North Africa does not get much positive press these days. Algeria seems fixed on self-destruction, caught in the midst of an horrific civil war. Libya is forever portrayed as the haven of Arab terrorism. Mauritania is rarely mentioned - a vast, mainly uninhabited sandy desert. Morocco is infamous as the world's leading exporter of marijuana, and Tunisia is known simply for its dates and tourists. None of these countries has a society or a government favourably disposed towards Christians and yet . . . against the odds God is doing something new.
Travelling in the region one is reminded time and again of its rich Christian heritage. The gospel arrived early in North Africa and historians recount how within 100 years of the first Christians becoming martyrs in what is now modern-day Tunisia, half the Roman province of North Africa professed faith in Christ. The evidence of churches, cathedrals and baptistries found in the ruins of Roman and Byzantine towns everywhere is a constant reminder of what God has done in this seemingly impenetrable area. The North African church gave Christendom such figures as Tertullian (160 - 230), Cyprian (200 - 258), and Augustine (354 - 430). By Augustine's death we know there were between 6-7,000 bishops in North Africa alone.
But in the 5th and 6th centuries the church went into decline, and it was not difficult for Islam to take over with the Arab conquest at the end of the 7th century. The crusades of the 11th and 12th centuries were the final death knell to the church, which in some small way had co-existed alongside Islam up to that point. Today there is no visible historic church in any of the countries of North Africa as there is in many countries in the Middle East. And yet in our time God is doing something new!
In the past few years the Christian praying public has begun to intercede with a new depth and fervour for the Muslim world of the '10/40 Window'. North Africa is beginning to feel the effects. Many are listening to Christian radio broadcasts. In the past year, Sat 7, a new satellite station for the churches in the Middle East, has been receiving half its responses from North Africa. In ones and twos people are responding in faith. The great challenge of the coming years is to see these brothers and sisters gathered into house-church congregations. The social and political obstacles are considerable but God is doing something new.
Perhaps surprisingly for a region that appears closed to Christian efforts, there are in fact some tremendous opportunities for practical service and ministry, and the need is great for those with gifts in friendship and discipling. Let's join forces with others, not simply to pray for those whom God is bringing to faith, but also that God would call many more to work with him today in North Africa . . . for God is doing something new, he is rebuilding the ruins!
Travelling in the region one is reminded time and again of its rich Christian heritage. The gospel arrived early in North Africa and historians recount how within 100 years of the first Christians becoming martyrs in what is now modern-day Tunisia, half the Roman province of North Africa professed faith in Christ. The evidence of churches, cathedrals and baptistries found in the ruins of Roman and Byzantine towns everywhere is a constant reminder of what God has done in this seemingly impenetrable area. The North African church gave Christendom such figures as Tertullian (160 - 230), Cyprian (200 - 258), and Augustine (354 - 430). By Augustine's death we know there were between 6-7,000 bishops in North Africa alone.
But in the 5th and 6th centuries the church went into decline, and it was not difficult for Islam to take over with the Arab conquest at the end of the 7th century. The crusades of the 11th and 12th centuries were the final death knell to the church, which in some small way had co-existed alongside Islam up to that point. Today there is no visible historic church in any of the countries of North Africa as there is in many countries in the Middle East. And yet in our time God is doing something new!
In the past few years the Christian praying public has begun to intercede with a new depth and fervour for the Muslim world of the '10/40 Window'. North Africa is beginning to feel the effects. Many are listening to Christian radio broadcasts. In the past year, Sat 7, a new satellite station for the churches in the Middle East, has been receiving half its responses from North Africa. In ones and twos people are responding in faith. The great challenge of the coming years is to see these brothers and sisters gathered into house-church congregations. The social and political obstacles are considerable but God is doing something new.
Perhaps surprisingly for a region that appears closed to Christian efforts, there are in fact some tremendous opportunities for practical service and ministry, and the need is great for those with gifts in friendship and discipling. Let's join forces with others, not simply to pray for those whom God is bringing to faith, but also that God would call many more to work with him today in North Africa . . . for God is doing something new, he is rebuilding the ruins!
