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    Kids of Courage is a division of The Voice of the Martyrs, Inc. (VOM),

    a Christian mission organization dedicated to serving todays persecuted church.

    TM

    Algeria&Tunisia

    Bold Believers in

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    Kids of Courage / The Voice of the Martyrs, Inc.P.O. Box 443

    Bartlesville, OK 74005

    Tel: (918) 337-8015Fax: (918) 338-0189

    E-mail: [email protected]: www.kidsofcourage.com

    www.kidsofcouragemag.com

    Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture taken from the New King James Version.Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

    In the following material, some of the quotes, testimonies, and storieshave been edited and paraphrased from the original sources for clarity.

    To protect their identities, the names of some of the people in thestories and some identifying details have been changed.

    Reproduction of the materials in this book is permissible for

    home or classroom use. For any other use, please contactThe Voice of the Martyrs.

    2012, The Voice of the Martyrs

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    TABLEOF CONTENTS

    Algeria and Tunisia Facts

    Country Facts 4

    Religion Facts 5Geography Facts 8

    History Facts 10

    Culture Facts 12

    Algeria & Tunisia Facts Puzzle 16

    Bold Believers Stories & Activities

    Story 1 God Opens a DoorActivity: Flags and Map

    20

    Story 2 Teen Follows Jesus in Spite of RisksActivity: North Africa Dominoes Game

    24

    Story 3 Raymond Lull: Missionary to MuslimsActivities: Preparing a Testimony and Muslim Facts

    28

    Story 4 School in North AfricaActivity: Mosaics

    36

    Story 5 Augustine of HippoActivity: Fighting False Ideas

    41

    Story 6 Praying Before the JudgeActivity: Pray for Algeria and Tunisia

    44

    Story 7 Christians in Buses, Trains, and CarsActivity: Food and Drink

    47

    Story 8 Rami: A Tunisian BelieverActivity: Language

    50

    Story 9 An Impossible TaskActivity: Make a Berber Cave Home

    53

    Answer Key 56

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    COUNTRY FACTS

    Algeria Tunisia

    Flag

    Capital Algiers Tunis

    Size In area, Algeria is about the size ofTexas and Alaska combined.Algeria is the largest country inAfrica.

    In area, Tunisia is about the size ofMissouri.

    Population The population of Algeria is closeto 35 million, about the same asCalifornia.

    The population of Tunisia is morethan 10 million, about the same asMichigan.

    Main languages Arabic, French, several Berberlanguages

    Arabic, French

    Main religion More than 96 percent of thepeople follow Islam, the religion ofMuslims. Only Muslims may run forpresident.

    More than 99 percent of thepeople are Muslims. Only Muslimsmay run for president.

    Literacy About 75 percent of the peopleover age 15 can read and write.

    About 70 percent of the peopleover age 15 can read and write.

    Money Algerian dinar Tunisian dinar

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    RELIGION FACTS

    Struggles for Christians in AlgeriaIt is against the law in Algeria to encourage a Muslim to become a Christian. If they find yowith Christian materials, they will arrest you immediately, said an Algerian Christian. OneBible, you can have. Two Bibles, you cannot have because the second one is clearly not youThey say you are just trying to give it to someone else.

    A 2006 law required churches to register with the government. But when churches tried toregister, the government would not approve their applications. Officials ordered more than20 churches to close in 2008, and radical Muslims have attacked several churches in the yeasince the law passed. Many churches now meet in homes or in the countryside.

    Algerian Muslims who become Christians are sometimes insulted, threatened, and attackedby Muslims.

    Struggles for Christians in TunisiaTunisian Christians often face rejection by their friends and family. Police sometimesquestion and threaten them, and Christian youth may not be able to find other Christianstheir age to marry.

    As in Algeria, it is against the law to witness to Muslims in Tunisia with the goal ofencouraging them to follow Christ. Officials sometimes hinder the printing and distribution

    Christian books and materials written in Arabic, Tunisias main language.

    Arrested for Eating LunchDuring the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Muslimsare not supposed to eat or drink from sunrise tosunset. Two Christians were arrested during Ramadanfor eating lunch at their workplace in Algeria. Theytold the police that they were Christians, but theywere taken to the police station anyway. The policecharged them with insulting Islam. Later, an Algeriancourt found the Christians not guilty.

    Photos.com

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    RELIGION FACTS

    Folk IslamSome Muslims in Algeria and Tunisia follow the superstitions of folk Islam. They believe ingood and evil spirits, lucky charms, and curses. Followers of folk Islam may visit the tombs ofdead holy men in search of special blessings. Many wear symbols of the hand of Fatima,which they believe protects them against evil. (Fatima was the daughter of Muhammad, thefounder of Islam.)

    Some traditional Muslims do not approve of the customs of folk Islam. Christians know thatGod does not approve of fortune telling and similar practices. (See Deuteronomy 18:913.)

    Sufis

    Sufi

    s are Muslim mystics who live in Algeria, Tunisia, and other countries around the world.They hope to experience Allah in ways beyond what they can experience with theirfivesenses. (Muslims worship Allah.) Sufis try to connect with Allah in a variety of ways, includingthrough meditation, rituals, giving up all desires, energetic dancing, and other practices.

    Lilias TrotterLilias Trotter was a British missionary who worked in Algeria in the 1800s. Miss Trotterunderstood the Sufis desire to have a relationship with the one they worshiped, and she was

    sad to see how hard they sought truth in wrong ways.

    Miss Trotter wrote a book for Sufis about the seven I ams from the Bookof John. The book explained how their needs could be met by looking toJesus, who said, I am: the bread of life, the door, the light, the shepherd,the resurrection and the life, the way, and the vine.

    Miss Trotter refused to believe that anyone was impossible to reach forJesus. In later years, missionaries used her book and her example to witness

    to Muslims about how to know the true God of the Bible through his son,Jesus.(Source:A Passion for the Impossible: The Life of Lilias Trotter, by Miriam Huffman.)

    Lilias Trotter

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    RELIGION FACTS

    Sharing Gods Word with North African TravelersJennifer and her family live in the United States. Every year they visit Europe and pass outBibles to Muslims from North Africa who are traveling through the area. Some parts of NorAfrica are very close to Europe.

    Its difficult for the Muslims, said Jennifer. Their families and neighbors give them a hardtime if they make a decision to follow Jesus.

    Many Muslims accept the Bibles eagerly, but others do not. We had many people yell atus or say very cruel things, said Jennifer. A man came up to one of our group and struckher. We are learning that we cant forgive someone who has been cruel to us withoutJesus help.

    An Arabic B

    An Algerian woman reading an Arabic Bible

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    GEOGRAPHY FACTS

    Algeria Tunisia

    Some main cities Algiers, Oran, Sidi Bel Abbes, Ghardaia,Tlemcen, Constantine, Tamanrasset

    Tunis, Sfax, Nabeul, Gabes,Sousse, Kairouan, Bizerte

    Common naturaldisasters

    earthquakes, mudslides, floods, insectplagues

    floods, drought, insect plagues

    Crops andagricultural

    products

    wheat, barley, oats, grapes, olives,fruit, sheep, cattle

    olives, dates, almonds,tomatoes, fruit, beef, dairy,

    figs, fish, wheat

    Location northwest Africa, east of Morocco,west of Tunisia and Libya, and south ofthe Mediterranean Sea

    northern coast of Africa, eastof Algeria and west of Libya

    Landforms The Tell is the region along thenorthern coast of Africa. Most of themain cities, 90 percent of the people,and the best croplands are found in the

    Tell region. South of the Tell is the HighPlateau. Mountains in the north andsouth of the High Plateau separate itfrom the rest of the country. TheSahara Desert, south of the HighPlateau, covers 80 percent of Algeria.

