Advice from Tunisian Church Leader

I was in Tunisia just three weeks after their revolution. Their President had been running the country like the mafia for 23 years, enriching himself and his family. Frustration built up and people took to the streets. They had never done anything like this in their lives. Everyone had been afraid. The government had informants everywhere. The police were thugs.

There have been prayer movements going on for Tunisia for some years, more than other N. African countries. Is it any wonder, then, that the changes started there? It shows the truth of what Isaiah said, "He brings the princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing...He blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff." Now the changes are spreading to other countries.

There were still demonstrations going on. We stood at the back of some. It was fascinating to watch history in the making. Christians are out in the streets, too. They believe that they need to stand with the people in these days. And, they see these changes as opportunities for ministry. They don't want to miss this chance!

The revolution was led by young people, organizing themselves on Facebook and Twitter. One of them told me, older people used to criticize us, saying we were just on the internet all the time. Now they respect us. In the main square of the city, which didn't have graffiti before the revolution, was written on a wall in big letters, "Thank you Facebook!" 

Ten years ago, Tunisia only had a handful of Christians. Now there are several hundred. But they still are a very small percentage of the population and have a big challenge ahead of them. They need help. But that doesn't mean they will take anything. One of them said, "We want people who will come and help us, the Tunisian Church, not who come with their own agenda. And in the Tunisian church, we are one. We don't want them to bring their denominations."

That is good advice for anywhere, isn't it?

Photos: on the streets of Tunisia. (If you are viewing this via email and can't see two photos, click on the link at the top of your email and look at the version on our web site.)