45 Private Universities: ~170,000 students
 53% Male, 47% Female
 1.62% of total population
 7.92% of 15-24 year old population
 Major with highest enrollment: Education
 Largest Universities (both located in Lima):
 Universidad San Martin de Porres (private): ~32,000
 Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos: ~25,000
Universities
PERU
Continued
 Universidad San
Martin de Porres:
 Largest Peruvian
university
 ~32,000 students
 Founded in 1962
 Ranked among top 3
private universities
www.usmp.edu.pe
Universities
Continued
PERU
 Universidad Nacional Mayor
de San Marcos:
 ~25,000 students
 Founded in 1551 by
Dominican Mission.
 First university in American
continent.
 School of medicine, law, and
letters and sciences have
functioned uninterruptedly
since its founding.
www.unmsm.edu.pe
Missionary Work
Periods:
 1532-1822 (Roman Catholic Missions)
 1822-1900 (Beginning of Protestant Missions)
 1900-1940s (Protestant Missions Added)
 1950s-Present (Growth Trends and Outlook)
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Mission Work: 1532-1822
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 Roman Catholic Missions
 Catholicism was brought by Spanish conquerors starting
around 1532.
 Evangelization conducted through Franciscan,
Mercedarian, and Dominican dioceses.
 The 17th century - "Peru’s religious century"
 Canonization of two saints.
 However 17th Century followed by religious decline.
Mission Work: 1822-1900
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 Beginning of Protestant Missions
 1822-24: Scottish educator/Bible society agent James
Thomson arrived in Lima
 Carried mission work jointly with pro-reform Catholic clergy
 1845: Catholicism becomes official state religion
 Foreigners allowed to conduct Protestant services provided that
no Peruvians attended
 1849: Anglican Church for foreign residents allowed
 First Non-Catholic denomination in Peru.
Mission Work: 1822-1900 Continued
 Beginning of Protestant Missions
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Continued
 1877: Arrival of first US Methodists (little success)
 1888: Arrival of Francisco Penzotti, Methodist Minister
 1888-1896: sold Bibles, preached, trained leaders
 1889: organized a Methodist Church
 1890-1891: jailed for 9 months due to Catholic reaction
 international scandal and support resulting in religious tolerance
law in 1915
 1898: Seventh Day Adventists started mission work
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Gained converts especially among Aymara Indians
Founded and operate respected university.
Remain second largest Protestant church in Peru.
Currently largest non-Pentecostal denomination.
Mission Work: 1900-1940s
 Protestant Missions Added
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1903: Wesleyans
1914: Nazarenes
1927: Baptists (first of several Baptist Missions)
1900-1930: John Ritchie (RBMU) developed successfully an
indigenous Peruvian Evangelical Church in Andes.
 1930s-1940s: John A. Mackay (Free Church of Scotland)
evangelized university students in Lima
 1940: Most Protestant churches and missions form National
Evangelical Council
 As of 1998 still most representative Protestant Institution.
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Mission Work: 1950s-Present
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 Growth Trends and Outlook
 Wycliffe Bible Translators made Bible available in >30 tribal
languages in Amazonian jungle.
 Faith Missions and Southern Baptists little growth.
 Pentecostal churches largest growth (esp. among poor).
 Evangelical Alliance Mission Radio station influential in opening
doors for significant growth in 1970s.
Mission Work: 1950s-Present Continued
PERU
 Growth Trends and Outlook Continued
 1970-1990 violent political climate between military and Sendero
Luminoso (Shining Path) guerrillas affected isolated areas where
missionary efforts had been successful.
 1990s – wave of Pentencostal renewal spread
 Recently – significant evangelical growth among native Quechuas
and Aymaras
 Many converts become active as lay missionaries, in North Africa,
Europe, the Middle East, and the United States.
PERU
Dios
tiene
esperanza
para el
Perú!
PERU
God
has
hope
for
Peru!
References
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http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/pe.html
http://www.peru.com/peruinfo/
http://www.latin-focus.com/countries/peru/peru.htm
http://ppn.home.cern.ch/ppn/up.htm
http://www.anr.edu.pe/
http://www.unmsm.edu.pe
http://www.usmp.edu.pe
D.B. Barret, et al. World Christian Encyclopedia: The World by
Countries, Religions, Churches, Ministries. Volume 1, Second Edition.
Oxford University Press, 2001.
 A. S. Moreau, et al. Evangelical Dictionary of World Missions. Baker Book
House Company, 2000.
 J. A. Siewert, et al. Mission Handbook: USA/Canada Christian Ministries
Overseas. Marc Publishers, 1993-1995.
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