    About half of the populationand most croplands are in thenorth. The north ismountainous, with plains in

    the middle of the country anddesert in the south.

    Markets in Sousse

    sell spices, nuts, andhand-painted dishes.

    Ph

    otos.com

    Photos.com

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    The MaghrebThe Maghreb, meaning west, is a region of Northwest Africa, west of Egypt. Countries inthe region include Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya.

    WeatherAlgeria is mostly arid (meaning dry, or not rainy) and semiarid, but the climate changesdepending on location. Along the coasts, the winters are wetter.

    Tunisia has rainy winters and hot summers in the north. The south has a desert climate.

    North Africa Animal Facts

    Ancient rock paintings indicate that large animals such as hippopotamuses and elephantsmay have once lived in North Africa. Today, animals in the region include snakes, scorpions,lizards, gazelles, buzzards, and monkeys called Barbary macaques.

    Other interesting animals that live in the region: Sand cats live in desert areas. God has given them paws

    with fur on the bottom. Their furry paws protect them fromthe hot desert sand.

    Camels have served North Africans faithfully for centuries.Many travelers today use trucks instead of camels fortransportation in desert areas.

    Genets are spotted cat-like animals with very long tails.They eat smaller animals and insects.

    Fennecs are large-eared desert foxes.

    GEOGRAPHY FACTS

    Sand cat

    Fennec

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    HISTORY FACTS

    HistoryBerbers were the first people known to live in the area that is now Algeria and Tunisia. Theregion was later part of the Roman Empire. Arabs arrived in the seventh century, bringingIslam with them.

    Algeria and Tunisia were part of the Barbary Coast, where pirates ruled the seas until theearly 1800s. From the late 1800s until the mid-1900s, France ruled both countries.

    IndependenceTunisia became an independent country in 1957.

    Algeria gained independence in 1962. Since then, Algerians havesuffered from frequent violence, wars, and political unrest.

    Algeria Revolution DayOn Nov. 1, Algerians remember the start of a 20th-century warthat led to the countrys independence from France. OnRevolution Day, families enjoy eating together, going to thebeach, and watching soccer games.

    CarthageAccording to ancient legend, a queen named Dido founded theNorth African city of Carthage. People in the region told Dido shecould have as much land as she could coverwith the hide of one ox.

    According to the legend, Dido cut the hide

    nto thousands of narrow strips and tied theends together to make a very long rope. Therope stretched around a large plot of land,which, according to the story, became thecity of Carthage. Today Carthage is a suburbof Tunis.

    Some People and Places

    That Ruled North AfricaPhoenicians

    CarthageRome

    VandalsByzantines

    ArabsOttoman Turks

    France

    Carthage today

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    HISTORY FACTS

    Punic WarsCarthage fought three wars against Rome called the Punic Wars. The Romans then becamethe rulers of Carthage.

    Do Some Research: Find out when the Punic Wars occurred and how a famousCarthage general named Hannibal used elephants to help him fight.

    PerpetuaRoman rulers persecuted early Christians in Africa. A Christian woman in her 20s namedPerpetua was imprisoned in Carthage with other Christians. Her father, who did not followChrist, begged her to sacrifice to Roman idols as the Roman rulers demanded. Have pity, mdaughter, on my gray hairs! he pleaded.

    Perpetua tried to comfort her father, but she refused to sacrifice to idols. She and her frienin prison died for their faith in Christ in A.D. 203.

    UnrestIn December 2010, Tunisians gathered in the streets to protest against their leaders. TheTunisian government was overthrown. Soon, people in Egypt, Libya, Iraq, Jordan, Yemen, aother Arab countries also began protesting their governments. Christians prayed that thecountries would be led by wise rulers and that radical Muslims would not gain more power.

    Note: Arab refers to people ofthe Arabian Peninsula, or theirdescendants. It can also refer tosomeone whose main languageis Arabic.

    ArabianPeninsula

    SaudiArabia

    Yemen

    Oman

    UAE

    Kuwait

    Qatar

    Bahrain

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    CULTURE FACTS

    Ethnic GroupsBerbers lived in North Africa before traders and raiders came from other regions to settlethere. Over time, the Berbers began to intermarry with other groups, and many adoptedIslam, the Arabic language, and customs of different cultures.

    In Algeria, about one-fifth of the people are Berbers who have not blended in completelywith Arabs. These Berber groups include the Kabyle, Chaouia, Tuaregs, and Mzab. ManyKabyle people have become Christians.

    ClothingMany people in Algeria and Tunisia, especiallythose in cities, wear the same type of

    clothing worn by people in Europe and NorthAmerica. Other North Africans, bothtraditional and modern, may wear variouskinds of robes, cloaks, and capes. Morewomen are starting to wear Muslim headcoverings and gowns that cover them fromhead to toe. Some men wear traditional,close-fitting caps.

    Photos.com

    In many Muslim countries,women wear veils and mendo not. However, theopposite is true among theTuareg people. The menwear veils and the womendo not. The veils cover the

    bottom half of their face.Traditionally, the men alsowear turbans on their heads.

    Tuareg men

    Woman in a traditional

    Muslim veilPhotos.com

    Photos.com

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    Coloring page: Tunisian postage stampColoringpageadaptedbyNao

    miS.

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    CULTURE FACTS

    HousesTraditional North African homes consist of rooms builtaround a central courtyard. Many Algerian homes are madeof whitewashed stones or bricks. Buildings and houses in

    Tunisia are often white with blue trim.

    Berber Cave HomesA very unusual kind of home once built in North Africa is the Berber cave home. To create acave house, builders dug a square or rectangular hole in the ground about 25 feet deep. The

    hole formed the courtyard of the house. Builders then dug away the earth around thecourtyard to make one, two, or three levels of rooms.

    A Berber cave home may have a kitchen, bedrooms, living areas, rooms for animals, and foodstorerooms. Some cave dwellers dug shelves, chairs, beds, and storage compartments out ofthe cave walls.

    The town of Matmata, Tunisia, has severalhundred cave homes and even some cave

    hotels. Some scenes from the movie Star Warswere filmed in Matmata.

    MusicMalouf is a traditional kind of music enjoyed in NorthAfrica. The music is performed by small orchestras ofviolins, drums, sitars, and flutes.

    Rai is a type of popular music in the region. Raimusicians often sing about social problems and issues.

    City of Algiers

    Photos.com

    Photos.com

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    CULTURE FACTS

    SportsAlgerians and Tunisians enjoy soccer, volleyball, and handball.

    Algerian athletes have won Olympic medals in boxing,

    track and field, and judo. Taig Khris, born in Algiers, isknown throughout the world for his skill as an in-lineskater.

    Tunisians have received honors at the Olympics fortrack and field, boxing, and swimming.

