10/40 Window Prayer Alert- Algerian Christian Leaders Request Prayer as they are feeling Pressured
Algerian Christian leaders have asked for prayerful support as Christian Believers are being pressured in three ways. First, there is a sustained and intense media campaign against the Algerian Church. Second, seven fellowships are known to have been closed by authorities in the last year. Third, several Christian Believers have been formally charged over matters related to their Christian faith. However, Muslims are coming to Christ in Algeria as never before, mostly in mountain villages among Berber ethnic groups. The Algerian church has grown to about 70,000 adherents. Seventy percent of the Christians are under the age of 30. Hundreds stand in line for more than an hour just to attend services in one church building.
>>Click here to view the entire article online.
>>Click here to a video on this news story.
Emergency Prayer Alert - Algeria
Algerian Christian Leaders Request Prayer as they are feeling Pressured
WIN PRAYER ALERT
Algerian Christian leaders have asked for prayerful support from Christians worldwide as Christian Believers are being pressured.
“First, there is a sustained and intense media campaign against the Church,” a Middle East Concern (MEC) official wrote in a recent e-mail received by Window International Network. “On most days in January, major Algerian newspapers carried articles expressing concern about the growth of the Church. The amount of detail in some articles suggests that informants have been attending some fellowships.
Another way Christians have been harassed according to Algerian Christian leaders seven fellowships have been closed recently by authorities.
“Several church leaders were told to bring an official license issued by a government committee that was established by legal decree in 2007, but it has not yet been formed or held its first meeting,” said the MEC official, who noted that the affected fellowships are in Ait Amar, Ait Djemaa, Bachloul, Boughni, Ouargla, Tiaret and Tizi Ouzou.
“Third, several Believers have been formally charged,” the MEC official continued. “There were several trials in 2007, but no Christians were convicted. On February 5, 2008, three Believers accused of insulting Islam were told that they will be sentenced to three years in prison and fined 5,000 Euros. The official written sentence (was) expected Tuesday, February 12, 2008.”
The MEC official added that another Believer has been told to report for a further hearing on March 5, 2008, event though the witnesses that testified against him admitted that he didn’t know the accused.
“He has been told that he will be imprisoned for one year and fined heavily,” the MEC official said. “In a third case, another Believer has been told his trial will be held on April 2, 2008. This date has been changed several times.”
The Algerian constitution declares Islam to be the state religion. In 2006, the government confined non-Muslim worship to specific buildings approved by the state, increased requirements for the registration of religious organizations and increased punishments for anyone who proselytizes Muslims, according to 2007 International Religious Freedom Report.
Algeria has a population of 33 million, with more than 99 percent of the citizens Sunni Muslim and only 0.3% percent Christians at this time.
The Algerian people are trying to move beyond a bloody 15-year Islamic insurgency that has claimed as many as 200,000 lives, Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) News reported. While the government continues its fight against Al Qaeda and other Islamist terrorists, another battle is being waged for the hearts and souls of Algerians.
Muslims are coming to Christ in Algeria as never before, mostly in mountain villages among Berber ethnic groups.
“The Church is still growing fast; I have no doubt about it,” Algerian pastor Youssef Ourahmane said. “The TV has a tremendous impact on the lives of the people there—especially Arabic language stations where for the first time many Algerians watch and see and hear Muslim converts who are preaching, who are teaching and telling them stories and also getting some facts about Islam and their faith in the Koran.”
Christianity existed in Algeria long before Islam, but disappeared in the 12th century. Today, Islam is the dominant faith, but Christianity is making a comeback..
The Algerian Church has grown to about 70,000 adherents. Seventy percent of the Christians are under the age of 30. Hundreds stand in line for more than an hour just to attend services in one church building.
Even though proselytizing Muslims is against the law in Algeria, one evangelist—a former Muslim—travels on trains playing a guitar, singing Christian songs and telling passengers about Christ. The train ride lasts about five to six hours, so he says he has a captive audience because passengers can’t leave.
Ourahmane told CBN News that overcoming fear of Muslims has been crucial to church growth.
“That has been the key and I think the church really is a missionary minded church now,” he said. “They want to see more churches planted and they want to see the Algerian church become an impact not just for Algeria, but for other countries (such as neighboring Morocco).”
However, Algerian Christians are facing increased persecution in their country. Last year, government officials shut down at least five house churches and several Christians were arrested.
“We expect it will be a tougher situation because now there are complaints from the religious leaders,” explained Ourahmane. “Imams in Algeria they complain against what is happening, the evangelization of the Algerians.”
Their pressure has already led to a new, tougher law: a hefty fine and imprisonment for those found guilty of shaking the faith of a Muslim. The law has yet to be implemented.
But Pastor Ourahmane suggested laws cannot stop the amazing move of God in the North African nation.
“There’s no doubt with what is happening today—with God arising men and women who are gifted in preaching, church planting, worship and other things as well. It’s an amazing sign of hope,” he told CBN News.
Praise for:
- Thank God that the Algerian Church has grown to about 70,000 adherents, and that Muslims are coming to Christ in Algeria as never before.
Pray for:
- The media attention will have a positive impact on the Church, drawing more people to respond to the love and truth of Jesus.
- The closed fellowships to be allowed to reopen.
- All Algerian Christians to be able to worship and fellowship with other Believers.
- Algerian Christians not to be sentenced to jail for their Christian faith. Pray that the Algerian Christians on trial on March 5 and April 2 will be acquitted. Pray for all officials involved to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and respond to His love.
- The salvation of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and leaders of terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda.
- The Berber people could make up as much as 40 percent of the population, but the Arab majority have tried to impose their culture on them and stopped them from using their own language. Thousands in the Kabyle region have become Christians and meet openly in their villages. Pray for these churches that they would be protected from persecution and grow in their faith in God.
- Christians globally to pray for our Brothers and Sisters in Algeria.
Sources: Middle East Concern, CBN News, Operation World
Order PTTW 9 prayer calendars:www.win1040.com/resources
Forward this email today to a friend of yours and encourage them to sign up for the 10/40 Window prayer alerts. Go to www.win1040.com and click on the SUBSCRIBE link. Prayer is crucial for Bangladesh, where two thirds of the southern Asian nation is under water following torrential rains and some 8 million people have been affected.
Leave a Reply