(Field Story) Moroccan Christians leave ‘underground church’ to serve Muslim neighbors

Moroccan Christians are quietly serving local residents who suffered great damage from the earthquake. They lived as unofficial religious believers who were not protected by the government, but in difficult times, they came out of the underground church and put God's love into practice for their Muslim neighbors.

Youssef Ahmed, a member of the Tangier Northern Church, located 560km away from Marrakech, a famous tourist city, and representative of the Christian Association of Churches, recently held a longer-than-usual home service with some of the 36 members of the Christian Association of Churches and headed to a remote village in the Atlas Mountains. He came to help after hearing that many mud brick houses had been destroyed.

However, the volunteer group was unable to access the village, so they turned to Jemaa El Fna Square in Marrakech and distributed water and blankets to the Moroccans and tourists they met along the way.

Youssef Ahmed, a member of the Tangier Northern Church, located 560km away from Marrakech, a famous tourist city, and representative of the Christian Association of Churches, recently held a longer-than-usual home service with some of the 36 members of the Christian Association of Churches and headed to a remote village in the Atlas Mountains. He came to help after hearing that many mud brick houses had been destroyed.

However, the volunteer group was unable to access the village, so they turned to Jemaa El Fna Square in Marrakech and distributed water and blankets to the Moroccans and tourists they met along the way.

According to the U.S. State Department, the number of local Christians in Morocco is estimated at around 25,000. Of these, 80% are known to be Berbers. The Moroccan government recognizes only Islam and Judaism as official religions. The Christian organization Open Doors ranked Morocco earlier this year as the 29th most difficult country to become a Christian.

In the southern city of Agadir, a local Christian group of 150 Christians worked with the community to distribute food, clothing and medicine, and visited city hospitals to comfort the injured. Rashid Immunan, the group's representative, emphasized, "We don't have much, but we have spiritual power." People in Mission International (PMI), a Latin American Christian organization, began raising funds to support victims and recently established a base camp in the region where emergency supplies can be distributed. “We are trying to be the hands and feet of Jesus and show His love,” said a PMI field worker who requested anonymity.

A magnitude 6.8 earthquake occurred in the southwestern part of Morocco on the 8th, killing more than 3,000 people and injuring more than 5,000. This earthquake is said to be the largest to occur in North Africa since 1969.

Source: N News

4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city. (Acts 8:4-8)

Morocco is still in pain from last year's earthquake. Let’s pray that the Christians in Morocco, who are under strong government pressure, will spread the gospel in this situation with all their strength.

Let the seeds of the gospel they planted immediately after the earthquake, bear fruit 30 times, 60 times, and 100 times, and as they travel around to deliver the words of the gospel, let the numerous groups that follow Yeshua rise in unity.

May the filthy ghosts who have deceived these people for so many years go out, the people will be healed, and may great joy be filled throughout Morocco

May God's history of turning evil into good, be overflowing in Morocco as the world's church continues to pray, preach the gospel, and help Morocco without forgetting them.