    World Cup VisitorsThe World Cup is an international soccertournament held every four years.Athletes from Algeria and Tunisia haveplayed in the tournament. Christiansfrom around the world visit thetournament and try to share the gospelwith athletes and spectators who mayhave never heard about Jesus.

    Muslim missionaries have also worked at

    World Cup events trying to spread Islam.

    A Fun SportChildren in desert areas sliddown sand dunes, using palm

    leaves as sleds.Photos.com

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    Each part of the puzzle below forms a word square. The words read the same vertically (upand down) as horizontally (across). Read the Algeria and Tunisia facts on the previous pages,and then use the clues below and a Bible to help you complete the puzzle. Answers are in theAnswer Key.

    Down(There are no Across clues for this puzzle.)

    ALGERIA & TUNISIA FACTS PUZZLE

    1. Sand ____ have furry paws.

    2. In ____, Tunisia is about the size of Missouri.

    3. The ____ is the region along the northern coast of Algeria.

    4. Matthew 5:13 says, You are the ____ of the earth.

    9. One of the Berber groups is the ____.

    10. The number of green stripes on the Tunisian flag is ____.

    11. Much of Algerias climate is ____.

    12. Hebrews 13:3 says, Remember the prisoners as if chained with them thosewho are mistreated since you yourselves are in the ____ also.

    13. First Corinthians 15:3 says that Christ died for our ____.

    14. Perpetua refused to sacrifice to an ____.

    15. Anyone who has two garments should share with the one who has ____ (Luke 3:11).

    16. Some desert children use a palm leaf as a ___ to slide down sand dunes.

    5. Berbers dug a ____ 25 feet deep to make a cave home.

    6. ____ is a city in Algeria.

    7. A legend says that Dido started Carthage on a large plot of ____.

    8. Dido tied the ____ of ox-hide strips together.

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    9. 10. 11. 12.

    1. 2. 3. 4.

    5. 6. 7. 8.

    13. 14. 15. 16.

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    ColoringpagebyNaomiS.

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    STORIES

    & ACTIVITIES

    BOLD BELIEVERS

    Remember the prisoners as if chained with them those whoare mistreated since you yourselves are in the body also.

    Hebrews13

    :3

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    Soccer VisitorsIn the 1980s, almost everyone in Algeria was Muslim. The Internet wasnt popular yet and fewAlgerians had seen a Bible, so it was difficult for Muslims to learn about Christ. But Christiansn other countries prayed that God would open a door to help Algerians learn the truth as toldn the Bible.

    One day in 1983, a group of Algerian youth noticed some tourists from another country tryingto set up a tent to sleep in. It was a windy place, and they set up the tent the wrong way,said Hassan, one of the Algerians. The wind blew everything over, including the tent and alltheir belongings. We laughed at them and then went over to help them.

    Hassan and his 12 friends began talking with the visitors. The tourists challenged the Algeriansto a soccer match. But the Algerians said their best player was sick in bed with a fever.

    Can we see him? the visitors asked. Wed like to pray for his healing.

    Wed never heard of that, said Hassan. But we thought it was fine. It couldnt hurtanything.

    Prayer for HealingThat night the tourists prayed, and Hassans friend was healed. He played soccer the next

    day. After the game, the Algerians asked the visitors about the prayer. We wanted to knowwho was the Father who healed instantly, Hassan said.

    The tourists answered their questions and told the Algerians about the grace and salvationoffered through faith in Jesus. Then the visitors left.

    I felt that the stories they told were not just stories, but real, said Hassan. It made mewant to leave everything and follow Jesus.

    The tourists were not missionaries. Hassan believes the meeting with the Christians was amiracle. [After that] we cannot count the number of people who came to Christ, he said.We dont know how it happened, just that people came to faith and came to God.

    Praise God for opening a door to reach Algerians for Christ!

    God Opens a Door

    1STORY

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    Activity: Flags and Map

    FlagsPhotocopy the flags below, color them, and cut them out. If desired, glue them to thickpaper or thin cardboard, laminate them with transparent contact paper, and attach a pieceof peel-and-stick magnetic strip to the back to make a refrigerator magnet.

    Algerian Flag:The background of the lehalf is green, the right hais white, and the moon astar are red.

    Tunisian Flag:

    The background, moon,and star are red. The circleis white.

    The crescent moon and star are symbols of Islam.

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    Map of Algeria and TunisiaUsing the map below as a guide, label the following places on the blank map on p. 23: Algeria,Algiers, Tunisia, Tunis, Spain, Italy, Morocco, Western Sahara, Libya, Mali, Niger, Mauritania.

    All the countries on the map except Spain and Italy are more than 85 percent Muslim. Morethan 75 percent of the people in Spain and Italy are Christians, but Islam is growing rapidly.Pray that Christians in all the countries will grow in their faith and that Muslims will open their

    hearts to Jesus.

    Tunis

    Algeria

    Tunisia

    Mauritania

    Niger

    Mali

    Libya

    Morocco

    Western

    Sahara

    Algiers

    Spain

    Italy

    Tunis

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    Algeria

    & Tunisiaand Their Neighbors

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    Madeha was a 13-year-old girl in Algeria. Her olderbrother, Naser, was a bully. He often kicked Madeha,slapped her face, and spoke rudely to her for no reason.Madeha had never known anyone so mean.

    One day, Naser seemed to be playing a new trick on his sister. Hecame to Madeha and said, I have accepted Jesus, whom theChristians believe. He has changed my heart and my ways. Im sorryfor everything Ive done to you. Will you forgive me?

    Madeha did not trust Naser. For one thing, she and her family wereMuslims. It is rare, and often dangerous, for an Algerian Muslim tobecome a Christian. Also, Madeha didnt believe that anyone as

    mean as her brother could really change.

    After many days, Naser had still not hurt or insulted Madeha, and she realized her brotherhad really changed. Madeha then began to seek the God who had given her brother a newheart. Naser shared the Good News of Jesus with Madeha, and she trusted Christ as her Lordand Savior.

    Trusting GodMadeha knew her Muslim father would never allow her to meet with other Algerian

    Christians. So she listened to Christian radio programs and sometimes wrote letters to thestations that broadcast the programs. She was able to get a Bible, and she read it whenevershe had the opportunity. She continued to follow Jesus, trusting that he knew hercircumstances and would help her through them.

    Pray for Madeha and other Algerian Christians who love Jesus. Pray that their families willalso seek and find the truth.

    Teen Follows J esus in Spite of Risks

    2STORY

    An Algerian girl

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    Activity: North Africa Dominoes Game

    Dominoes is a popular game in North Africa. The game pieces are tiles that are divided in haby a line. Dots on each side of the line represent numbers.

    You can play a different kind of dominoes using symbols that represent animals found inNorth Africa. Photocopy the dominoes on the following page on thick paper or cardboar

    and cut them apart on the dark solid lines. (Dont cut the lighter lines on each domino.)

    1 2 3 4 5 6

    scorpion jerboa genet sand cat camel gazelle

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    InstructionsThe dominoes are placed face down on a table and moved around to mix them up. Eachplayer chooses seven dominoes. If there are more than three players, each chooses fourdominoes. The players hold or hide the dominoes so other players cant see the pictures onthem.

