About Nicaragua

Nicaragua is a republic that gained its independence from Spain in 1821. Over 5.3 million people live in Nicaragua. Spanish is the official language, but English and Amerindian-speaking minorities may be found along the Atlantic coast. The two main religious groups are Roman Catholic (85%) and Protestant (5%). The west coast region, containing 90% of the population, is Mestizo, Catholic and Latino, while the east coast has a smaller, scattered population and multiplicity of Indian, Creole and Latino groups.

Seventeen years after being voted out of office, the Sandinistas (now a legally recognized political party) returned to power in January 2007. The principal challenge for the Sandinista government is dealing with Nicaragua’s chronic economic woes. In the western hemisphere, only Haiti is poorer. Perhaps 22% of the population is unemployed with considerable underemployment. Over 50% live in poverty. Hurricane Mitch, in 1998, profoundly set back development. All available resources had to be used to reconstruct the infrastructure. Curing economic malaise compounded by corruption in the recent administration is a serious concern.

In additional to its historic economic difficulties, Nicaragua is also susceptible to all manner of natural disasters: earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides and hurricanes. The effects of natural disasters are compounded by man-made phenomena such as deforestation, soil erosion and water pollution.

The Faith and Hope Lutheran Church of Nicaragua (Iglesia Luterana Fe y Esperanza - ILFE) is a member of the Lutheran World Federation and the Communion of Central American Lutheran Churches (CILCA). ILFE is present in approximately 35 Nicaraguan communities, the majority located in the northern and western parts of the country (Somoto and Chinandega) and served by lay pastors who live in or near these communities. In its holistic model for mission, ILFE focuses on lay leadership development, specialized ministries for children, pre-teens and youth, preventive health care, HIV & AIDS awareness, sustainable agriculture and disaster prevention & response.

The Interchurch Center for Theological & Social Studies (Centro Intereclesial de Estudios Teológicos y Sociales - CIEETS) is an interdenominational organization created in 1985 to promote interchurch unity and cooperation, pastoral reflection, Biblical/theological studies, prophetic witness, evangelization, and holistic community service. Its theology faculty forms Nicaraguan church leaders in church-based community development, lay leadership training, Biblical studies and theology. For church leaders with a secondary education, CIEETS offers diploma programs of 1-3 years in educational ministry, pastoral ministry and theology. At the university level, CIEETS offers a 5-year program in theology. Classes in its diploma and university programs are offered in Managua (on the campus of the Martin Luther King Evangelical University) or at one of four regional CIEETS sites in Carazo, Chontales, León and Matagalpa. Annually, CIEETS programs benefit close to 1000 Nicaraguan church leaders from the following denominations: Assembly of God, Baptist, Central American Mission, Church of Christ, Church of God, Church of the Nazarene, Lutheran, Moravian, Mennonite, Methodist, Pentecostal and Roman Catholic.

ILFE launched a project with women potters after Hurricane Mitch to rebuild pottery ovens to help women recover their livelihoods