**Prayer Topic: Persecuted Christians in Algeria, north Africa Before the founding of Islam in the seventh century and the subsequent invasion by Arab Muslims, Algeria was inhabited by the Berber people. Today, they live mainly in Algeria’s mountainous Kabylie area in the north, while Arabs inhabit the rest of the country. The Christian faith has a long history in North Africa, especially among ethnic Berbers. The early church father Augustine of Hippo is thought to have been a Berber from Algeria. After centuries of oppressive Muslim occupation, public Christian worship and witness have largely disappeared, but many Berbers are now rediscovering their Christian heritage. Churches have seen rapid growth, and Algeria has experienced one of the world’s largest movements of Muslims coming to faith in Christ. Algerian Christians are reaching out boldly to their Muslim countrymen, causing increased persecution in an uncertain political climate. 97 percent of Algerians are Sunni Muslims. Christian converts from Islam are persecuted by the government and their own family members. They also face a variety of hardships from the local community. Algeria is a shining example of church growth in North Africa and is also a leader for theological training and church development in the region. Nearly all of the church growth has occurred within the Berber community. Although churches are allowed to meet openly, in 2018 the government temporarily closed many church buildings and harassed congregations. Berber Christians, who are watched carefully, have gained a collective voice through an association of churches. Sharing the gospel with Arabs can cause serious problems, but Berber Christians continue to share the gospel boldly in and around al-Qaida terrorist camps. Secret communities of Arab Christians exist throughout the country. While it is not common for Christians to be imprisoned, one believer was imprisoned for nearly a year in connection with a social media post. The Scripture for today is: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10) But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) Prayer by Pastor Chester: Our Father, we lift up to You our Algerian brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ in northern Africa, specifically among the ethic Berber community. We pray for the Algerian church leaders to be strong and wise while they endure hardship. Although the government seeks to close down their church doors, we ask for their safety and new worshipping communities to form throughout the land of Algeria, for Your gospel cannot be stopped! We pray for our Algerian brothers and sisters who suffer at the hands of their unbelieving family members, that they remain steadfast in Your love for them and fervent in their testimony of new life in Your Son. We pray that Your salvation by grace through Christ alone may spread through Bible distribution and media. Help us remember Algeria prayerfully, and not take for granted the freedom we have to gather and worship Christ freely today. In the risen Savior of Algeria, Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen.
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