Meeting Raided in Morocco
- by AWM
- posted Wed, Feb 24, 2010
- 3 comments
Christians in Morocco are concerned. A recent raid took place on a meeting of believers. Sixty policemen, including a colonel, following orders from the new justice minister, arrested those at the meeting: 18 Moroccans (including children and non-believers) and the American teaching at the meeting. All were questioned and released; the American was taken to the airport and expelled.
This is not the first incident of this kind, which is why there is concern. Christians in Morocco are concluding that there is a new national policy concerning Moroccan Christians, who would all be from a Muslim background.
An expat living in Morocco says:
The Moroccan church is growing and I think the government is trying to figure out how this is happening. With the Islamic fundamentalists, they know how this [growth] is happening. Money comes in from Saudi Arabia and the Emirates and is given to the poor in the slums of the cities of Morocco. But who is building the Church in Morocco?
It is internet, radio and satellite television that is making the biggest impact in Morocco. According to the same source, 60 percent of Moroccans attending house churches throughout the country heard about Jesus in this way. 30 percent heard about Him from other Moroccans, and only ten percent heard through foreigners.
It seems the government thinks foreigners are behind the growth of the Church but they are missing the mark. They would need to cut off all internet, satellite TV and put all the Moroccan Christians in jail... And then they might be shocked to see that this only causes the Church to grow even more. Persecution of the Church throughout history has many times produced a stronger and larger church. A high percentage of Moroccans who become followers of Jesus report having dreams about Jesus that encouraged them to seek after him. Are humans capable of putting dreams into the heads of Moroccans?
It's hard to imagine how it would feel to be in this situation. Freedom to believe in Christ and meet openly with other believers is assumed in the West. It must be frightening to have police invade your home and take you for questioning. It must also be shocking to be kicked out of a country, especially when you have made it your home for years.
So what can we do?
The most obvious answer is to pray.
Print off this article and take it to your home group or church meeting. Share it two or three and stand with Moroccan Christians in prayer. Here are some suggestions in what you can pray...
- Pray for all Moroccan believers to stand firm in their faith.
- Pray particularly for new believers and seekers who may be fearful and tempted to return to Islam.
- Pray that the government would back off and allow Moroccans freedom to believe in Christ.
- Praise God for the way He is moving in this country, even in hard times of persecution - may He be magnified and glorified in Morocco!
Want to do more?
Internet, radio and satellite TV programmes are evidently making a massive impact in Morocco. AWM Media has a fruitful ministry in reaching the Arab world through its New Media Ministry.
You can support this ministry financially as well as prayerfully. A one-off gift can be made online through our Canadian, UK and US giving websites, or you can contact us for details of other ways to give.
#1
March 10, 2010
2:56 p.m.
peter
please pray with me, I am marrried to moroccan & with all the stuff going on would appreciate prayer, particually childrens homes etc.. we live in uk at present want to go back to morocco
#2
April 14, 2010
2:09 a.m.
Michael Menezes
In these last days God is moving powerfully through the Holy Spirit, may all who visit this site continue to pray for the Arab world that in these last days there will be a massive turning of arabs to Christ, this move of God will happen as more prayer rises on their behalf.
#3
August 7, 2010
3:22 p.m.
James
I prayed during the nightmare years of 1992-1999 for Al-Gheria. I further prayed during the new movement years of 2000-2009 and was hoping the expansion of His Kingdom would envelope all of North Africa. Clearly He is winning this war against those who oppose the One True God Christ Jesus the Lord of Heaven and earth. My prayers have shifted further east through south central asia but clearly the enemy wouldnt bother the Kingdom of Morrocco or Al-gheri unless he was threatened. So while we wait for Christ's return remember there are many over here whose prayers and support are for you over there...keep growing you're obedience is being observed in Heaven.