Out of a population of over 38 million, 33,000 people in Morocco claim to be Christians. As we consider the Church today, we can gain insight by looking back in history to see how and when the gospel was first brought to Moroccans. So, how did Morocco get to this point?
How Was the Gospel Brought to Morocco?
Long before the Middle East and North Africa were known as the Muslim world, there were Christians in Morocco. Around the 2nd century AD, missionaries and immigrants first brought Christianity to Morocco when it was part of the Roman Empire. Soon after, many Moroccans became Christians, especially slaves and farmers.
During the 7th century AD, Muhammad—the founder of Islam—grew political influence and started building an empire. This led to the Arab Conquests, as Muslim Arab armies from Saudi Arabia invaded numerous countries, including Morocco. Along with their control, these armies brought Islam to Morocco.
The word Islam means submission to the will of God. Moroccans soon realized that Islam is a religion that forces its people to submit and give up their cultures and religions. As religious persecution grew under Arab rule, the Christian population drastically decreased.
What Does the Church Look Like Today?
Today, Morocco is still a Muslim nation under the rule of an Islamic monarchy. According to the Moroccan constitution, the country is a “sovereign Muslim state,” making Islam the country’s official religion. There is no separation between religion and state.
Even though the country’s constitution grants “freedom of thought, expression, and assembly, and the state guarantees every individual the freedom to practice their religion,” it is difficult for Moroccans to practice any religion outside of Islam. In fact, it is illegal to convert a Moroccan Muslim to a different religion or to criticize Islam.
Additionally, the Moroccan Association for Religious Freedom was denied the ability to register by the Ministry of the Interior, claiming that the association prejudices Islam. The Ministry of the Interior also prohibited the Moroccan Christian, Shiite, and Ahmadi associations from registering.
Although it may be small, there is a gospel presence in Morocco, despite persecution. Many immigrants have made Morocco their home or pass through it: The country is a crossroads between Africa and Europe because of the Strait of Gibraltar—an eight-mile, narrow strait, connecting the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. There are also over 900,000 Moroccan emigrants in Spain alone.
Morocco is becoming a home to the nations, and Moroccans are going to the nations. Because of this, Moroccans are being exposed to the gospel, and house churches are forming in the country.
How Can You Pray for the Church in Morocco?
Since religious persecution persists, pray for the safety of Moroccan believers as they meet together and share the gospel. Also, pray that Moroccan believers may have access to Bibles and other resources in order to grow in their faith. Oftentimes, to be Moroccan is closely tied to being Muslim. As believers face persecution and opposition from their families, workplaces, and communities, pray that they may be reminded that they are part of the family of Christ.
In a country that has built its foundation on Islam for centuries, pray that more Moroccans may know the redemption, peace, and freedom only found in Christ. Lastly, pray that gospel conversations may occur and that hearts may be open to hearing the gospel.
Selah Lipsey is a Content Writer at Radical. She is a graduate of Samford University where she studied Journalism and Spanish. Selah and her husband Jeremy are members of Redeemer Community Church.
