[2026 Ramadan] Day 20 From Darkness to Light, From Death to Life — Libya! Algeria!

<Libya>

Libya, a land where the Lord’s tears flow, is located in the Maghreb region of North Africa, bordering Tunisia, Algeria, and Egypt. The country has a population of about 7 million, its capital is Tripoli, and the official language is Arabic. In 64 BC, Libya was incorporated into the Roman Empire, and it became a land where the early church experienced revival despite severe persecution under Roman rule. After Christianity was officially recognized, churches filled the land throughout Libya. The biblical city of Cyrene was located in what is now the Libyan region near the capital Tripoli. Simon of Cyrene, the man who carried Jesus’ cross, was from Libya. However, after the Islamic invasions in the 7th century, the churches in Libya fell into apostasy, and today more than 97% of the population is Sunni Muslim, making Libya an Islamic state. Currently, all religious gatherings other than Islam are forbidden. If someone is discovered to be a Christian, they may face beating, imprisonment, or even death. Libya now ranks 4th in the world for Christian persecution.

As a result of the 2011 Arab Spring revolution, the country split into two rival governments, and after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi, Libya has remained in a state of ongoing war, lawlessness, and governmental collapse. Much of the country’s infrastructure has been destroyed, and children are often forced into war instead of receiving education.

Due to the long war and soaring unemployment, many Libyan youths have joined over 1,700 Islamic armed militias, living as expendable tools of war. Some of these groups even commit horrific crimes by capturing African refugees who flee persecution and dream of reaching Europe through Tripoli, selling them into slave markets.

Yet even in the darkness of Libya, God is at work as light. Even in the midst of death, life is being born. The blood of martyrs who love Jesus continues to be shed in this land.

It is not only the martyrdom of multi-ethnic believers, such as the beheading of 21 Egyptian believers on a Libyan beach, the martyrdom of 34 Ethiopian Christians, and countless other stories that have never even been reported to the world, but also new believers in the local Libyan church are beginning to face martyrdom.

Pastor Dejre, an African pastor who has faithfully shepherded the only officially recognized church in Libya for more than 30 years, shared this testimony at the 6th International Conference. One day, two Libyan women came to the church saying they wanted to believe in Jesus. Simply entering the church meant they were already risking their lives. Libya’s harsh laws can sentence both evangelists and converts to death.

When the pastor asked them why they had come, they replied:

“We received Jesus through a Christian satellite broadcast, and now we want to be baptized.”

The pastor asked them, “Do you understand the price you may have to pay if you follow Jesus?”

They answered, “We are ready to pay the price.”

The pastor baptized the two sisters, and as they prayed and said their goodbyes, he said:

“If we do not meet again, let us meet in heaven.”

A few days later, the two women were murdered by their own relatives. They were killed for the price of believing in Jesus. These sisters could have hidden their faith and continued believing in secret, but because they loved Jesus more than life itself, they chose to follow the Lamb who was slain, even unto death.

Libya is good soil. It is a land of miracles. The church is being built upon the price paid for the gospel and upon the blood of believers.

Many people who receive Christ are rising even in prisons and persecution. No one can stop this revival. Just as Simon of Cyrene once carried the cross of Jesus, may the many descendants of Cyrene in this final age rise up and carry the cross to follow the Lord!

Just as the gospel was proclaimed in the Libyan language on the day of Pentecost, may the gospel once again be proclaimed throughout all Libya in the language of its people in these last days!

[Today’s Prayer]

1. Many Libyans are turning to the Lord, yet they remain hidden in fear. May they rise boldly in faith, so that even if a thousand are killed today, another thousand will rise tomorrow! May Libya arise with an unstoppable final revival that no fear in the world can restrain! Lord, grant an end-time revival that surpasses the revival of the early church!

2. May the door of the gospel in Libya be opened! Nothing can stop the gospel. Please open the visa door of South Korea, which currently designates Libya as a travel-restricted country. May the doors be opened so that missionaries from many nations may enter Libya carrying the gospel. May the Libyan government and unjust laws that block the gospel quickly fall so that the highway for the gospel is opened! Descendants of Simon of Cyrene—rise up! Carry the gospel and advance to all nations!

<Algeria>

Algeria is the largest country in Africa, and has about 48 million population. Algeria is a nation with a majority of Muslims, and Islam is well depicted as a religion of peace and love. Modern Islam and secularism are spreading fast in Algeria, and the people identify with Islam more of a national or a personal identity than a religious belief. Alcohol is not publicly sold, but still many consume drugs, cigarettes and alcohol, yet, hold strongly their Muslim identity. There are about 15 people groups, majority are Arabs, and Kabyle Berbers come second by population. Kabyle people have the biggest number of Christians by population, and due to this and other factors too, are in constant silent conflicts of identity and belonging, as oppose to the Arabs.

Algerians observe Ramadan strictly, even those who are not Muslims, pretend to be fasting. Ramadan is taken at the most seriousness. The spirit of Islam is most strengthened during Ramadan. 99% of the restaurants and cafes were closed during the day. Yet, surely that under this extreme observation of Ramadan, lies thousands and millions of thirsty and hungry souls. Not for the earthly food from fasting, but thirsty and hungry for God’s righteousness. May God lead them to the bread of life and the living water; Jesus our bread and wine.  

There are around 1 million believers in Algeria, yet only 20-25 gather in the bigger cities, and only few keep the weekly gatherings, to 6-9 person in smaller cities, if any.

            Algeria once experienced a period of rapid gospel expansion, however, there was a period of stagnation followed by the government closing Christian worship buildings, which led many to despair. There is so much potential in the Algerian church, since most of the population is young, and they are like soldiers who are ready to be enlisted, yet, because there is no clear vision of the Algerian churches, these YG tend to follow earthly dreams seeking better education or dream jobs abroad. Most of the believers are from Christian background, and their families, have been suffered from emotional wounds and unresolved issues among the church’s communities, they encourage their children to not stay in Algeria, like the example of a sister who took vision school at the very first in-land vision school, she received heart to go on SM to Pakistan, she decided to take a year off from university and offer it to the Lord. However, her family upon her return home and sharing grace and this heart, the family made her cut all communications, and advised her to focus on getting study visa to Europe. Many believers lost vision and communion with God, and became like the lame beggar, who sought alms at the beautiful gate. Only true worship will restore this nation to stand up and walk.

God is still waiting for the true worship from Algeria, for this nation to return. May the altar of worship be raised from Algeria, and may the young generation rise up with God’s vision.

And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, (Acts 3:7-9)

May Algeria’s feet and ankles be made strong through the gospel, and may Algeria, together with the Maghreb nations, enter the temple of God leaping and praising.

1.     Please pray that through the darkness of Ramadan the truth of Christ shines brighter, and the souls follow that light.

2.     Please pray that the Algerian young generation rises up to be missionaries, and go to all nations, all the believers who heard about the vision once, may they be restored and obey in faith.

3.     Please pray for the 47 million in Algeria to be saved, through the obedience of the young generation, and blood of the martyrs once shed, and may they rise up like their ancestors, men of Cyrene, to preach the gospel to all nations boldly.