    The first player puts one domino right side up on the table. If the next player has a domino

    that matches one of the pictures or a blank space of the domino on the table, he or sheplaces the matching side of the domino next to the played domino.

    Dominoes are placed end to end in a straight line unless a double is played. Doubles aredominoes with the same picture on both sides. These dominoes are placed at a right angle the previous domino, with the center line pointing toward the middle of the previousdomino.

    Additional players continue the game in the same way. When a player has no domino thatmatches one of the pictures on the table, he or she picks a domino from the pile on the tabIf the player still doesnt have a match, the next player takes a turn.

    The first player to use up all of his or her dominoes is the winner. If no one runs out ofdominoes, the player with the fewest dominoes left wins.

    Variation: Make your own domino game using the following names of North African foods the tiles: couscous, dates, fruit, samsa, baklava, chakchouka.

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    Born AgainRaymond Lull was born into a rich family in 1232 on the island of Majorca (muh-YOR-kuh).He was known for having a sharp mind and for being a good writer.

    When Raymond became a young man, he went to Spain to work in the court of a king. He gotmarried there and had children. But he did not know Jesus, and for years he lived a sinful life.

    At the age of 32, Raymond repented of his sins and gave his life to Jesus! He longed only toserve his Lord and Savior. Most of all, Raymond wanted to reach Muslims for Christ.

    Loving MuslimsDuring the 11th to 13th centuries, groups of Christians from Europe armed themselves and

    marched to Jerusalem tofi

    ght Muslims and Jews. The Christians were called Crusaders, andtheir wars were called the Crusades.

    Raymond hoped to win Muslims to Christ through love and prayer instead of driving theirreligion out of these areas through fighting. For almost 10 years, he studied Arabic, theanguage spoken in many Muslim countries. He learned everything he could about Islam, and

    he strengthened his knowledge of Christianity.

    A Change of Heart

    At age 55, Raymond believed he was finally ready to go to NorthAfrica to share Christ with Muslims. He loaded his belongings on aship, and his friends gathered around the ship to tell him goodbye.

    But then Raymond thought about how the Muslims in North Africahated Christians. He worried that they might attack him for sharingthe gospel. Raymond was scared. He got off the ship, and it sailedaway without him.

    Raymond Lull: Missionary to Muslims

    3STORY

    A minaret is a tower on a mosque. Mostminarets around the world are rounded, butsquare minarets are common in North Africa.

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    TunisRaymond was ashamed that he had lethis fear stop him from doing what Godhad called him to do. When the nextship came to take passengers to Tunis,in North Africa, Raymond got on it.

    In Tunis, Raymond invited someMuslims to hold a public debate withhim. The debate was about thedifferences between Islam andChristianity. Some of the Muslims believed whatRaymond said about Jesus. But other Muslims threwrocks at him, put him in prison, and told him to leave the country.

    Back to Africa

    Raymond left Tunis, but he returned to Africa when he was 75.This time, he invited Muslims to a public meeting at a locationnear Algiers.

    Raymond said something in his speeches that made the Muslimsangry. First he taught the listeners that the Ten Commandmentsare the law of God. Then he said that Muhammad, the founder ofIslam, broke all 10 of them. He read parts of Muslim books that hesaid proved his point.

    Soon Raymond was in trouble with the Muslims again. They senthim back to prison for several months before he went back hometo Europe.

    A Final VisitRaymond again returned to North Africa when he was over 80 years old. On this trip, he hathe joy of bringing some Muslims to Christ. But then he was dragged out of town andattacked by his enemies. He died soon after the attack, faithful to his Savior to the end.

    Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Revelation 2:10)(Sources: From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya by Ruth Tucker, and On This Day by Robert J. Morgan)

    Most missionaries today try not to insult the faith of people they hope tobring to Christ. One thing that is often helpful in witnessing to unbelievers ishaving a personal testimony to share. See Preparing a Testimony in theactivity after this story.

    Tunis to

    Raymond Lull

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    Activities: Preparing a Testimony and Muslim Facts

    Preparing a TestimonyPhotocopy the following questions about your life as a Christian. Then answer the questionsand add other remarks that you might want to share with others. You may want to keep acopy of the testimony in your Bible so you can review and update it from time to time.Practice reading your answers aloud. As you gain confidence, share your testimony with a

    family member, pastor, or friend for practice.

    When did you become a Christian? What led you to the Lord?

    What are some of the things God has done for you in your life?

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    What is the best thing about being a Christian?

    What are some of your favorite promises in the Bible? (Examples of biblical promises can bfound in Philippians 4:13, Psalm 27:1, Matthew 25:3440, Hebrews 4:16, and Matthew 6:33.)

    What is one time when you, your family, or your friends saw how God faithfully keeps hispromises?

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    Muslim Facts

    Differences Between Islam and ChristianityRaymond Lull learned about Islam and strengthened his knowledge of his own Christian faithbefore ministering among Muslims. Read the information below to learn about some of thedifferences between Islam and Christianity.

    SOME DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MUSLIM AND CHRISTIAN BELIEFS

    Muslim Beliefs Christian Beliefs

    The Father Muslims do not believe that Allah is afather to humans (Quran 5:18). TheQuran does not say that Allah seeksto redeem those lost in sin or that he

    loves sinners (Quran 4:107).

    God is a loving heavenly Father. Heloved us first, even while we werestill sinners. He sent Jesus to save us(Romans 5:8, 2 Corinthians 6:18,

    1 John 4:19).

    The Word Muslims believe that Allah revealedhis word to Muhammad through anangel. The words are in the Muslimsholy book, the Quran.

    Gods word is a person, Jesus Christ,who reveals God to us and providesbelievers in him a way to becomechildren of God (John 1:114).

    The Son Many verses in the Quran say Jesus is

    not the Son of God (Quran 37:152).

    Jesus is the Son of God (John 3:16,

    Matthew 3:17).

    Sin Muslims believe that people are bornsinless. They do not seek a Savior.They depend on their own goodworks to please Allah, who theyhope will forgive their sins.

    Christians believe that sin is part ofhuman life (Romans 5:12). Christ diedfor our sins to bring us to God(1 Peter 3:18). By the grace of Godthrough faith in Jesus Christ, peoplecan be forgiven of the sins thatseparate them from God(Ephesians 2:8).

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    Muslim Beliefs Christian Beliefs

    Forgiveness Muslims believe they can do gooddeeds to cancel out bad deeds(Quran 11:114). They believe they can

    ask Allah to forgive their sins, butAllah may or may not forgive them.

    Christians believe all sin is displeasinto God, whether or not it isbalanced by good deeds

    (Romans 6:23). But the Bible says,If we confess our sins, he is faithfuand just to forgive us our sins and tcleanse us from allunrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

    Eternity Muslims believe Allah will judgeeveryone on Judgment Day. If theyhave done enough good deeds, they

    believe they will go to paradise andbe saved from hell.

    Christians believe all fall short ofGods standard. God sent Jesus toredeem the lost from sin so that

    those who believe in him may haveeternal life (Romans 3:2225).

    SOME DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MUSLIM AND CHRISTIAN BELIEFS

    The Bible says, Salvation is found in no one else [but Jesus], for there is no other nameunder heaven by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12, NIV).

