Discover
The identity of the nation
Puerto Rico is a Caribbean island made up of a main territory and smaller islands, such as Vieques and Culebra. It has been a territory of the United States since 1898, with American citizenship for its residents, but it holds on to a cultural identity of its own, forged from Spanish, African and Taíno heritage.
Catholicism arrived with Spanish colonizers in the early 16th century and remained the dominant faith for nearly four hundred years. From the early 20th century onward, Protestantism grew rapidly, especially the Pentecostal movement, started by a Puerto Rican who converted abroad and returned to preach. Today Puerto Rico is one of the territories with the strongest evangelical presence in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Christian faith is lived out expressively and communally, but it coexists with a mix of beliefs inherited from santería and spiritism, practiced by part of the population alongside Christianity. The economic crisis of recent decades, the public debt and the departure of thousands of families to the American mainland have challenged churches to care for those who stay and to accompany those who leave.
Hurricanes such as Maria in 2017, and more recent earthquakes, left deep marks, but also revealed the mobilizing capacity of local churches in caring for the most vulnerable. The resilience of the Puerto Rican people in the face of natural and economic storms is today one of the island’s greatest testimonies of faith.
Even so, the challenge remains: to deepen discipleship beyond cultural adherence to Christianity, to reach little-reached communities such as the deaf community and the small Spanish-speaking Jewish community, and to form a church that serves as a bridge between Latin America and the United States.
- Taíno peoples inhabit the island, which they call Borikén, before the arrival of Europeans.
- 1493 Christopher Columbus arrives during his second voyage and names the island San Juan Bautista.
- 1508 Juan Ponce de León founds the first Spanish settlement, named Puerto Rico.
- 16th century Over time the names swap: the island comes to be called Puerto Rico, and the main city, San Juan.
- 16th-18th centuries Spanish rule; the island becomes a strategic military outpost in the Caribbean and Catholicism is established as the official faith.
- 1898 Spanish-American War: Spain cedes Puerto Rico to the United States.
- 1916 The Pentecostal movement begins on the island, driven by a Puerto Rican converted abroad.
- 1917 The Jones Act grants United States citizenship to Puerto Ricans.
- 1952 The island adopts its own constitution and becomes a Commonwealth of the United States.
- 2017 Hurricane Maria devastates the island and exposes the fragility of its infrastructure and economy.
- 2020 A series of earthquakes strikes the south of the island, adding to the challenges of recovery.
- Today A majority Christian territory with a strong evangelical presence, marked by emigration and a search for spiritual and economic rebuilding.
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Spanishofficial and predominant language, spoken by nearly the entire population
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Englishsecond official language, taught in schools but little used day to day
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Puerto Rican Sign Languageused by the island's deaf community
Puerto Rico is the smallest of the Greater Antilles, an archipelago in the Caribbean made up of the main island and smaller islands, such as Vieques and Culebra. The interior is mountainous, cut through by the Cordillera Central, with tropical forests such as El Yunque, the only tropical rainforest in the United States National Forest System, and beaches that line nearly the entire coast.
