“Algeria, keep the commands of Jesus and remain faithful!”
This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus. (Revelation 14:12,NIV)
》 Country Profile
Continent | Africa
Population | 44.17 million
Area | 2,380,000㎢, Located on the Mediterranean coast in northern Africa.
Capital City | Algiers (2.9 million)
People Groups | Total 38 groups, Maghreb Arabs 72.7%, Berbers 24.1%, Bedouins 0.9%
Unreached People Groups | 34 (99.9% of the population)
Official Language(s) | Arabic, Berber
Total Languages | 25
Bible Translations | Completed 8, New Testament 6, Partial 4
Religion | Christianity 0.1%, Muslim 96.5%, Non-religious 3.3% Evangelicals 0.05% 22,000 people
》 About Algeria
Algeria has long been a strategic center for trade, facing numerous invasions from the Romans, Arabs, Spanish, and Turks between the 2nd and 15th centuries. The indigenous Berbers were deeply influenced by Islam in the 11th century, leading to their conversion to Islam. In 1830, Algeria became a French colony and remained under French rule for 130 years. Following an eight-year armed struggle, Algeria gained independence from France in 1962, but at a devastating cost of one million lives. After independence, a socialist regime controlled the country for 25 years, leading to conflicts with neighboring nations over territory and religion. In 1992, military intervention in the elections triggered a violent conflict, resulting in over 100,000 deaths. Under a presidential system, Abdelaziz Bouteflika ruled as a dictator for 20 years, but resigned in 2019 following nationwide protests. Since 2019, Abdelmadjid Tebboune has served as president, currently leading a five-year term.
Algeria is rich in oil and natural gas, ranking 3rd in shale gas reserves, 10th in natural gas reserves, 6th in gas exports, and 16th in oil reserves. The nationalization of the oil and gas industry led to rapid economic growth, but the wealth has not been evenly distributed among the population. As a result, youth unemployment is high, corruption is worsening, and housing costs have skyrocketed. The COVID-19 pandemic further weakened the economy, increasing the unemployment rate to 12.7% from 2020. Although Algeria possesses significant natural resources and strong potential for economic growth, it continues to face economic difficulties and requires reform and development to ensure long-term stability and prosperity.
Algeria’s GDP per capita is approximately $5,631.
》 Scripture Focus
| Revelation 14:11-16(NIV) 11 And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name. 12 This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus. 13 Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the LORD from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.” 14 I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, “Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16 So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested. |
》 Prayer Points
1. Algeria ranks 15th on the 2024 World Christian Persecution Index, and while its constitution guarantees freedom of expression, it strictly prohibits converting Muslims to other religions or undermining their faith. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has flagged Algeria as a nation that severely violates religious freedom, drawing continued international concern over Christian persecution. According to a July 2024 report from the European Center for Law and Justice, 43 out of 47 Protestant churches in Algeria have been forced to close, and many Christians have been imprisoned. Despite this, since the early 2000s, conversions from Islam to Christianity have surged, prompting harsher government laws aimed at suppressing Christianity.
Let us pray that the perseverance of believers—who keep God’s commandments and their faith in Jesus even under severe persecution—will lead to the revival of the church and the glorification of the gospel in Algeria.
2. Youth-related issues have become a growing social crisis in Algeria, with many frustrated by high unemployment and political dissatisfaction. Young people are voicing their concerns through social networks and protests, calling for change and reform. Organizations such as World Vision, International Mission, Algeria Mission, YFC, and various local groups are actively serving young people, offering education, job training, emotional support, and opportunities for spiritual growth.
Let us pray that Algerian youth, restless and uncertain about their future, will hear the gospel and find true hope in Christ. May they turn away from striving for worldly success alone, embrace God’s promise of eternal rest, and commit their lives to His kingdom.
3. Before the Arab conquest, Algeria’s Berber people were Christians, but today, only a small number remain in the faith. Let us pray for the Berber believers, that they may carry on the faith of their ancestors and boldly share the gospel with their own people and the wider Muslim community. May the light of Christ expose the falsehoods deeply embedded in their culture through Islam, leading them to abandon idolatry and serve the one true God. Despite government restrictions on Bible printing and imports, translation work continues.
Let us pray that the Bible will be fully translated and distributed swiftly, empowering the spread of the gospel among Algeria’s unreached peoples and Muslims. May countless souls who have yet to believe in Jesus be saved, like a great harvest of ripe grain in God’s perfect time.
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