    Muslim Fact Cards

    Photocopy the following Muslim fact cards on cardstock or thick paper, and cut them aparton the solid lines. Use the cards to guide your prayers for Muslims. For example, the card thsays, The Muslim holy book is called the Quran might prompt you to pray as follows:

    Dear God, please protect Christians who risk taking Bibles into strict Muslim countriewhere the government tries to keep Bibles out. We pray that Muslims in thosecountries will have the opportunity to read your Word. In Jesus name, Amen.

    Another card says Muslims do not believe that Allah loves sinners.

    That card might lead you to pray something like this:

    Dear God, thank you for loving all people, even while weare still sinners. Thank you for sending Jesus to save us.Please send workers to share this good news with Muslims.In Jesus name, Amen.

    You may want to write prayer ideas on the back of the cards.

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    A Muslim is someone who follows theteachings of the religion called Islam.

    Muslims do not believe that forgiveness ofones enemies is required by Allah. TheQuran tells Muslims that it is good toforgive someone who wrongs them butthat it is also acceptable to take revenge

    (Quran Chapter 42, verses 3743). Chapter24 tells Muslims to forgive relatives andother Muslims, while 2:179 and 22:60 speakof revenge. Jesus tells us to love andforgive our enemies (Matthew 5:3847 and18:2122).

    The Muslim holy book is called the Quran.Muslims say they respect some Jewish andChristian holy books. But in many ways,the Quran does not agree with the Bible.Muslims are falsely taught that the Bibleused to be true but that Christianschanged it.

    Muslims worship Allah. They believe theycan know about Allah but cannot knowhim personally as a loving father. They donot believe that Allah loves sinners, asChristians believe about the God of theBible.

    Muslims do not believe Jesus is the Son ofGod. The Quran makes it clear that Muslimsbelieve Jesus was just a prophet. Christiansbelieve, For God so loved the world thathe gave his one and only Son, that whoever

    believes in him shall not perish but haveeternal life (John 3:16).

    Muslims do not believe that Jesus wascrucified. Many Muslims believe Allahsubstituted someone else on the cross andtook Jesus to heaven before he died.Christians believe, Christ died for our sins

    according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians15:3; also see Philippians 2:8).

    Photos.com

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    It is difficult for Muslims to understand howJesus death on a cross could be a victory.They believe such a death would be adisgrace and a failure. Christians know thatwe can have victory over sin and death

    because Jesus died, was buried, and roseagain on the third day(1 Corinthians 15:5657).

    Muslims do not believe that people aresaved by the grace of God through faith inJesus, as Christians believe. Muslims believthey are saved by doing good deeds rathethan bad ones. The Quran tells about scale

    used to weigh good deeds on JudgmentDay. Christians believe that no one can doenough good works to deserve eternal life(Ephesians 2:89).

    Muhammad is considered to be thefounder of Islam. He fled from the city ofMecca to Medina to escape persecution.This event, called the Hejira [hih-JYE-ruh], isimportant in Muslim history. The Muslimcalendar starts from the year of the Hejira.The year 622 on our calendar is the year 1on the Muslim calendar.

    The Muslim calendar has 12 months of 29 o30 days each. A year is 354 days long. Theninth month, Ramadan, is a special monthfor Muslims. During Ramadan, olderchildren and adults fast from sunrise tosunset and many Muslims try to read theQuran from beginning to end.

    Besides observing Ramadan, Muslimsbelieve they should recite memorizedprayers five times a day according to strictrules, give money to the poor, and take aspecial trip to Mecca at least once if they

    are able. They must also recite, There is nogod but Allah, and Muhammad is hismessenger. These five duties are calledthe Five Pillars of Islam.

    A mosque is a building whereMuslims worship.

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    School in North Africa

    4STORYDinaDina is a 12-year-old girl in Algeria. Most of the children at her school areMuslims. The teacher does not treat her fairly, said Dinas mother. Thechildren call her dog or traitor.

    Dina is often confused by the Muslim teachings she learns at school. Shemakes me teach her again what the Bible says, said her mother. I tell herwhy Jesus is our Savior and how Jesus lived.

    Please pray that we will have the opportunity to live as Christians notonly at church but everywhere.

    ProblemIn northern Africa, Christian parents of preschoolers have a problem. They want to send theirchildren to preschool, but most preschools teach only Islam. The children are taught Muslimprayers, Muslim verses, and Muslim ways of life. Most children do not have the opportunityto go to one of the few Christian preschools or kindergartens.

    LoveIn Muslim schools, they teach students to love only Muslims andto hate Christians, said a Christian parent in Algeria. In a

    Christian school, they teach students to love God and all people.

    ClassesQuestion: What subjects do Algerian students take

    in elementary school?Ichtuss, a Christian in Algeria: Geography, history, Muslim education,

    sports, drawing, crafts, French, Arabic, basic accounting, and music.

    Question: What subjects do they take in secondary school?Ichtuss: It depends on sections. We have science, exact science,humanities, management, and technical sections. I was in the humansciences section. We studied philosophy, mathematics, science,geography, history, sports, Islam, Arabic, French, and English.

    Algerian school

    children

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    Special TreatmentOussama is a 10-year-old Christian boy in North Africa who has one brother and one sister.Most of the children in their school are Muslims.

    Sometimes the teachers give the Muslim children extra school supplies, but the Christianchildren dont get any. Muslim children also take field trips that are not open to Christianstudents.

    He is taught at school that Christ is not the Son of God, said Oussamas father. At anytime, the teacher can ask him to repeat verses from the Quran. He is taught about Muslimlaws, Muslim history, and fighting non-Muslims. He learns about the sanction of the grave.

    Pray for us so we will stay firm in our faith.

    Question: What does the sanction ofthe grave mean?

    North African Christian who used to be a Muslim:The sanction of the grave is a Muslim teaching.Muslim teachers taught us about all kinds of terrors,some that happen when the body is in the tomb.When we were young, the fear of death had a strongplace in our hearts.

    But let me shout this: Hallelujah! We haveovercome death through Jesus Christ who wasraised from the dead forever!

    Hebrews 2:1415 (NIV) says, Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in theirhumanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power ofdeaththat is, the devil and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear death.

    Yacoub

    Yacoub is a 10-year-old boy who lives with his Christian family in North Africa. He does notlike to memorize verses from the Muslim holy book, the Quran. But at school, he has tolearn them.

    Yacoub and his family hope to move to Canada so he can go to school there.

    Algerian

    children

    working ona clay craft

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    MohamedMohamed, a Christian in Algeria, said Christian kids facedifficulties in school. They have to hide their beliefs,especially during classes about Islam. Of course later theyhave to face their Muslim friends, who ask them what theybelieve about the teaching and about Christianity. If theChristians answer their friends questions, the Muslimsaccuse them of proselytism.

    Proselytism means trying to get someone to change his orher beliefs. Proselytism is against the law in Algeria andTunisia.

    I am scared when I have to face Muslims, said Mohamed. God gives me strengthwhen I think about the cross. My Christian friends pray for me, listen to me, and helpme. I see many things changing after prayer.

    IlyesIlyes is a Christian in Algeria. He first read the Bible when he was 18 years old. Ithought it was something strange and powerful, he said. I was fed up with Islam,and I was searching for another way. The only Christians at school were newbelievers who used to be Muslims.

