By Dr. Bassma Dabbour-Jaballah
According to the North African theologian Tertullian,
"The blood of the martyrs is the [holy] seed...."
Today, the church in North Africa, consisting of Christians from a Muslim background, represents an integral part of that holy seed, watered by the prayers of God's saints from around the world. In 2007, churches from far and wide nationally had gathered to pray for North Africa, and specifically for the country of Tunisia where Tertullian was originally from. It was a time of repentance and turning back to God. Since that time, church leaders have witnessed a revival movement taking place and many Muslims confessing their faith in Christ.
The year 2010 was the beginning of the "Arabic Spring" that took place in Tunisia. This "Jasmine Revolution," as Tunisians prefer to call it, spread out and reached many other nations. Although the impact across North Africa was more peaceful, it has led to revolutionary decisions that national church leaders strongly believe were in answer to many years of faithful prayer.
Among such revolutionary law decisions -- which greatly benefitted the Christian community, in particular -- was the freedom to convert from Islam and follow other beliefs without retaliation or juridical consequences (art. 6, 31). Women finally had the right to marry non-Muslim men, presenting a very unique situation in the entire Muslim world. Additionally, the king of Morocco had forbidden, by a royal decree, the use of controversial Quranic verses and Surah in Moroccan schools -- along with many other decisions that are still being negotiated and explored....
North Africa, positioned within the cradle of the first martyrs (such as Perpetua and her companions) under the Roman Empire, also happens to be the birthplace of Western church theology, and continues to be acknowledged as such by theologians of this modern day. During the Momentum conference session, Dr. Dabbour-Jaballah will be providing an insightful update on the present situation of today's church in North Africa as it now faces new political circumstances. This informative session will be followed by a time of "Q & A."
