This famous republic is bisected by its illustrious water feature, the Panama Canal. Hear some of Panama's history (adapted from the 2003 edition of Operation World, 506): 'With US backing, Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903 and promptly signed a treaty with the US allowing for the construction of a canal and US sovereignty over a strip of land on either side of the structure (the Panama Canal Zone). The US Army Corps of Engineers built the Panama Canal between 1904 and 1914. On 7 September 1977, an agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the Canal from the US to Panama which was accomplished by the end of 1999. With US help, dictator Manuel Noriega -- guilty of drug running, corruption, and flagrant misrule -- was deposed in 1989.'

Panama's population is about 3 million, with just over 1 million in the capital, Panama City. The second city of the nation is Colón. Per capital income is about $8000 annually.

Some 88% of Panamanians claim to be Christians, with Catholics in the clear lead, followed by the Assemblies of God, the Foursquare Gospel, and Seventh-day Adventists. Evangelicals have swelled from 5% of the population in 1970 to about 20% today. Please keep Panama in your prayers. For every nation, large or small, is precious to God.

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