North Africa
Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, and Western Sahara
North Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. North Africa traditionally includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, and Western Sahara.The distinction between Northern Africa and the rest of Africa is historically and ecologically significant because of the effective barrier created by the Sahara. Throughout history this barrier has culturally separated the North from the rest of Africa and, as the seafaring civilizations of the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans and others facilitated communication and migration across the Mediterranean, the cultures of North Africa became much more closely tied to Southwestern Asia and Europe than Sub-Saharan Africa. The Islamic influence in the area is significant, and North Africa, along with the Middle East, is a major part of the Arab World.
MERF's primary ministry in North Africa is Arabic radio broadcasting from Cyprus and Monaco. At present there are 5 medium wave broadcasts, including a daily North Africa broadcast. North Africa has recently been opening up for the advance of the Gospel. It has been reported that 40% of Algerians do not really want to be Muslims. MERF has also partnered with Words of Hope on broadcasts to Niger on local FM stations in Hausa and French. The church is growing in Chad, Tunisia, and Morocco.
Recent events in Libya will impact Chad and other countries including Niger, which used to get support from the former Gadaffi regime. We also need to pray about what will happen to the Libyan believers (we have previously had contact with believers in Tripoli and Benghazi). If the Islamists create an Islamic state in Libya, they may then do the same in Algeria, which would threaten Algeria's fast-growing church. There are more than 20 fellowship groups in Algiers, many well known to the authorities. There are also many more secret believers. There are also many in the mountains, where many tribal people say that they want to return to Christianity, but feel physically threatened by the Muslims if they do so. Please pray for the believers in North Africa in these trying times ahead.