Prayer points

Little international attention has focused on the plight of those who have fled the unrest in Libya. WorldShare’s North African partners sent a team to the Tunisia-Libya border to see what help they could provide. They assisted food distribution at a refugee camp of 18,000 people, co-ordinated by the Red Crescent on behalf of the World Food Programme. Unsure how the contribution of Christians would be received in this closed country, they were welcomed by refugees, international agencies and even local government. “That was a testimony,” says Jose, a team member. “Because it is a closed country, we need to do things wisely. Not to shock people. Not to be accused of taking advantage. I know that is in the hearts of Christians serving there.” (WorldShare - May 2011)

Conversion to Christianity is forbidden in Libya and there are few native Libyan believers. Almost all Christians are foreign workers and the Government strictly monitors their meetings. Open evangelism is not possible and any Christian literature has to be smuggled into the country. In 2002, 14 university students were arrested for converting from Islam and turning to Christ. It was feared that even if they were freed they would be killed by their families. Despite reports that the students had been sentenced to death, they were eventually released but they have had no further contact with the Christian community. Furthermore, the growth of militant Islamist groups has caused Colonel Gaddafi to broaden the remit of Islamic law as part of an effort to appease these groups. (Release International - January 2010)

Very little is known about the Cyrenaican Arabs despite the fact that over a million of them live along the eastern coastal region of Libya. One thing we do know is they are, as yet, unreached by the gospel. Pray for linguists to translate the Scriptures into Libyan Arabic so that this unreached people group may read and understand the word of God for themselves. Ask too that more information would become known about the Cyrenaicans so that the church can pray more effectively for God’s light to break through in this place. (Frontiers - September 2009)