Dear Prayer Partner, In June our Bible a Month calendar is focusing on Algeria . Algeria borders Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Tunisia, and Western Sahara. It is the second biggest country on the African continents. Algeria has faced lock down as a result of Coronavirus. Those living here are all too used to having restrictions placed on their movement, experiencing curfews and challenges because of the situation in their country. Whilst we here in Northern Ireland are not used to having restrictions placed on us, Christians in Algeria know this reality all too well. It can be very difficult to be a Christian in Algeria. In this Extra Insight we'll share more about how the Bible Society is providing God's Word with those exploring the faith.

Algeria Capital: Algiers Population: 42,972,878 (July 2020 est.) Official language: Arabic, French, Berber or Tamazight Religion: Muslim 62%, Christian 31%, Other 7%  Statistics and map taken from The World Factbook and Operation World .

Ministry in Algeria The Bible Society staff work to reach and resource the Church in Algeria with the Bible. The Church in Algeria faces significant pressure from the authorities. Christians in Algeria face persecution as churches are closed and limits placed on the freedom of Christians. Ali, the General Secretary of the Bible Society in Algeria, is not surprised by the persecution saying that this is ‘nothing new’. It is difficult to say how many Christians there are in Algeria as many believers choose to keep their decision to follow Christ a secret. Despite the challenges, the church continues to grow. It is into this challenging context that the Bible Society in Algeria work to translate the full Bible into Algerian languages, they also work to publish and distribute Scripture portions and Bibles. The Berber language, for example, was an oral language which had not been written down before the Bible Society started the translation of the Gospel of Luke. The Gospel of Luke was the first book published in Berber, since then the New Testament and Psalms have been printed with work ongoing for the rest of the Old Testament. Levels of literacy in Algeria, especially among women, are often very low. The Bible Society have produced audio versions of the New Testament which are being distributed through local church networks.  The Bible Society plans to work with families this summer and is waiting to see if restrictions from Coronavirus will be lifted. The hope is to encourage and nurture Christian faith and values in young people. The situation in Algeria and the Bible Society there need our support and prayers

Scriptures for Seekers in Algeria

The Scriptures for Seekers project that we are supporting through Bible-a-Month aims to provide people who are exploring the Christian faith with Scriptures and resources. Many people are curious as to why the church is often discriminated against, so begin to explore the faith online, through Christian TV or radio channels. They feel safer using these channels rather than publicly asking others about the faith. They want to read the Bible for themselves and find out exactly what it says that causes people’s lives to change and the government to have such a reaction. This search often leads them to the Bible Society. In response to these inquiries, the Bible Society can provide them with free Scriptures and resources and answer questions they may have about the Christian faith. Many of those searching for answers are immigrants or people from other faiths. They estimate 10% of the people who reach out are illegal immigrants or foreign workers. The Bible Society also works to put these people in touch with local churches so that they may find a Christian community to connect with. It is vital to a young Christian’s faith, especially in a country like Algeria, that they have a group of believers around them so they can grow and learn more about the Bible.  The church is growing in Algeria, despite restrictions, and Bible Society NI wants to help as much as we can. Every £5 raised this month will help to provide someone in Algeria with Scripture.

"How can they call to him for help if they have not believed? And how can they believe if they have not heard the message? And how can they hear if the message is not proclaimed?" Romans 10:14

Pray for this Project: Pray for those who are seeking Christ. Pray for boldness to reach out to the Bible Society and find out more. Pray that God would reach many people through this project. Pray for the Bible Society in Algeria’s staff and volunteers as they deliver Scripture and connect people with churches. Pray for safety and that they would continue to be able to share the Good News. Pray for the church as a whole in Algeria. Ask God to watch over them and to guide the leaders as they practice their faith in an often hostile environment.

Give Every £5 donated to this project will help the Bible Society in Algeria to provide someone who is exploring the Christian faith with Scriptures. Make a donation online now. This project is our Bible-a-Month project for June. Decide to become a Bible-a-Month partner today! You will receive a free calendar with information about this and 11 other Bible Society projects. Commit to giving just £5 each month and you will ensure that the Word of God is shared across the world. Sign up here.

BIBLE SOCIETY NI 27 Howard Street, Belfast, BT1 6NB 028 9032 6577 Charity Reg. No. NIC102557 www.biblesocietyni.co.uk Header image shows a man and boy with a children's Scripture book.

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