    Christians at school are isolated because they are a minority. If a child wants to find

    out about Jesus, he can ask a Christian friend or watch a Christian program on TV.

    Its possible to lose your job if you are a Christian. Two of my friends have alreadylost their jobs.

    God helps me obey him and share the gospel.SanayaSanaya is a Christian youth inTunisia. I am scared here, shesaid. But God is my protector.

    Christian students in schoolhere are always afraid.

    Muslim adults challenge mewith questions. But I dont haveanswers about many things inthe Bible.

    I read the Bible in Arabic.

    Psalms is my favorite book.

    A scene from an Arabic

    Bible storybook

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    Activity: Mosaics

    North Africa was once ruled by the Romans,and Roman artists left beautiful mosaicsthroughout the region. (A mosaic is a picture ordesign made of small pieces of ceramic tile,glass, stone, or other materials.) The Bardo

    Museum in Tunisia is noted for its collection ofRoman mosaics.

    Tile MosaicNeeded: Paper; cardboard; three or four colors of thin, vinyl floor tiles; pencils; heavy scissocraft glue if desired.

    Instructions: Draw a large, regular hexagon or octagon on a piece of paper. (A hexagon hassix sides of equal length, and an octagon has eight sides of equal length.) Using a pencil todraw on the paper, divide the hexagon or octagon into large shapes such as triangles,chevrons, and trapezoids. Decide which color of floor tile you will use for each shape. (Youmay want to draw your pattern on an additional sheet of paper to help you remember it.)Then, cut out the paper shapes, and use them as patterns to cut shapes out of the floortiles with heavy scissors. Remove the backing from the tile pieces, and stick the shapes tothick cardboard in the same pattern that you drew on the paper. If desired, leave a little

    space between the shapes and fill the spaces with craft glue so the design will look morelike a real mosaic.

    octagonhexagon

    Roman ruins in Alge

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    CD and Foam MosaicNeeded: Discarded CDs or DVDs, cardboard or thick paper,pencils, sheets of peel-and-stick craft foam in a variety ofcolors, glue.

    Instructions: Trace two circles on the cardboard or paperusing a discarded CD or DVD as a pattern. Cut out the circles.

    Using a pencil to draw on one circle, divide it into shapes thatcover the entire surface. (The smaller you make the shapes,the more difficult it may be to place the pieces in the right placeon your mosaic.)

    Cut out the shapes. Using them as patterns, cut shapes out of sheets of peel-and-stick craftfoam in a variety of colors. Stick the shapes on the other cardboard circle in the same patternand design that you drew with the pencil. Glue the cardboard onto the CD or DVD.

    Note: Soccer is the most popular sport in Algeria and Tunisia. To make a soccer-ball mosaic,draw and cut out shapes in the pattern of a soccer ball.

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    Augustine was born in North Africa when the region was ruled by Romans.He was a disobedient child, breaking rules and skipping schoolregardless of how much he was punished. As a teenager, hewent to church with his mother, Monica. But he spent more time

    looking at the girls than he did learning about God.

    Monica prayed for Augustine constantly. She continued to prayfor him as his behavior got worse. Augustine admitted that heonce prayed, God make me pure but not yet!

    After many years, Monicas prayers were answered. God ledAugustine to read Romans 13:1314, which warns againstdrunkenness and immoral living. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ,

    the passage says. Augustine gave his life to Christ when he was32 years old.

    Fighting False IdeasAugustine became a church leader in Hippo, a city in the area that is now Tunisia. He spentthe last 40 years of his life fighting false ideas that were leading people away from the truth

    Rome was a great power that ruled many lands. But in Augustines time, the city had a lot oproblems. Some people incorrectly blamed all the problems on Christians. In his book The Cof God, Augustine explained that God is in control of history and that countries that do nothonor God will not last forever.

    Augustine died in A.D. 430.

    Augustine of Hippo

    STORY

    An Algerian postage stamp

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    Activity: Fighting False Ideas

    Instructions: Read the three false ideas and three sets of Bible verses below, and figure outwhich set of Bible verses refutes each false idea. (To refute something is to prove it wrong.)In the blank after each false idea, write the letter of the Bible verse set that refutes the idea.Answers are in the Answer Key.

    One of the false ideas in Augustines day was that people will go to heaven if they do enoughgood things, no matter what they believe. ____

    Before he became a Christian, Augustine belonged to a group that taught, Knowledge is theonly way to salvation. ____

    Some people think all opinions are equally good and that they cannot be right or wrong.They think religions such as Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism are equally fine becausepeoples beliefs are their opinions, which cannot be right or wrong. People do not need tofollow one particular path to find truth. ____

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    Bible Verses

    Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. (1 Corinthians 8:1b)

    And though I have the giftof prophecy, and understand all mysteries and allknowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, buthave not love, I am nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:2)

    At that time Jesus said, I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, becauseyou have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to lit-tle children. (Matthew 11:25, NIV)

    For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes inHim should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

    He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned al-ready, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:1

    For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift ofGod, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:89)

    Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father excepthrough Me. (John 14:6)

    [Jesus said], I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and ouand find pasture. (John 10:9)

    And He [Christ] came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who wernear. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. (Ephesians 2:1718

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    Praying Before the J udge

    6STORYA Christian from Algeria told the following story about whathappened after she left Islam to follow Christ.

    After I became a Christian, my family reported me to the police.

    One morning, the police took me to court. The [Muslim] judgeasked me, What did you find in Islam that you didnt like?

    I answered, I was looking for God in Islam and I didnt find him.

    Then the judge asked, What do Christians say when they pray?Maybe he was trying to trap me. I tried to explain, but he stilldidnt understand.

    Where do you pray? When do you pray? he asked.

    We can pray anytime and anywhere, I answered.

    Can you pray now? he asked.

    Yes, I said.

    Okay, pray, said the judge.

    I stood before him and raised my hands and started to pray. I knew that my prayer would bean opportunity to give a message of salvation. I began, Thank you, Jesus, because we aresinners and you died for us.

    It took 10 minutes to finish my prayer. I prayed that God would bless the president of Algeria.I prayed for the people in the court to see the salvation of Christ. When I said, Amen, theofficials in the court looked at each other. They were speechless.

    The judge said to me, This case is dismissed. You can go home.

    For DiscussionWhy do you think the judge and the people in the court were speechless after the womanprayed? Do you think they were surprised that she prayed for the president and otherMuslims even though Muslims had persecuted her?

    Muslims say memorizedprayers five times a day atcertain times of the day.

    Algerian woman

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    Read Matthew 5:4345. Did the woman obey what Jesus said in those verses?

    1 Timothy 2:14 says, Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessionand giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we malead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptabin the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledof the truth.

    How did the woman in Algeria obey this Bible passage? According to this passage, why showe pray for those in authority?

    Activity: Pray for Algeria

    and TunisiaUse the following 30 prayer boxes to helpyou pray for Algeria and Tunisia. You maywant to photocopy the page, cut out theboxes, and glue or tape them on acalendar. You can also photocopy them onsticker paper and attach them to a

    calendar. If you prefer, you can put thesquares in a box or basket and draw oneout for prayer at daily meals or devotions.

