Pray for the Amazigh Peoples in North Africa

Strategic prayer for God moving among the Amazigh peoples of North Africa

Prayer Fuel


April 7 2024

City of the Day: N’gaous, Algeria

Population: ~52,305 (2008); including the town and surrounding villages in a Chaoui/Shawi region in the Aures Mountains

DAILY PRAYER FOCUS

In traditional Shawi/Chaoui culture, women have tattoos on their faces and arms. Most of the women you’ll see with these beautiful markings today are very old, but the practice used to begin when a girl reached puberty. The tattoos were primarily decorative, but some of the geometric shapes signify belonging a particular clan while others were symbols hoping to increase fertility and ward off evil spirits.

Most young women today do not choose to be tattooed, and for many good reasons the practice has almost died out, but we can’t help but use this striking Amazigh tradition to pray over the beautiful Shawi/Chaoui people. We focus today on the town of N’gaous which translates to “Bride of the Aures Mountains”. Even just 50 years ago, facial tattoos would have shown a women in this town was ready to be a bride — proud of her beauty and hopeful about her fertility and ability to “bear fruit”. N’gaous is still home to many tattooed women, and is also famous for producing much fruit (specifically apricots).

Let’s pray that in place of physical tattoos, this “bride of the Aures” would be marked by God Himself like how we see the servants of God receiving a seal on their foreheads in Revelation chapter 7. Let us also pray that the Chaoui disciples would bear much fruit one day — fruit that would be even sweeter than the Apricot juice they sell to travelers passing through.

DAILY SCRIPTURE TO PRAY

For the Many Still in Darkness

Revelation 22:3-4
No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 

For the Few, if any, that Have Seen the Light

Isaiah 62:4-5
But you will be called Hephzibah,[a]
    and your land Beulah[b];
for the Lord will take delight in you,
    and your land will be married.
As a young man marries a young woman,
    so will your Builder marry you;

as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride,
    so will your God rejoice over you
.

For the few taking, (or who will take) the Light into the Darkness

Revelation 7:9-10
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”

DAILY PRAYING FOR A MOVEMENT

As we pray for movements in these areas, it is so easy to think about the short term and just hope for a few new disciples. Today though, let’s pray big, long-term prayers! Let us kneel before our Father and ask that one day in the future there is a mature church across the Aures mountains. Let’s ask that those coming to know Him would become future leaders one day that would fellowship with other leaders across the region and gather to study scripture together and problem solve. Let’s ask for this church to shine with it’s unity, wisdom, peace-making and maturity. Let’s use our imaginations as we pray over and bless this future “bride”.

Explore Some More!

Praying as a group?


Leading others in prayer is a great step in making disciples. We want to celebrate your and their faithfulness. For each person that prays with you, we will add 15 minutes to the 21.4 days of prayer committed so far.

How many prayed today (including yourself)?

Prayer Timer


(Prayer time: 15 min)

All Days


Use these resources to help pray specifically each day.

April 10 2024

April 10, 2024

Read

April 9 2024

April 9, 2024

Read

April 8 2024

April 8, 2024

Thank the Lord for the love He has given you for the people of North Africa as you prayed for them to encounter Christ this Ramadan. Pray for Him to complete the good work he has begun among the Amazigh peoples of North Africa. Take time to listen to next steps God would have you take on behalf of the people of North Africa.

Read

April 7 2024

April 7, 2024

Today many Christians celebrate Easter: the resurrection of Jesus from the grave. Muslims deny this fact. "And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins" (1 Corinthians 15:17). Pray for Muslims among the Amazigh peoples of North Africa to be convicted of the reality that they are still in their sins and that only God Himself can provide a solution for that – the cross of Christ.

Read

April 6 2024

April 6, 2024

Last night many Muslims celebrated the "Night of Power" hoping that God would show up miraculously to change their circumstances (health, financial, relational, etc.). We continue to pray that they would encounter Jesus who already miraculously "showed up" as the Word who became flesh to change their current realities and eternity through His life, death, and resurrection.

Read

April 5 2024

April 5, 2024

On or around the 27th night of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate the "Night of Power" as a special time that their prayers and good deeds count for more. They believe their chance of getting their prayers answered and miracles done are increased on this night. Pray for multitudes of Muslims from North Africa to encounter Jesus tonight in a dream or vision.

Read

April 4 2024

April 4, 2024

Muslims deny that Jesus died on the cross and instead ascended to heaven without dying. This belief denies the act of atonement foundational to our faith as Christians. As many Christians around the world enter into a time celebrating Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, pray for Muslims among the Amazigh peoples of North Africa to have the eyes of their heart opened to consider the possibility of Jesus' death and resurrection.

Read

April 3 2024

April 3, 2024

Muslims are encouraged to think about the poor during the month of Ramadan, to sympathize with them, and to make donations. Jesus loved the poor and said, "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God" (Luke 6:20). Pray for Muslims among the Amazigh peoples of North Africa to encounter this radical teaching and to wrestle with His command to not just donate to the poor, but to know that the kingdom of heaven belongs to the poor.

Read

April 2 2024

April 2, 2024

Islam calls Jesus the "Word of God" but strongly denies that He is God. Pray for Muslims among the Amazigh peoples of North Africa to meditate on the thought that Jesus is the "Word of God". John 1 illustrates the beautiful reality that, "the Word was with God, and the Word was God." May Muslims among the Amazigh peoples of North Africa be prompted to research this online and find John 1. Pray for their hearts be softened as they read.

Read

April 1 2024

April 1, 2024

Muslims (and all people, really) care deeply about their outward appearance or reputation in the community. But Jesus cares about the person's heart. Religion can change outward behavior but can't change inward attitudes—only the Spirit of God can do that. Pray for the people of North Africa to be convicted about their need for a clean heart and to seek out Jesus' teachings on the topic.

