The 87 million inhabitants of North Africa (Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Morocco, and Mauritania) reside in the western end of the 10/40 Window covering more than 2.7 million square miles of mostly desert land. It is a land in limbo, seeking a delicate balance between the traditions of centuries and the opportunities of modernization.

Despite its strong Christian heritage, the region of North Africa has been greatly influenced by Islam since the seventh century. Some have even called it the “Land of the Vanished Church.” Most North Africans are at least nominally Muslim and identify strongly with Islamic culture.

With few Christians in this region, only about 62,000 out of 87 million, and because of the threat from Islam against people who proselytize, the evangelization of this region is a great challenge. Converts find it dangerous to live outwardly as a Christian and as a result a significant percentage have migrated to more tolerant countries.

Partners International seeks to preserve and strengthen the small Christian community through vocational training, micro-enterprise development, leadership training, and church-planter support.

Despite the difficult environment for Christianity, in recent years, more and more North Africans are finding salvation in Jesus Christ and taking up the challenge to reach their countrymen for the Lord.

Vision & Strategy

Our strategy in North Africa involves training and sending church planters to areas where no churches currently exist. We also work to preserve the Christian presence where it is a minority or in persecution, helping to sustain developing churches.

Because North Africa’s evangelical church is quite young with many believers only in the faith for a few years, developing effective, theologically-sound leaders is a priority. Additionally, we focus on North African women and children who have special needs for spiritual and physical development.

Leadership

Our efforts in North Africa are led by a field-based Area Director (name withheld for security reasons). He has more than 20 years experience ministering to believers in the region. As Area Director, his role is to identify opportunities for Partners to serve the indigenous Church and to provide pastoral care and strategic planning consulting to our partners.

How You Can Be A Partner

We invite you to partner with us in building the Church in North Africa. Develop relationships with Partners International staff doing ministry in the region and with the leaders of our indigenous partners there. Pray for the region. Join our initiative that focuses on the needs of women. Use your professional skills. Join a short-term ministry team from your church. Financially sponsor a ministry outreach. Working together, we’ll see God build His Church in the least Christian regions of the world.