Dear reader, today we want to share with you a reality that often goes unnoticed in world headlines. In Algeria, the evangelical Christian community has experienced a systematic closure of its places of worship from 2017 to 2025. According to a report by the European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ), published in April 2026, Algerian authorities ordered the closure of virtually all Protestant churches, affecting thousands of believers. This measure is part of stricter control over non-Muslim worship, which has forced Christians to meet in secret, in homes and rural areas.
Religious freedom, a fundamental right recognized internationally, has been severely limited in this North African country. The ECLJ report denounces a 'growing gap between Algeria's constitutional guarantees and the reality experienced by its Christian minority.' Since 2006, at least 58 Protestant churches have been closed, including nearly all those of the Protestant Church of Algeria (EPA). In January 2025, the last evangelical churches ceased public activities.
Faith Unquenched: House Churches and Communities Under the Olive Trees
Faced with the lack of temples, believers have shown remarkable resilience. They now meet in private homes, improvised spaces, or remote rural areas. These communities have adopted discreet forms of organization, known as 'house churches' or 'churches under the olive trees,' because they gather in secluded places. An EPA representative expressed: 'We try to live our fellowship as best we can; the most important thing is to be together.' This attitude reflects a powerful lesson: the church is not a building, but the people of God gathered in His name.
The Bible reminds us in Matthew 18:20 (NIV): 'For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.' These words come alive in Algeria, where Christians experience God's presence in the simplicity of a home or under the shade of an olive tree. Community has become more valuable than any physical structure, and their faith is strengthened in adversity.
Restrictive Legislation: A Closed Path for Christian Worship
The legal situation in Algeria is complex. A 2006 regulation requires state authorization for any non-Muslim religious activity, allowing worship only in authorized buildings. Additionally, a 2012 law mandates compulsory registration of religious associations. However, the ECLJ report notes that 'in practice, Algerian authorities have rejected all applications for the opening of new places of worship.' This has created a system where the law, in theory, allows religious freedom, but in practice denies it.
This contradiction echoes Jesus' words in John 16:33 (NIV): 'In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.' Algerian Christians face trouble, but their trust in Christ sustains them. The early church also met in homes (Acts 2:46), and their testimony transformed the world. Today, believers in Algeria follow that same example.
A Call to Prayer and Solidarity
As brothers and sisters in the faith, we are called to pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters. The apostle Paul exhorts us in Romans 12:12 (NIV): 'Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.' We invite you to include the Christians of Algeria in your prayers, asking the Lord to give them strength, wisdom, and protection. We can also support organizations working for religious freedom and spread awareness of their situation.
For reflection: How do you value the freedom to gather with other believers? What would you do if it were taken away?
May the Lord bless you and keep you, and may we never take for granted the gift of gathering in His name.
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