Talal is forced to keep faith secret after hostility from family and friends

Young people across North Africa are coming to know Jesus, but for many, it can be costly – and that’s certainly the case for Talal. Please pray for him and other secret believers in the region.

When Talal* from North Africa met a Christian at university, little did he know the impact it would end up having on his life.

Talal grew up in a Muslim home, but he often questioned and doubted the teachings, and it wasn’t until he met his new friend that he first had the opportunity to hear about another religion. “I was deeply touched by the message of the gospel that my new friend shared with me,” he says. “I decided to give my life to Jesus, knowing that this decision would bring me serious problems.”

  The problems alluded to here are common for Christians in North Africa. Like Talal, many grow up in a Muslim culture where there is an expectancy from family, communities and the authorities to follow Islamic norms. Converting to Christianity can be seen by loved ones and locals as a betrayal, and in some cases, it’s even illegal. From abuse and disinheritance to imprisonment and even death, the ramifications can be huge.
 

Comfort in community

For Talal, he bravely chose to share his faith with others, but as he anticipated, it was costly. “Because of my Christian faith, I experienced tensions from my Muslim friends in the village,” he shares. “The extreme ones didn’t accept my faith and therefore posed a threat to my life.”

Meanwhile, Talal’s family felt that acknowledging his conversion to Christianity would bring shame on them. They wanted to disassociate from it by saying Talal was under a demonic influence and wanted him to consult marabouts and charlatans to be delivered from it.

Like many believers in North Africa, Talal now expresses his faith more discreetly. “I have now chosen to keep my faith secret to preserve my safety and inner peace,” he shares. “I find comfort in fellowship with other Christians at the university, where I can live my faith more freely.”

Talal’s story provides a small glimpse into the challenges facing so many secret believers not just in North Africa but many parts of the world. It reinforces the importance of our current secret believers campaign, which seeks to help faith flourish even as it’s pushed into the shadows. This is through initiatives such as Bible distribution, livelihood support and emergency relief.

Thank you for all your prayers and support for secret believers – it’s a tangible reminder that they are never alone and it means so much to them.

*Name changed for security reasons
Top image taken by Tahiro Achoub (unsplash.com), representative only