    Photos.com

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    Pray that allchildren in Algeria

    and Tunisia willknow that Jesus

    loves them.

    Pray thatpolicemen who

    question Christianswill be led to seek

    Christ.

    The governmenthas closed some

    churches in Algeria.Pray that Christians

    will continue tomeet.

    Pray that Christianswho dont live nearother believers willfeel Gods nearness

    to them.

    Berbers areabout one-fifth

    of Algeriaspopulation. ThankGod that many arecoming to Christ.

    The governmentsof Algeria and

    Tunisia dont allowproselytizing. Pray

    that all will hearthe gospel.

    Pray that entirefamilies will cometo Christ and thatChristians will not

    be rejected byrelatives.

    Pray that NorthAfricans love ofmusic will leadthem to truth.

    Ask God tocomfort Christians

    who go to jailfor witnessing

    about him.

    Pray that terroristswill stop using

    violence to try tochange things.

    Pray that theleaders of Algeria

    and Tunisia will rulefairly and lovewisdom.

    Unemployment ishigh in North

    Africa. Pray thatpeoples dailyneeds will be met.

    Pray that Christianyoung people will

    be able tofi

    ndother Christians tomarry.

    Many youngpeople leave North

    Africa tofi

    nd jobs.Pray that they willalso find Jesus.

    Ask God to comfortcongregations

    whose churcheshave been burnedby radical Muslims.

    Pray that Christianchildren will not be

    confused byMuslim teachings

    at school.

    Muslims whodecide to follow

    Christ lose friends.Ask God to healtheir loneliness.

    Christians giveBibles to NorthAfrican Muslims

    who visit Europe.Pray they will read

    the Bibles.

    Pray that NorthAfrican

    governments willbe wise in dealing

    with radicalMuslims.

    Ask God to protectMuslims who

    become Christiansfrom those whothreaten them.

    Pray that importantgovernment

    officials will cometo Christ.

    Muslims try to earntheir way to

    heaven by doinggood works. Pray

    they will knowJesus is the way.

    Pray that moreNorth Africans willlearn about Jesusfrom TV and the

    Internet.

    North African folkMuslims believe insuperstitions. Praythey will follow the

    truth.

    Pray that athleteswho visit other

    countries forathletic events will

    meet Christianfriends.

    Algeria has had aviolent history.Pray for peace.

    Pray for churchesthat have difficulty

    getting therequired

    registration fromthe government.

    Pray that Christiantourists in Tunisia

    will encourageMuslims to seek

    Jesus.

    Pray thatpersecuted

    Christians in Algeriaand Tunisia will

    forgive theirpersecutors.

    Pray that Tunisiansand Algerians willget Bibles in their

    language.

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    Christians in Buses, Trains, and Cars

    STORYA Long Bus RideGerard is a Christian worker in Algeria. He was reading on a bus one day when police stoppethe driver at a checkpoint. The police searched Gerards bag and found a Bible. Then theybegan to curse him.

    This is my faith, Gerard told a policeman. This is what I believe. The officer spat on him.

    Everyone on the bus saw what happened, so they found out that Gerard was a Christian. Fothe rest of the bus ride, they insulted him. All of them started to say bad things, Gerardsaid. I hoped that the long bus ride would soon end.

    No one on the bus hurt Gerard, but he has been beaten for his faith before. He continues totrust in Christ. Even if they arrest or beat me, they cannot come into my mind and changemy mind, he said.

    Another SearchA student at a secret Bible school was stopped in her car at a government checkpoint inAlgeria. When soldiers found Bible study materials in her bag, they arrested her.

    Gospel Train RideSometimes Christians in North Africa are scared to talk to Muslims about Jesus. The Muslim

    could report or attack them for sharing their faith.

    A Christian teacher found a way to encourage his Christian students to witness for Jesus,even in public! The teacher took the students to a city seven hours away by train. Thestudents sat in the back of the train car to watch and learn. Then the teacher played his guiand sang Christian music.

    When Muslim passengers complained, the teacher said that he was singing about Godbecause of what God had done in his life. The passengers were curious and began to ask him

    questions about God and Jesus.

    By the time the train ride ended, the teacher had witnessed to many Muslims. The studentslearned a new way to share the gospel, and their desire to talk to Muslims about Jesus grew

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    Activity: Food and Drink

    CouscousCouscous (koos-koos), made from semolina wheat, is a common food in North Africa.Algerians and Tunisians pile couscous in the middle of a platter, then put meat, vegetables,and sauce on top. North African main dishes are often spicy hot.

    Try Dessert CouscousYou can make a delicious dessert with couscous, too. Cook thecouscous. Then mix it with honey, cinnamon, or almonds. Orsprinkle dates and figs on top.

    Delightful DrinksMint tea, fruit juices, and carrot juice are popular drinks in North Africa. Sometimes differentflavors of fruit juices are mixed together to create a new flavor.

    More Treats to Try

    Sahlab A DessertDissolve cup of cornstarch in 13cup of water in a bowl. Then pour 1 cups of milk into asaucepan and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat, and stir in cup of honey. Stir while addingthe cornstarch mixture, and continue stirring until the milk becomes almost as thick aspudding. Pour into individual serving containers and top with chopped walnuts (optional) andcinnamon (optional).

    Chakchouka An Egg DishHeat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Saut 1 cup of choppedonions and 1 teaspoon of minced garlic in the oil until the onions are clear.

    Add 1 14-ounce can of diced tomatoes (not drained), 1 cup of chopped green bell peppers,and cup of chopped red bell peppers, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for10 minutes.

    Make 4 dents in the pepper mixture with a spoon. If too much liquid remains, remove someof it with a tablespoon.

    Crack an egg and pour it into one of the dents. Repeat with 3 more eggs. Cover the pan with aid and simmer about 10 minutes until the eggs are completely cooked. Add salt and pepper

    to taste.

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    Khchaf A DrinkPut 2 cinnamon sticks in a saucepan with 4 cups of water.Bring to a boil. Add cup of raisins and 4 teaspoons ofhoney, reduce the heat, and simmer for 15 minutes.Remove the pan from the heat and take out the cinnamonsticks and raisins. Serve cold.

    Samsa A PastryMix cup of chopped almonds, 1 teaspoon of grated orange peel, 1 teaspoon of groundcinnamon, and 3 tablespoons of sugar. Set aside.

    Mix 1 cups of water and cup of sugar in a saucepan. Stir over medium heat until the sugis dissolved. Stir in 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and continue stirring until the mixture beginto thicken like syrup. Remove from the heat.

    Remove one sheet of dough from a filo package, and cover the rest of the sheets or returnthem to the package so they do not dry out. Brush the sheet with olive oil and cut itlengthwise into three strips.

    Put about one tablespoon of the almond mixture in the

    center of the bottom end of one strip. Make a pocketby folding the bottom sides of the strip on top ofthe mixture; then roll the strip up from thebottom to the top. Seal the roll shut with a littlebit of oil on the end. Repeat until the almondmixture is gone. Brush the rolled-up pastrieswith oil. Bake them for 10 to 15 minutes at 350degrees on a baking sheet. Scoop them into thesugar water mixture with a spatula or large spoon,

    and let them set for a minute or two. Remove themand put chopped almonds on top. Cool before serving.

