Focus Nations: Morocco
Prayer Points:
Please pray for more Bibles, workers, etc to go to Morocco, for families to be reached, for local fellowship and leadership to emerge within the Church, for freedom from heresies and sects. Please also be willing to be an answer to these prayers.
Geography:
Morocco is a country on the northwest edge of Africa. In the North are fertile coastlands and heading south you come to the Atlas Mountains and then the Sahara Desert.
People Groups:
Native to the Moroccan landscape are the Berbers with several different branches and three main languages. The Berbers comprise only 34% on the population of their native land. Also found are the Arabs, comprising a majority 64 % and a tiny minority of other peoples, mostly French and Spanish. The most widely spoken languages are Arabic, French and English, with the Berber languages also in use.
History:
The Berbers have inhabited the country since the end of the 2nd millennium BC. Rome extended its rule over the area after defeating Carthage in 146 BC. As Rome fell into decline Morocco was invaded first by the Vandals and then, in the 7th century, by the Arabs. Although Arab rule lasted little more than a century, the arrival of Islam proved to be a permanent addition to Moroccan culture. In the ensuing centuries a series of ruling Arab dynasties came to power. By the 15th century Spain and Portugal began to intrude into Morocco. Morocco successfully repulsed these invasions, but European imperialism proved too great. By the middle of the 19th century Morocco's strategic importance was seen by the European powers, and they began a long struggle for possession of the country. In 1911, France was formally acknowledged as protector of the greater part of the country, with Spain receiving a number of isolated locales. French rule came to an end in 1953. Today King Mohammed VI rules the country.
Government:
Ruled by King Mohammad VI, Morocco is a limited democracy.
Church:
For all intents and purposes there is no Church in Morocco. 99.85 % of Moroccans are Muslim. It is illegal to convert Muslims. Sunni Islam is the state religion. Honor killings still take place when their families discover converts. As of 2000, there were approximately 500 believers in a population of over 28 million
The Need:
More bibles are needed in Arabic, and in the three major Berber languages. There is also a great need for western Christians to go into Morocco and engage the people, build relationships, and expose them to the Gospel.
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