Algeria: This Little Light

"The hero is the one who kindles a great light in the world, who sets up blazing torches in the dark streets of life for men to see by. The saint is the man who walks through the dark paths of the world, himself a light." ~Felix Adler



Algeria has been a place of great darkness, marred with corruption and the violence of a ten year civil war. But hope is dawning in this country, and a light is spreading. Algeria is in the midst of seeing the results of a great revival; it is estimated that 80,000 believers have come to Christ since the beginning of this great revival, and of that number, 70% are under the age of 30. This movement was ignited by a few faithful believers in a small village. This small group fasted and prayed over the course of a year. They then began to see results. The group would go to a village that had no Christians, pray for the village, and a few months later they would hear that there were believers there. "People had dreams, visions, some of them discovered Christian radio programs. We didn't share the Gospel directly with many people but God, in His way, preached the Gospel. It was like an explosion in all the Kabylie area, and it's continuing now" [Pastor Raba]. Revival of this kind has rarely been seen in Muslims countries and is a testimony to how a small light can spread when it has the courage to shine. The government is cracking down on believers, churches are attacked, and charges are being brought against believers, but they are standing firm. When asked what verse encouraged them, a leader replied with 1 Corinthians 15:58: "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain." Let us join with the believers in Algeria this month as they lift their country up in prayer and ask God to spread his prescence throughout their nation. Let us also remember to pray for the believers, that they would see God at work in their country that they might know that their work is not in vain.
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Algeria

Basic Info: Algeria is the second largest country in Africa and it is slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas. It is between Morocco and Tunisia and it borders the Mediterranean Sea. Out of the 34,586,184 population, about 99% are Arab-Berber and less than 1% is European. Almost all Algerians are Berber in origin, not Arab, but the minority who identify themselves as Berber live mostly in the mountainous region of Kabylie. The Berbers are also Muslim but identify with their Berber rather than Arab cultural heritage. Berbers have struggled, sometimes violently, for autonomy for a long time. The government is unlikely to grant them autonomy, but has offered to begin sponsoring teaching the Berber language in schools. Algeria is also a transit country for men and women trafficked from sub-Saharan Africa to Europe for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and involuntary servitude. Criminal networks of sub-Saharan nationals in southern Algeria contribute to the trafficking by arranging transportation, forged documents, and promises of employment. In 2009, the government approved new legislation that criminalizes trafficking in persons for the purposes of labor and sexual exploitation which was an important step toward complying with international standards.

Government: Algeria was ruled for more than a century by France, but they became independent in 1962 after fighting through most of the 1950's. During that fighting, the National Liberation Front (NLF) was formed and has dominated the political process ever since. In 1988 the government set up a multi-party system due to the general unrest of the public. However, after the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) had great success in the 1991 balloting, the Algerian army intervened and postponed the second round of elections. There was fear from the secular elite that an extremist led government would assume power. This led to the army continuing to crackdown on the FIS, which in turn caused FIS supporters to begin attacking members of the government. The fighting then escalated into an insurgency which led to over 100,000 deaths from 1992-98, many of which were indiscriminate massacres of villagers by extremists. The government started to prevail in the late 1990's, and the Islamic Salvation Army, which acted on behalf of the FIS, was disbanded in 2000. Abdelaziz Bouteflika, with the backing of the military, won the presidency in 1999 in an election widely viewed as fraudulent, was reelected to a second term in 2004, and overwhelmingly won a third term in 2009 after the government amended the constitution in 2008 to remove presidential term limits. The next election is scheduled for 2014, and 1/3 of the seats in the upper house are appointed by the president. Some problems for the country include large-scale unemployment, a shortage of housing, unreliable electrical and water supplies, government inefficiencies and corruption, and the continuing activities of extremist militants. The Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) in 2006 merged with al-Qai'da to form al-Qai'da in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb, which has launched an ongoing series of kidnappings and bombings targeting the Algerian Government and Western interests.