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    Rami: A Tunisian Believer

    8STORYRami tried to be a good Muslim. He fasted during Ramadan,studied the Quran, and followed Muslim rules. But the morehe tried to follow Islam, the less happy he grew.

    Rami gave up trying to be good and even quit prayingMuslim prayers. Then one day, he met an American Christianat a rock concert. Rami and the Christian talked about Islamand Christianity, and the Christian invited Rami to church. Hebegan comparing the teachings in the Bible with those in theQuran. After a year of study, he decided to follow Jesus!

    Life as a New ChristianRamis friends were no longer friendly to him, and his family was ashamed of his faith.

    People would come to me on the road and say, Is it true that you became a Christian? Becareful, that is not good! Rami said.

    Rami explained that he had become a Christian because he realized that he needed a Savior.But many Muslims did not listen to him. When Rami offered one Muslim a Bible, the man saidto Rami, You are stupid! You are a donkey!

    Police officers and other government officials asked him lots of questions. An official warnedRami, There are not many Christians in Tunisia. You will not be able to find a girl to be yourwife.

    Rami thinks the government of Tunisia might be afraid of Christians. They may thinkChristians and Muslims will start fighting each other. He told the officials that they should notfear Christians.

    I told them as Christians, we have to love each other, said Rami. We have to love

    everyone; we have to love our enemies. We have to forgive everyone who makes evil againstus, and we dont do evil.

    No matter what happens, Rami said he will continue to share his faith in Christ. God has apurpose for his church in Tunisia, Rami said. We just need to leave it in Gods hands.

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    Activity: Language

    Algeria and Tunisia Language Facts Most of the people in Algeria and Tunisia speak Arabic.

    France used to be in control of Algeria and Tunisia. As a result, many people in theregion speak French.

    Students may study Arabic, French, and English in school.

    There is more than one kind of Arabic. Classical Arabic is the language of the Muslimholy book, the Quran. Standard Arabic is used in government offices and newspapersTunisian Arabic and Algerian Arabic are spoken in homes and among friends.

    Tunisian Arabic is sometimes called Tunsi or Darija. Algerian Arabic may also becalled Darija.

    Tunisian Arabic and Algerian Arabic include words borrowed from French and otherlanguages.

    Tamazight is a language spoken by manyBerbers in Algeria. (For more information aboutBerbers, read Ethnic Groups in the CultureFacts section at the front of the book.)Tamazight may also be called Kabyle.

    We recently paid for the translationand printing of a Kabyle Bible. TheKabyle people live mainly in easternAlgeria. Although they are allowed tohave churches, they are persecuted.Several of their churches wererecently ordered to close.

    Some of the Kabyle boldly share thegospel with their Muslim countrymenwho speak Arabic. We provide ArabicBibles for Christians and Muslimsthroughout North Africa.(Source: The Voice of the Martyrs January 2012newsletter, edited for clarity)

    A sign in Algeria written in Arabic,

    French, and English.

    Ph

    oto

    s .c

    om

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    Writing from Right to LeftUnlike English, Arabic is written from right to left instead of from left to right. Try to copy thefollowing English words, but start on the right side of the blanks provided and write thewords from right to left.

    LoveAlgeria

    Now try copying the Arabic words below from right to left. The words say, Praise theLord (pronounced mahg-dah lah rahp).

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    An Impossible Task

    Hamid and his wife, Imane, are Kabyle Christians who would like all Algerians tohave the opportunity to learn about Jesus. (Read more about the Kabyle peoplein the previous story.) They left their village to go to a part of Algeria where it is hard tospread the gospel.

    Hamid said, The first feeling we had when wesaw the area was, What are we doing here? Theare a lot of mosques out there.

    Hamid and Imane began to hold prayer meetingin their house. At first, only the two of them camto the meetings. Then three members of a churfor foreigners began to come. (Foreigners are

    people from another country.) After their thirdmeeting, the police showed up and took Hamidthe police station.

    I spent the whole day with them in their policestation, said Hamid. The police told Hamid tostop holding his prayer meetings.

    Days later, Hamid and Imane were awakened in the night by crashing noises. Muslims were

    throwing cups, glasses, and rocks at their house church.

    Another time, Imane and another Christian woman were attacked while waiting for a bus inthe city. About 20 Muslim youth began shouting at them and throwing trash at them.

    Imane wondered if their task to spread the gospel among Muslims was impossible. ThenGod told me in Acts 18:9, Do not be afraid, keep on speaking, do not be silent, said Imane

    A Rooftop Prayer Is AnsweredAfter three years of struggles with the police and Muslim mobs, Hamid and Imane werediscouraged. They climbed up on their roof and knelt to pray. They told God they needed fivArabs to come to Jesus by the end of the year.

    STORY

    Burned Bible at a church destroyed by Muslimsin Algeria

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    A few months later, an Arab walked up to their gate. Im a Muslim, he said. I want to knowmore about Christ. Within three months, five Arabs had given their lives to Christ!

    Their little prayer meeting grew to a church congregation of about 40 people. Members cametogether for Bible studies, baptisms, and training for new believers. The police stoppedbothering them.

    Please pray for our protection, and pray that Arab believers who are with us now will beencouraged and share their faith with others, said Hamid.

    God Solves Another Impossible

    ProblemAmira lives in Algeria with her husband andfour children. Her husband was fired from his

    job for telling others about Jesus. They had noway to buy food for themselves and theirchildren. It looked like the end of everythingfor us, said Amira.

    Amira prayed for Gods help. She told God thatthe only skill she had was baking bread. Aftershe prayed, she felt that God was leading her to bake and sell bread. But Amira had only afew pennies left.

    Trusting God, she bought yeast and oil and made three loaves of bread. She sold two ofthem and bought more ingredients. A year later, she was baking and selling so much breadthat she hired three more Christian women to work for her.

    I never dreamed of this, she said. I remember Jesus said, I will be with you till the endof the ages. I am so encouraged; he is always with us.

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    Activity: Make a Berber Cave Home

    Read Berber Cave Homes in the Culture Facts section at the front of this book.

    Remove the lid of a shoe box and cut the box in half lengthwise. Turn the halves upside dowto make two cave rooms. Set them side by side and cut doors in the inside wall of each tomake a connecting opening. Surround the boxes with stacked pillows, books, or other item

    to form a hole in which to set the boxes. Make furniture or supplies for the rooms out of claplastic interlocking building blocks, or smaller boxes.

    If desired, add other shoe-box cave rooms so that all the rooms form a square around anopen courtyard. Stack other rooms on top if you want a two- or three-level home. Make acardboard ladder reaching from the lowest level to the ground level above. Add scenery,people, and animals made from cardboard, clay, or plastic.

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    13. 14. 15. 16.

    S I N S

    I D O L

    N O N E

    S L E D

    9. 10. 11. 12.

    M Z A B

    Z E R O

    A R I D

    B O D Y

    5. 6. 7. 8.

    H O L E

    O R A N

    L A N D

    E N D S

    1. 2. 3. 4.

    C A T S

    A R E A

    T E L L

    S A L T

    Answer Key

    Algeria and Tunisia Facts Puzzle

    Fighting False Ideas

    False Idea 1: B

    False Idea 2: A

    False Idea 3: C


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