On September 8, 2023, a massive 6.8 earthquake rattled parts of Morocco, killing nearly 3,000 and affecting roughly 300,000. One Christian family lives near the epicenter of the quake and shared their experience. They were awoken around 11 p.m. and rushed outside as buildings around them shook and collapsed. “It was a dramatic experience,” said the front-line worker. “We were on the street all night long as the village we had lived in for 20 years was destroyed.” The worker reported that 1,000 people died in that village alone.
Read MoreA Christian in Morocco is experiencing regular pressure and intimidation by police authorities. “His moves are constantly monitored, and he is regularly questioned by police,” a front-line worker shared. He is under gradual but increasing pressure from officials, and the continual surveillance and interrogations have negatively impacted his health.
Read MoreOnly a fraction of 1 percent of the population of Morocco are Christians, and lack of access to Bibles limits the growth of Christian communities. “Believers and seekers in this country face a shortage of physical Bibles and are usually obligated to interact with God’s Word in an online or digital format, which is not accessible for everyone,” a front-line worker said. Additionally, new followers of Christ are often threatened by family members, discriminated against by landlords, and forced to relocate unexpectedly.
Read MoreMorocco is ruled by a monarch who is purportedly a direct descendant of the prophet Muhammad and intends to govern the nation with Islamic principles. No church buildings exist in Morocco, and Bible distribution and missionary activity are not allowed in the country.
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When Mustafa learned that his younger brother, Omar, had become a Christian after hearing the gospel from a visiting evangelist in their Moroccan city, he felt he had no choice but to act. On that day in 2005, he grabbed his brother’s Bible, a book he considered counterfeit and unclean, and burned it along with the rest of Omar’s Christian literature. As the oldest son, he then kicked Omar out of their family’s home; his hatred of Christians barred him from sharing a house with an apostate. In Morocco, Islam is entwined with every aspect of life, and the country is ruled by a monarch believed to be a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. Mustafa stayed in contact with Omar, hoping to draw him back to Islam. He eventually visited his brother and asked him for a Bible; he thought that if he could show Omar the Bible’s errors, he would return to Islam. Omar gladly gave his older brother a Bible and pen, suggesting that he mark each verse that he found problematic. The brothers then discussed the verses that Mustafa highlighted, and Mustafa felt increasingly torn between Islam and Christianity. When he read Matthew 7:7, “Ask, and
Read MoreA Moroccan man has contacted front-line workers seeking more information about Christ. Mustafa grew up as a Muslim, but he rejected Islam and is no longer practicing any religious faith.
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