Economy: Algeria's economy is dominated by the state due to the country's socialist post-independence development model. Gradual liberalization since the mid-1990s has opened up more of the economy, but in recent years Algeria has imposed new restrictions on foreign involvement in its economy and largely halted the privatization of state-owned industries. Hydrocarbons have long been the backbone of the economy, accounting for roughly 60% of budget revenues and over 95% of export earnings. Algeria has the eighth-largest reserves of natural gas in the world and is the fourth-largest gas exporter. Thanks to strong hydrocarbon revenues, Algeria has a cushion of $150 billion in foreign currency reserves and a large hydrocarbon stabilization fund. In addition, Algeria's external debt is extremely low at about 1% of GDP. Algeria has struggled to develop industries outside of hydrocarbons in part because of high costs and an inert state bureaucracy. The government's efforts to diversify the economy by attracting foreign and domestic investment outside the energy sector have done little to reduce high poverty and youth unemployment rates. In 2010, Algeria began a five-year, $286 billion development program to update the country's infrastructure and provide jobs. The costly program will boost Algeria's economy in 2011 but worsen the country's budget deficit. Long-term economic challenges include diversification from hydrocarbons, relaxing state control of the economy, and providing adequate jobs for younger Algerians.

Religion: Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and Jewish 1%
Algeria has been in turmoil since it gained its independence from France, but the church saw tremendous growth during Algeria's civil war from 1992-2002 because the government was more concerned with stopping militant Muslims than in interfering with the Christian church. It is estimated that there may be as many as 80,000 Christians in the country (70% of which are under the age of 30), mostly in Berber towns and villages. In 2006 the National Assembly passed a presidential order that requires all non-Muslim religious groups register and be officially approved in order to operate. This means these groups must meet in a government approved building with a pastor that has been approved as well. Many church activities are now considered illegal if they can be construed as something that could "shake the faith of a Muslim." Punishments include the confiscation of property, fines, and imprisonment for up to five years. Foreigners found guilty are required to serve their sentences before being deported. In January 2008 an intense media campaign against the church began as newspapers carried articles expressing concern about the growth of Christianity. Intense persecution followed—house churches were closed by authorities, several believers were arrested and some were formally charged with insulting Islam. The government has not allowed any new church buildings to be built and all newer churches that exist in Algeria today are house churches. Negative international attention on the discrimination of Christians in Algeria has reportedly led to some improvement in the government’s treatment of believers. In October 2008, for example, a court in northwestern Algeria acquitted three Christian leaders of blasphemy charges, declaring the men innocent because the evidence brought against them was fabricated. Christians expressed hope that the ruling would set a legal precedence for other wrongly accused Christians in the country. However, many believers remain fearful that intense persecution will continue as the government attempts to trigger Islamist alarm about the large numbers of Muslims abandoning Islam for Christianity.


Information compiled from CIAWorld Fact Book “Algeria”; VOMC “Algeria” www.persecution.net

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What Do Muslims Think of Jesus?

Virgin Birth? YES

The Quran states: “[Mary] said: “Oh my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man hath touched me?” He said: “Even so; Allah creates what he wills” (surah 3:47)
‘The virgin birth was not a sign of Christ’s nature and power, but a sign of Allah’s Omnipotence and sovereignty. He can and will do as he pleases.’ pg 215

Son of God? NO

The Quran states: “The similitude of Jesus before Allah is as that of Adam: He created him from dust: then said to him: ’Be’: and he was.” (surah 3:59)
The Quran states: “We gave Jesus the son of Mary Clear (Signs) and strengthened him with the holy spirit. The Christians call Christ the Son of Allah. This is a saying from their mouths;…Allah’s curse be on them.”
The Quran states: “Christ the son of Mary was no more than a messenger; many were the Messengers that passed away before him.” (surah5:75)
The comparison of Jesus to Adam is important to a Muslim because it shows creation without the need of a father. pg 215

Miracle Worker? YES

The Quran records that Jesus performed many miraculous acts including: making a bird out of clay, healing the blind and lepers, and raising the dead. However, each of these miracles was done “by [Allah’s] leave” and were not a testament to himself but signs from the Lord.”

Death and Resurrection? NO

The Quran states: “That they said [in boast], “We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah”; but they killed him not, nor crucified him. Only a likeness of that was shown to them And those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no [certain] knowledge. But only conjecture to follow, for a surety they killed him not:-Nay, Allah raised him up unto Himself…” (surah 4:157-59)
Christ did not die according to Muslims but instead was raised to Allah (like Elijah). The most popular theories are: Jesus hid while one of his companions died in his place; God made Judas Iscariot to appear like Jesus and take his place; Simon of Cyrene replaced Jesus before dying.

Returning? YES/NO

Jesus will return, but not as King and LORD. Tradition says that Jesus will appear to all just before the final judgment. He then will battle the Antichrist, defeat him, confess Islam, kill all pigs, break all crosses, and establish a thousand years of righteousness.


Information from "Unveiling Islam" by Ergun Mehmet Caner and Emir Fethi Caner

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Muslims Turn to Christ



People of Algeria


Anger in Algeria


Crack Down on Protestors