selves and were evangelistic in out reach. However, these were Euro pean-based and with the exodus of the non-Algerian population, went also the non-Algerian Church. In that part of Algeria known as Greater Kabylia, several villages are nomi na l l y Protestant. Essentially, the Gospel of redeeming grace is little known even there. Neverthe less, this writer believes that a true people movement to Christ could be fostered among this great minority group (above five million persons), of non-Arab stock. In a land that recedes into debt at the daily rate of one million dollars, political tensions are to be noted. The most uneasy element in the country is found in Greater Kabylia. A strong and tactically correct mis sionary effort to reach the masses here could direct his restlessness to find its peaceful solution in the Lord Jesus Christ. In an age of “ closing doors” throughout the world, it is obsolete to plan only in terms of winning in dividuals to the Lord. While such an aim will always be valid, it is vitally urgent in the world of today to plan the influencing of whole com munities and cities to the Saviour. This vision has certainly been abused in some areas. Let the servant of Jesus Christ launch out in faith and “ let down the nets” not for one fish, or two, but for as many as may endanger the strength of the nets! He will build His Church, even in Muslim Al geria !
illiterate in matters religious. Why, anywhere in the world, he thought, when 'people learned the wonderful message of the Qur’an and read of the life of the Prophet (on him be peace!), they turned to Islam with hearts eager to accept! Algeria, like other Muslim coun tries, has a Minister of Religious Affairs. This ministry has initiated the repair o f damaged mosques, cor respondence courses teaching Islam to the masses, assignment of chap lains to the armed forces (the only chaplains possible), and has spon sored the visits of Egyptian lec turers in theology. Hamadi is a religious enthusiast. He sees a future mapped out for young men like himself. His country does not exclude Allah in its official pronouncements. Family and friends honor and respect him for the pro fession and learning he represents. * * * A guilt-ridden conscience, a ma terialistic philosophy of life, a re naissance of religion — these char acterize the Algeria of today. To minister to these eleven million in habitants are approximately twelve missions. Three of these work on a Church-based program and three form a charity - oriented operation. Some of the missionaries under these boards are liberal, the majority con servative in theology. They total about eighty. There is no indigenous l o c a l Church in Algeria. Before independ ence, several a s s emb l i e s existed which governed and financed them
Getting off the crowded bus, he was pleased to find Aicha waiting for him. How chique she always dressed! Not for her the outmoded clothes of past generations. Though they knew they ought to hate the French, they simply could not repu diate the rich and satisfying culture in which they had been brought up. Fashionable and petite at the same time, Aicha shared Bachir’s dreams of a future filled with the good things of life. The fact that they lived together unmarried did not disturb her. Soon Bachir would have his promotion (his uncle was arranging that this month) and she would have com pleted her training as a beautician. Then they could dignify their rela tionship with a marriage properly celebrated! So many of their friends did it this way after seeing it prac ticed in France. After dining, they. went to the classes on “ Planned Economy” and “ How To Organize State Self-gov erning Boards.” Both Bachir and Aicha found the material they studied lacking in the logical struc turé they had been educated to look for. It was all well and good to State- run the economy but they privately hoped it wouldn’t interfere too much with their making good salaries at the same time; Their future held a car, TV set, French-style furniture, and two children. Was there anything else to live for? The Bachirs and the Aichas think not. They represent the thou sands of French-educated young adults beginning to fill the important posts throughout the Algerian re public. * * * Hamadi has been well trained in the Qur’anic sciences. Like all his classmates, he not only can recite the Holy Book perfectly, but he is familiar with the seven authorized readings of the sacred texts and versed in the doctrine o f abrogation. Long years have been spent in re ligious training and orthodox ob servances of Muslim obligations. Now Hamadi has been assigned as a chaplain in the Algerian National Army. How pitiful is the condition of these soldiers! They knew nothing o f the glorious past of Muslim dynas ties in Baghdad. Far worse, they were religiously illiterate. If they ob served the Fast of Ramadan, it was because the community forced them to. It was months before they could perform their prayers in the correct sequence. Hamadi knew that it was the co lonialists who had kept these men JULY, 1964
Reminders of Algeria’s internal war abound on every hand
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