Gabon

Almost 75% of the 1.5 million population of the African country of Gabon are Christian, a legacy of the country's French colonial heritage. The remainder—largely immigrants—are Muslim or profess no faith. Christian practices are merged with traditional Bantu tribal beliefs and customs. At the turn of the 21st century, the country has been influenced by a dramatic rise of conversions to Pentecostal Protestant Christianity and by syncretic new religious movements.

The Gabonese Pentecost, like similar movements in other African countries, is characterized by a variety of conversion techniques. Evangelism is a requirement of its members. Signs are posted announcing Pentecostal recruitment activities, including crusades, international conferences, seminars, and Christian films shown in public places. New churches and prayer groups have been created, and some cinemas and ...