[2024 Ramadan Day 20] The final gateway to revival! Morocco, praising the Lord at the end of the earth where the sun sets

Morocco is called “Maghreb” in Arabic, meaning west, the side where the sun sets, the time where the sun sets. Geographically, it is a land in Northwest Africa that borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea to the north. However, Morocco has many differences in terms of religion, climate, language, indigenous people, and culture from what is commonly thought of African regions.

Morocco is 99.6% Muslim and is a ‘royal country’ ruled by a king. The language used is Arabic, and due to being located along the Atlantic Ocean, the climate in the coastal areas are cool in the summer, and due to the Atlas Mountains, it sometimes snows in the inland areas in the winter, giving it a unique charm. Also, before Islam came in, the indigenous people of this land were ‘Berbers’. However, with the introduction of Islam in the 7th century, Arabs immigrated, and the Berbers, who were Christians at the time, were all converted to Islam.

However, what actually dominates this people is not orthodox Islam, but their own unique Islam that has been transformed into secular Islam and witchcraft beliefs. Although they usually seem distant from the laws of Islam, Ramadan reaffirms their identity as Muslims. There is also a belief that if you fast during Ramadan, your sins will be forgiven regardless of how you live throughout the year, so even people who do not usually pray go to mosques to pray. Also, for them, Ramadan is more than just a religious activity, it is a cultural event. Moroccans, even those without Islamic religious affiliation, love Ramadan. The reason is that there is Iftar time where everyone eats delicious food after a hard fasting time, companies and schools end earlier than usual, and dramas air all evening.

However, because fasting is focused on eating out, more pickpockets and petty thieves occur during Ramadan, and many fights amongst people occur on the streets. As soon as the fasting time is over, young people and adolescents smoke cigarettes and smoke hashish, and even during the fasting time, young people spend time addicted to the media. Their superficial religious activities only confirm their existence as Muslims once a year and cannot help them reach any truth. Rather, they only fill them with self-righteousness through their actions.

In this way, Moroccan society is wrapped in a false peace under the rule of the king and the Islamic culture that has moderately compromised with the world. However, God is shaking this earth and letting us know that it is the time of harvest. In September 2023, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 occurred in Morocco, killing more than 3,000 people. People who lost their homes and families overnight had no choice but to feel hopeless. However, because the king refused help from foreign relief organizations, relief work was delayed, and proper rescue and action were not taken in the heavily damaged mountainous areas. People who lost their homes in mountainous areas had to pitch tents in very dangerous places where stones were likely to fall. They even had to stay in a tent during the cold winter with snow piling up. However, through this situation, God, who is faithful, gave them a helping hand and opened the door to the gospel.

One brother we met there was already skeptical about Islam and was looking into Christianity on a YouTube site called <Moroccan Christian>. In addition, several generations visited deep mountainous areas, where it would normally be difficult to send even short-term teams, and spent time comforting local residents and serving them with love. We believe that through these frequent encounters and service, there will surely be people who realize that Jesus is the truth and return back to Him.

Also, in January of this year, seven local Moroccan Christians had the grace of going on a short-term missionary trip to Tunisia and Mauritania.

We believe that through these frequent encounters and service, there will surely be people who realize that Jesus is the truth and return back to Him.

The Moroccan Church is like a light breaking through the darkness of 1,400 years of Islam. That's why the darkness never wants to let them go and constantly attacks them. However, we believe that the victory of Jesus Christ has already been given to them. Through these people, the name of Jesus, the true King, will be praised from the rising of the sun to the setting of the sun (Maghrib). We proclaim that Morocco's countless young people will rise up as the last generation of revival!

[Today’s prayer]

1. During Ramadan, amid religious activities that are only focused on works, there are souls who are thirsty for the truth. As we continue to evangelize, may we meet souls who seek the truth and may it be a time of revival for the remnants of this land to return to the Lord!

2. Let Moroccan Christians spread the gospel more boldly in this land. During Ramadan, the criticism and persecution from family becomes more severe. Please help them to rise up as people who are not afraid and spread the gospel to their families even during this time. Through them, let us build a Moroccan church where disciples raise up more disciples!