#15 in Christian persecution, Algeria

[LoricaLady]

The major drivers of persecution in Algeria are society and extremist Islamic teachers who exert influence over state authorities. Most Algerian Christians are converts from Islam. They face harassment and discrimination in their daily lives, and their families and community may try to force them to continue to adhere to Islamic norms and practices. They also face pressure – from both the government and their surrounding communities – to renounce their faith in Jesus and return to Islam.
Additionally, state pressure has increased on Protestant Christians to a level not seen in decades. Previously closed church buildings are still shut down, and many other churches were ordered to close. The government threatened to prosecute some church leaders if their churches continued to meet.
Algeria has laws restricting non-Muslim worship, including rules that prohibit anything that would “shake the faith of a Muslim” or could be used as a “means of seduction intending to convert a Muslim to another religion”. These vague laws can be used to pressure Christians to keep their faith quiet.

Meet Naasima​

“The biggest challenge is that I have to live with dual identity, which means Christian at home and Muslim outside.”
Naasima (name changed), a Christian woman living in North Africa.

What does Open Doors do to help?​

Open Doors works with local partners and churches in North Africa to provide leadership and discipleship training, livelihood support, legal aid, trauma counselling, Bibles and pastoral care.

Please pray​

• Ask God to intervene and help believers find a way to meet together.
• Pray that Christians who are accused or suspected of breaking the regulation making it illegal to “shake the faith of a Muslim” would not be unfairly targeted.
• Pray that God would protect Christians from abuse and oppression from family and community.

 

[AlexB23]

The major drivers of persecution in Algeria are society and extremist Islamic teachers who exert influence over state authorities. Most Algerian Christians are converts from Islam. They face harassment and discrimination in their daily lives, and their families and community may try to force them to continue to adhere to Islamic norms and practices. They also face pressure – from both the government and their surrounding communities – to renounce their faith in Jesus and return to Islam.
Additionally, state pressure has increased on Protestant Christians to a level not seen in decades. Previously closed church buildings are still shut down, and many other churches were ordered to close. The government threatened to prosecute some church leaders if their churches continued to meet.
Algeria has laws restricting non-Muslim worship, including rules that prohibit anything that would “shake the faith of a Muslim” or could be used as a “means of seduction intending to convert a Muslim to another religion”. These vague laws can be used to pressure Christians to keep their faith quiet.

Meet Naasima​

“The biggest challenge is that I have to live with dual identity, which means Christian at home and Muslim outside.”
Naasima (name changed), a Christian woman living in North Africa.

What does Open Doors do to help?​

Open Doors works with local partners and churches in North Africa to provide leadership and discipleship training, livelihood support, legal aid, trauma counselling, Bibles and pastoral care.

Please pray​

• Ask God to intervene and help believers find a way to meet together.
• Pray that Christians who are accused or suspected of breaking the regulation making it illegal to “shake the faith of a Muslim” would not be unfairly targeted.
• Pray that God would protect Christians from abuse and oppression from family and community.

I will pray for Algeria's Christians. Open Doors is a good organization, and I have mentioned it in my Bible study yesterday on 2 Timothy 3:12. It seems that countries in Africa and Asia tend to lack religious freedom, especially in Muslim theocracies. Also, Algeria scored a mere 1 out of 4 on the religious freedom index in 2022, in section D2 of the Freedom House organization's Freedom Index: Algeria: Freedom in the World 2022 Country Report | Freedom House

Date	April 25, 2024
Verse	2 Timothy 3:12 (NIV): "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted"
Explanation	2 Timothy 3:12 is a passage from the New Testament book of 2 Timothy, written by the apostle Paul to his young protege, Timothy. The verse states, "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." This means that those who choose to follow Christ and live according to His teachings will likely face opposition, hardships, or even physical harm from others due to their faith. A well-known example of a persecuted figure in the Bible is Stephen, who is described in the book of Acts as "a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit" (part of Acts 6:5). Stephen's godly life and bold witness for Christ brought him into conflict with the religious leaders of his time. The leaders falsely accused Stephen of blasphemy, and he was stoned to death (Acts 7).
Societal Relevance	In modern life, the verse continues to be relevant as many Christians around the world face persecution for their faith. According to Open Doors USA (link to Open Doors), a nonprofit organization that supports persecuted Christians, an estimated ~360 million Christians live in countries where they experience high levels of persecution, such as in China and Iran as of 2024. This persecution can take many forms, including physical violence, discrimination, social ostracism, and even legal prosecution. The verse also speaks to the experience of many Christians in the Western world, who may not face physical persecution but still encounter hostility or discrimination due to their faith. For example, some Christians may face social pressure to keep their faith private or may be bullied or ostracized for expressing their beliefs in public. Others may face legal challenges, such as being denied the right to practice their faith in certain settings or having their religious freedoms infringed upon by government policies. Overall, 2 Timothy 3:12 reminds us that following Christ may not be easy or popular, but it is a worthy calling. It also calls us to pray for and support our brothers and sisters in Christ who face persecution around the world.

 

[Pop D.]

Father, we pray you will give Naasima and all your children in Algeria protection, strength, and provision, in Jesus' name.