Discover
The identity of the nation
Bermuda is a small archipelago in the North Atlantic, about a thousand kilometers east of the United States coast, made up of more than a hundred islands and islets, only a few of which are inhabited. Although it is often mistaken for the Caribbean, it lies much farther north and has an identity of its own, marked by turquoise waters, white-roofed houses, and famous pink sand beaches. Around 64 thousand people live in this British overseas territory, whose capital is Hamilton.
It is one of the wealthiest nations in the world in income per capita, sustained by the international insurance and reinsurance sector and by tourism. This prosperity coexists with deep inequality and a cost of living that ranks among the highest on the planet. The population is mostly of African and British descent, a legacy of centuries of colonization and of the labor of enslaved people, freed in 1834.
The Christian faith is deeply woven into the history of the place. The first Protestant church in the New World, St. Peter’s, was built in St. George’s as early as 1612, and since then Bermuda has become a society of Christian tradition, with Anglican, Methodist, Pentecostal, and Adventist churches, as well as the African Methodist Episcopal Church, which flourished among the Black population.
Despite this heritage, today’s challenge is less about the absence of churches and more about spiritual vitality. Prosperity, attachment to material goods, and growing distance from religion cool hearts that grew up inside church buildings. Many call themselves Christians by tradition, without a living faith, and the number of people with no religion is growing, especially among the young.
The call in Bermuda is for revival and depth: that inherited faith would become personal faith, that the historic churches would burn brightly again, and that material wealth would not smother the search for God. It is a nation where the gospel is already planted and where prayer asks for mature fruit.
- Before 1609, the islands were uninhabited, known to sailors and feared for their reefs.
- 1505 The Spanish navigator Juan de Bermúdez sights the islands, which are named after him.
- 1609 The English ship Sea Venture is wrecked on the reefs; the survivors begin permanent settlement.
- 1612 The first settlers arrive; St. Peter's church, the oldest Protestant church in the New World, is consecrated.
- 1834 Abolition of slavery in the territory.
- 1968 Bermuda adopts a constitution and broad internal self-government, maintaining its tie to the British crown.
- 1995 In a referendum, the majority chooses to remain a British territory rather than seek independence.
- Today A prosperous British overseas territory, majority Christian, facing the challenge of growing distance from religion.
-
Englishofficial, spoken by virtually the entire population
-
Portuguesespoken by the community of Azorean origin, present since the 19th century
Bermuda is an archipelago of volcanic origin covered by coral reefs, sitting isolated in the North Atlantic, far from the continent. Though small, at just over 50 sq km, it is densely populated and surrounded by warm waters that give it a mild climate and pink sand beaches.
Major cities
- HamiltonCapital and financial center, on the main island
- St. George'sHistoric town founded in 1612, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- SomersetQuiet village at the western end of the archipelago
Climate and temperature
Fish chowder
National dish, made with fish broth, vegetables, and bacon, seasoned with dark rum and sherry pepper sauce.
Cassava pie
A Christmas specialty since 1612, mixing grated cassava with chicken or pork, eggs, and sugar.
Rockfish and wahoo
Local fish, grilled or fried, the foundation of the island's cuisine.
Codfish and potatoes
Traditional Sunday breakfast, served with boiled egg, banana, and Portuguese-style tomato sauce.
Understand
Culture and spirituality
2a · The culture
Living British heritage
Driving on the left, afternoon tea, and English institutions coexist with the Atlantic climate.
Gombey
A masked dance with drums of African roots, the greatest symbol of local identity, born among the enslaved.
Faith as tradition
Church is part of social and family life, even when practice becomes more cultural than personal.
Courtesy and formality
A polite greeting is expected; starting a conversation without a greeting is considered rude.
Island pride
Bermudians firmly distinguish their identity from that of the Caribbean and the United States.
- Calling it the Caribbean Bermuda sits in the North Atlantic and has its own identity; the confusion is bothersome.
- Skipping the greeting Entering a shop or starting to talk without a greeting is seen as bad manners.
- Underestimating the cost of living Everything is imported and expensive; dismissing prices comes across as uninformed.
- Reducing the faith to folklore The Christian heritage is taken seriously; treating it with irony hurts people.
2b · The field
Areas of spiritual battle and cultural captivity to cover in prayer. Tap each point to understand:
Great wealth and consumption turn hearts away from dependence on God.
The number of people, especially the young, setting aside their inherited faith is growing.
Many call themselves Christians by tradition, without a personal, living faith.
Prosperity coexists with pockets of poverty and exclusion that wound human dignity.
The pressure for appearance and financial success shapes values and relationships.
Legacies of slavery still mark tensions between communities.
Comfortable island life can breed complacency and coldness toward God.
International flows and tourism open doors to addiction and crime.
The financial rush and the breaking of bonds put pressure on the home.
An economy revolving around outside capital feeds a culture of greed.
Bermuda enjoys broad religious freedom. Christianity is the majority faith, woven into the history and public life of the island, and Christians can gather, evangelize, and live out their faith without hostility from the state or society. There is no significant religious persecution.
The spiritual challenge here comes not from oppression but from indifference. Material prosperity, growing distance from religion, and Christianity in name only cool the faith of many who grew up in the churches. The pressure on Christians is subtle: seeing faith reduced to cultural tradition, and keeping the flame alive in a comfortable society drifting ever further from God.
The persecution score runs from 0 to 100: the higher it is, the greater the pressure on Christians.
Bermuda is a majority Christian society with few distinct ethnic groups, made up mainly of descendants of Africans and Britons, along with a Portuguese community of Azorean origin. Access to the gospel is broad and there are many churches; the challenge is not reaching isolated peoples, but reviving the faith of a population that received it by inheritance and risks letting it grow cold.
- 0 Unreached 0%
- 0 Minimally reached 0%
- 3K Superficially reached 4,6%
- 1K Partially reached 0,9%
- 60K Significantly reached 94,5%
- 0 Unreached 0%
- 0 Minimally reached 0%
- 1 Superficially reached 16,7%
- 1 Partially reached 16,7%
- 4 Significantly reached 66,7%
Source of people group data: Joshua Project (joshuaproject.net). 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
among the most expensive in the world, everything imported
Cost by city
Reference values (source: Numbeo). Confirm before traveling.
Practical points for those who go
- Use English: it is the official, everyday language across the island.
- Plan for a high budget: the cost of living is among the highest in the world.
- Always greet people when entering shops and starting conversations; courtesy is valued.
- Traffic drives on the left and rental cars for visitors are restricted; many use scooters or public transportation.
- Watch out for the hurricane season, from May to November.
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.