Elijah Project: Day 4

Country: Algeria

A Country Unreached.

This country has known nothing but war for years. From revolutionary wars to unrest amongst themselves, Algeria has found itself under the hand of many Islamic militants. Freedoms are slowly being taken away, especially that of religious freedom. Persecution has greatly increased since 2008 and Islamic groups are becoming more and more intolerant of any religious expression other than their own. 

What to pray for:

1) Political Climate

·  The country is very war-weary. The violence has never ended and many of the freedom’s promised have not come through or have continued to lessen.

· There is great unrest between secularist who want to embrace a more western way of governing and Islamist who have been gaining more and more control within society. They now have power of schools, mosques, and threaten to murder those who oppose.

2) Persecution of Christians

· Laws have been passed against the practice of “non-Muslim worship.” Pressures for Christians come not just governmentally but through family and friends as well

3) The Church

· Pray for unity and the growth of strong leaders, especially among indigenous groups.

·   Strength for Christian families as many Christians girls are forced to marry Muslim men and hide their faith. Pray for the few Christian couples that they would remain strong.

· Unemployment among Christians is 90%, deeming many churches and pastors with no provision

4) A nation unreached

·  Youth comprise most of the country, as well as most of the Christian population. But many are running to Europe to have more freedom, leaving the country with few believers.

· The nomadic people groups (The Tuareg and Bedouin) are becoming more and more open to the Gospel. Pray for continued growth and strategies to reach these people as well as leaders to disciple.

·  There is no ministry in Algeria geared toward children. This must grow in homes since the children are taught Islam in their schools.

· Bible translation is sparse and slow moving for Algerian Arab as well as in the indigenous languages. 

What the Lord put on my heart today through prayer:

Father give me your eyes and your heart for the Algerian people. Show me what is burdening your heart, I want to know your love for these people. Restore the leadership in Algeria, I pray for believing, God fearing, honest people to step up into leadership roles. Free the believers, give them back their freedom to worship you Father. Give them the freedom not to hide and reason for the young people not to flee to Europe. Show those young people that you are so present especially in times of opposition. Light a fire in them, give them a passion to declare your name, to make your name famous. Use them to renew and restore what has been lost. The Lord gave me a picture of a great wind blowing the Algerian youth from Europe back to Algeria. Each young person was covered in flames and when the wind blew them to Algeria the whole country was ignited. Father please do just that, ignite the country with a fiery passion for you, with a great love for you and what you have done for us. Show the Algerian people the importance and treasure of children. Especially in the Christian families, teach them to bring up children who are boldly ready to share their faith despite what shape their country is in. Lord I pray for a desperation for you a thirst and hunger for you. I pray against fear of man in Jesus' name. I pray that the fear of man would be transformed into a fear of you. Let their actions be spurred on by your love and their fear of you Lord.