Mission Work in Algeria

In a nation that is 95% Muslim, 3% non-religious, and roughly 1.5% Christian, it’s hard to believe that Algeria would have any type of successful missionary work occurring within its boarders. However, over the year many Christians have been giving their lives to the gospel and attempting to bring the message of Christ’s love to the people in Algeria.

Mission’s work in Algeria first began in the year 1908 when Methodist missionaries established themselves in the nation. At this time, the church in Northern Africa was an annual conference to which local pastors, preachers, and evangelists belonged. The Methodist Church owned church buildings, children’s homes, and clinics. This was an acceptable practice until the year 1962 when Algeria became an independent nation. From this point forward, open evangelization was no longer tolerated. When Algeria dissolved its ties to France many Christian missionaries left the country believing that a Christian church no longer belonged in Algeria. Through the course of the next eight years children’s homes and boarding schools were closed and half of the Methodist missionaries were deported. 

It was not until the year 1972 that the Methodist church would fuse with Protestant denominations in Algeria to form the Protestant Church of Algeria. As this occurred, Methodist work in Northern Africa was being reorganized as a district of the annual conference of Switzerland and France. Missions and Ministries were focused on providing food, clothing, and medicine during this time period as well as organizing worship services, bible studies, weddings, and baptisms.

Today the Christian Church continues to be a very small minority in Algeria due to the overwhelming presence of Islam. Recently, mission’s work has progressed since it is now possible to run a congregation in an organized manner despite all the prohibitions of the nation. The Protestant Church of Algeria is now constituted as a federation of Protestant congregations that allows Methodist missionaries to continue to work in the country. The impact of Christian missionaries in Algeria has allowed the faith to continue existing in a dominantly Islamic country.

“Algeria,” Global Ministries, accessed June 19, 2015, http://www.umcmission.org/Explore-Our-Work/Africa/Algeria

“North Africa,” World Methodist Council, accessed June 19, 2015, http://worldmethodistcouncil.org/about/member-churches/africa/name/north-africa-united-methodist-church/

“Algeria,” Christian Aid Mission, accessed June 19, 2015, http://www.christianaid.org/Interactive_World/countryPages/Algeria.aspx

Pictures:

Algeria, Accessed June 19, 2015, http://allworldtowns.com/data_images/countries/algeria/algeria-04.html

Protestant Church of Algeria, Accessed June 19, 2015, https://www.worldwatchmonitor.org/2013/06/2583073/