A former Islamic activist who converted to Christianity nearly 30 years ago now labors side-by-side with both Christians and Muslims to bring aid to those suffering from last month’s devastating earthquake in Morocco. Nearly 3,000 people died in the rare 6.8 magnitude quake, and at least 2,500 were injured.
“My country made me who I am today,” Soussi told Christianity Today. “I want us to understand that Morocco is not only for Muslims.”
From Taroudant, about 150 miles south of hard-hit Marrakesh, Soussi grew up in a staunchly Muslim home. When he chose to follow Christ in 1994, his family stopped speaking to him.
Such a response is not uncommon in the 99% Muslim North African nation considered one of the most dangerous in the world for those who convert from Islam. Facing tremendous pressure from family and community to renounce Jesus, some Christians lose their inheritance rights or custody of their children. Others are harassed, fired from their jobs, or targeted for violence by Islamic extremists.
Soussi should know. He was a Muslim activist himself. When he became a Christian, he experienced firsthand how intense pressure to renounce Jesus can force believers into isolation or relocation. In fact, he and fellow believers named their house church after the Old Testament prophet Job, who continued to follow God even in the midst of terrible suffering.
With only Islam and Judaism officially recognized by the Moroccan government, Christian converts may be arrested or fined just for having a Bible or talking about their faith with a Muslim. Some have faced interrogations, beatings or imprisonment. Quiet Christian gatherings in homes are sometimes tolerated, but often under heavy surveillance to make sure they refrain from converting Muslims.
Believing James 2:26, that “faith without works is dead,” Soussi legally registered an association in 2007 to help those of all faiths who are in need. Employing both Muslims and Christians, Al Yassamine was already at work bringing sustainable development in remote areas of the quake zone long before the mountains shook on September 8. In fact, they were first to pass out food, clothing and medicine in places the government and other aid had not yet reached.
“We cannot work in earthquake relief in the name of the church,” Soussi said. Nor can they openly share the gospel. But as a registered association, “we have the legal right to help the affected people.”
Two years after Al Yassamine was founded, Soussi’s family reunited with him. Today, they even often seek his wisdom.
(Read the full story by Jayson Casper, at Christianity Today, Sept. 15, and find details on persecution in Morocco at Open Doors’ 2023 World Watchlist.)
For more ways Christians in Morocco are helping earthquake victims, click here:
Underground Churches Help Morocco Earthquake Victims
Lord, thank You for the courage Soussi and other Christians are stepping out in to make a difference in their home country. Please give them favor with officials, their families, their communities, and all who meet them. May they be known by their love. Be a Shield around Soussi and all Christians in Morocco, protecting them from persecution and evil. Hide believers and churches from those who wish to do them harm. Bless every Christian so abundantly they will share of that bounty with those in need, and shine for You in every dark corner. Bring to them seekers who hunger for Truth, and open up the conversations that will point all eyes to You. In this time of great grief and trials in Morocco, please meet the lost in dreams and visions, showing them who You are and inviting them into grace. When they cry out to You, hear them, O God, and save them. Perform signs and miracles and wonders to point every heart to You. Comfort those who mourn and heal those who are wounded. Provide food, water, electricity, clothing and shelter where people are stranded without. Push through the darkness with Your light, awakening every heart to You. So many have lost businesses, homes, loved ones and more. O God, please have mercy. Reach into every family and heart and SPEAK in such a way that they hear You and respond. For only You can carry them through this time of great hardship. Bring Christians to them to show them Your love, to comfort them in their time of sorrow, to share Your good news, to mourn with them, to counsel them and to help them rebuild their lives. Use Christian medical workers, counselors, builders, and relief workers to share Your love in visible ways and speak the gospel such that they will understand who You are and turn to You. Bring forth from this terrible tragedy a movement of Your Spirit like never before in this country, turning thousands to You.
Please join us for the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church on Sunday, November 5, 2023, as we pray for our brothers and sisters who are in danger, and for their persecutors to be saved.
Subscribe to the Prayer Wall by entering your email below, and receive each daily prayer guide in time for your morning devotions:
Mikaela Vincent and her husband are missionaries who live by faith, trusting in God to provide for their needs as they pray for and share Christ with the nations. If you would like to help their ministry through a donation, or by shopping at Mikaela’s online bookstore, click the buttons below:
For 30 Days of Prayer for Global Awakening and deep Bible studies on overcoming adversity and breaking free from fear and trauma, visit MoreThanAConquerorBooks.com.
To easily access the daily Prayer Wall posts from your mobile phone screen, go to https://prayerwallforthenationandtheworld.wordpress.com in your browser, then click your browser’s drop-down menu, and press “Add to Homescreen.” (These instructions may differ according to your browser.) You can then place the icon wherever you like on your screen. Press it daily to pray through each new post in your quiet times.
Any proceeds this author receives from the sale of the deep devotional Bible studies and other MoreThanAConquerorBooks.com books mentioned in this post go to shining Christ’s light in the darkness and seeing the nations come to Him.
But please ignore unrelated advertisements WordPress places here. The author has not approved those links and does not receive any money from them.
Thank you for your support! If you have any questions or want to help with this ministry, please contact Mikaela.
PRAYER WALL 