Major cities
- San JuanCapital, historic colonial center and largest city on the island
- PonceKnown as the Pearl of the South, a cultural and architectural hub
- BayamónLarge city in the metropolitan area, industrial hub
- CaguasCommercial center of the central region
- MayagüezGateway to the west, home to an important university
- AreciboCity in the north, known for its former astronomical observatory
Climate and temperature
Mofongo
Mashed green plantain with garlic and pork cracklings, the island's signature dish
Arroz con gandules
Rice cooked with pigeon peas, considered the national dish
Tostones
Twice-fried slices of green plantain until crispy
Alcapurrias
Fried fritters of plantain and yautía filled with meat
Tembleque
Wobbly coconut pudding, a traditional holiday dessert
Coquito
Creamy coconut and rum drink, served at Christmas
Understand
Culture and spirituality
2a · The culture
Warmth and hospitality
Welcoming people well and forming personal bonds quickly are a natural part of the culture
Music as an expression of faith and identity
Salsa, plena and contemporary Christian music mark celebrations and services
Extended family
Grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins take an active part in raising children and household decisions
Pride in Puerto Rican identity
Even as American citizens, the people hold on to a strong cultural and linguistic identity of their own
Resilience
Constant recovery after hurricanes and earthquakes has shaped a people used to starting over
Expressive faith
Spirituality is lived openly, in celebrations, music and everyday conversation
- Treating Puerto Rico like an ordinary American state Cultural identity and the Spanish language are central to the people
- Confusing the island with Cuba or the Dominican Republic Each Caribbean country has its own history and identity
- Debating the island's political status aggressively The topic divides families and is taken very seriously
- Mocking santería or spiritism They are part of many families' history; respect opens doors for dialogue
- Ignoring the trauma of hurricanes and earthquakes Many families still carry recent losses
- Treating poverty or emigration with pity Dignity and hope speak louder than superficial compassion
- Being rushed or impersonal in conversation Relationship comes before agenda
2b · The field
Areas of spiritual battle and cultural captivity to cover in prayer. Tap each point to understand:
Santería and spiritism blend with the Christian faith, diluting the exclusivity of the gospel
For many, Christianity is a family tradition, without a real personal surrender to Christ
Consumption and the American standard of living become the measure of worth and success
American culture cools traditional community bonds
Alcohol and drugs affect entire families, especially the poorest
Public debt and unemployment feed discouragement and lack of prospects
The debate over the island's status generates deep polarization among families
Spiritist practices and divination remain popular even among those who call themselves Christian
Music, fame and social media occupy the central place that belongs to God
Hurricanes and earthquakes left trauma and disbelief in the ability to start over
Mass emigration reduces membership and weakens local leadership
Casinos and lotteries are part of daily life and feed the illusion of an easy solution
Puerto Rico enjoys full religious freedom, protected by the same constitution as the United States, and the Christian faith is practiced openly across the island. There is no government persecution nor widespread social hostility toward Christians.
The church’s greatest challenge does not come from outside, but from within: the blending of the Christian faith with santería and spiritist practices, a more cultural than personal Christianity, and the weakening of congregations caused by the steady departure of families to the American mainland in search of work. The economic crisis and recent natural disasters also test the hope of many believers, who must rebuild not only homes but the confidence that God remains present on the island.
The persecution score runs from 0 to 100: the higher it is, the greater the pressure on Christians.
Puerto Rico is a majority Christian island, but it is still home to two unreached people groups: the deaf community, which lacks accessible churches in sign language, and a small Spanish-speaking Jewish community. Together they number just over ten thousand people, a fraction of the population, but a reminder that even majority Christian territories hold groups still without a church of their own.
- 12K Unreached 0,4%
- 4K Minimally reached 0,1%
- 0 Superficially reached 0%
- 6K Partially reached 0,2%
- 3.2M Significantly reached 99,3%
- 2 Unreached 22,2%
- 1 Minimally reached 11,1%
- 0 Superficially reached 0%
- 1 Partially reached 11,1%
- 5 Significantly reached 55,6%
Source of people group data: Joshua Project (joshuaproject.net). Estimates, may vary.
Judeus de fala espanhola
Deaf Frontier
Source: Joshua Project. Estimates, may vary.
Pray
Intercede for this nation
Every nation carries a redemptive purpose. Marks that seem woven into the identity God desires to restore:
Go
Practical details for those who want to go
Local time
Cost of living
somewhat lower than the US average
Cost by city
Reference values (source: Numbeo). Confirm before traveling.
Practical points for those who go
- The US dollar is the currency used, with no need to exchange money for visitors from the US
- Spanish is the everyday language, even with English as an official language
- Hurricanes can occur between June and November; follow local alerts
- Power outages are still common after recent years' hurricanes
- Hospitality is genuine; accept invitations to share a meal
- WhatsApp is the main means of communication among Puerto Ricans
- Avoid comparing Puerto Rico to Cuba or the Dominican Republic; the local identity is its own
- The topic of the island's political status is sensitive; listen more than you opine
Send and sustain
Not everyone goes, everyone takes part
Not everyone goes. Everyone takes part.
Behind every worker among these peoples stands a network of people who pray without ceasing, care for the family left behind, and faithfully sustain the work. Sending is mission too.
Start with your church: introduce this nation, adopt it in ongoing prayer, and walk alongside those God is raising up to go.