Algerian Crisis Update

"Dad, I'm ready for you to go to prison, if it is for Jesus' sake"

This was the response of a young Algerian teenager to the news of his father's recent prison sentence, which, thankfully, has since been revoked. The situation for the churches in Algeria has reached crisis point at a speed that is hard to take in. The Algerian authorities continue to distribute notices that all Protestant churches should be closed until they are 'in conformity'. What is meant by this term is unclear and any administrative attempt to gain 'authorization' has proved unsuccessful.

For many years, Christians in Algeria have enjoyed relative tolerance and freedom even though Algeria is a fairly conservative Muslim country. With this freedom, the church in Algeria has seen astounding growth. Some mountain villages now have more Christians than Muslims. The fruit of decades of Christian work and witness by missionaries who were later expelled from the country is everywhere in evidence.

But the advance of the Gospel has provoked a serious backlash. The situation for believers in Algeria began to change when a law was passed that condemned to imprisonment anyone who 'shook the faith of a Muslim'. This law is open to the widest of interpretations.

As we freely celebrate the Saviour, who went to the cross and rose again for our sakes, let us remember our Christian brothers and sisters in Algeria and across the Arab world, who have been privileged to suffer for Jesus' sake.

• Pray that the Christians would feel the closeness of the Lord in this difficult time.
• Pray for unity among the believers.
• Pray that this time of testing would result in a stronger and more unified Church.
• Pray for the Church leaders, who have been threatened with imprisonment, that all charges may be dropped.