Read

March 31 2024

March 31, 2024

In many parts of the Muslim world, Islam is passed down more through tradition, family, and society than in formal education. Prayer, fasting, and going on the Hajj are mostly done in a communal context. Today we pray in faith for our brothers and sisters among the Amazigh peoples of North Africa to find community and family in your Church. We pray they would have vision for sharing what they are learning about Christ in their community, families, and networks.

Read

March 30 2024

March 30, 2024

Islam teaches that God is unknowable and as a result many feel like God is distant. We know the truth is that God Almighty wants an intimate relationship with His followers because He is a good Father who knows the hairs on our head (Luke 12:7). Lord, let all new followers of Christ among the Amazigh peoples of North Africa be filled with joy at knowing the intimacy of God, who calls us "beloved".

Read

March 29 2024

March 29, 2024

The month of Ramadan is known as ‘the month of repentance,’ and so as we pray for a gospel movement to transform this nation, let us cry out for God’s Kingdom to come, for a spirit of repentance to fall on the peoples living among the Amazigh peoples of North Africa, whether they are Sunnis, Shiite, Sufi, or Christians from a Muslim background; rich and poor, young and old, male and female.

Read

March 28 2024

March 28, 2024

Islam teaches an emotional worldview that Muslims are superior to non-Muslims. Lord, help believers among the Amazigh peoples of North Africa shed the sins that so easily entangle them and instead put on their "new self" finding their value comes from You.

Read

March 27 2024

March 27, 2024

Muslims pray prescribed prayers five times a day. Lord, as people from North Africa turn to Christ, teach them how to keep spiritual rhythms, turning it into an intimate time with you and not simply a ritual.

Read

March 26 2024

March 26, 2024

Muslims acknowledge Jesus as a prophet from God. Let their curiosity be sparked in this season for them to learn all that Jesus says about Himself. Specifically, that He is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6) so that they may acknowledge Him as Lord and Savior.

Read

March 25 2024

March 25, 2024

Islam teaches that deception under certain circumstances is acceptable and the effects of this teaching breeds mistrust—of God and of others. But the Bible tells us "Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator" (Colossians 3:9-10). Pray for people among the Amazigh peoples of North Africa to be people who pursue truth and feel conviction about deceiving others.

Read

March 24 2024

March 24, 2024

Zakat, one of the five pillars of Islam, requires Muslims to donate a set percentage of their wealth each year to Muslim charities. The New Testament teaches Christians to give generously from the heart as opposed to a set percentage. Pray for the people of North Africa to be challenged by the contrast between a religious rule and a heart posture and to want to understand more about the "new heart" that the Bible teaches about (Ezekiel 36:26).

Read

March 23 2024

March 23, 2024

Muslims and Christians use the same Arabic word for "fasting". And similar to what we learned yesterday about prayer, the meanings are fundamentally different. Muslim fasting is rigidly defined as no food, water, sex, or smoking from dawn to dusk. Christian fasting takes on many more forms. Muslim fasting is enforced (or broadly promoted) in Muslim countries during Ramadan. Jesus taught, "But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret...." (Matthew 6:16-18). Today we pray for Muslims among the Amazigh peoples of North Africa to come across Jesus' teaching about fasting in the Sermon on the Mount and be challenged to continue to investigate His teachings.

Read

March 22 2024

March 22, 2024

Muslims and Christians often use the same Arabic word for "prayer". The meanings of that word, however, could not be more different. Islamic salat "prayer" describes the memorized recitations that Muslims must speak and the motions they must go through five times a day. Christian "prayer" describes two-directional conversation with God where Christians humbly approach the throne of grace with confidence to present requests and praise, they listen to God, and are thus transformed. Today we ask for Muslims among the Amazigh peoples of North Africa to have the opportunity to be prayed for by a Christian and for them to have a divine encounter with God through it.

Read

March 21 2024

March 21, 2024

Muslims believe that the Quran is the perfect and final revelation of God. Christians believe that Jesus is. "He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature..." (Hebrews 1:1-4). Pray for Muslims among the Amazigh peoples of North Africa to read the Gospels and see the contrast between the exact representation of God's nature we see in Christ and what the Quran teaches.

Read

March 20 2024

March 20, 2024

The Islamic doctrine of abrogation means that some verses in the Quran can be "canceled out" by later verses. This is contrary to the unchanging nature of God in the Bible. "Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure…" (Hebrews 6:17–19) Today we pray for people among the Amazigh peoples of North Africa to see the unchanging nature of God, that it is impossible for him to lie, and to make him the anchor for their souls.

Read

March 19 2024

March 19, 2024

Islam pursues political, societal, and top-down power structures. Christianity teaches bottom-up servant leadership (Luke 22:25-27). Pray for North Africa to be transformed as Christians model Christian leadership principles and reject worldly power structures.

Read

March 18 2024

March 18, 2024

There is a hadith (teaching) in Islam that says, "Be good to your mother, Paradise is under her feet." This positive teaching is often negatively used to prevent Muslims from questioning or rejecting the religion of their parents. Today, we pray for Muslims among the Amazigh peoples of North Africa to have courage from God to honor their parents, but not blindly follow their religion and to instead pursue Truth.

Read

March 17 2024

March 17, 2024

The primary way Islam is growing globally is through birth rate. The primary way Christianity is growing globally is through movements of the Gospel. Pray for these movements to flow through North Africa and all Muslim lands.

Read

March 16 2024

March 16, 2024

There are many teachings in Islam that advocate the use of the sword (killing) to advance their religion. The teachings of Jesus calls us to surrender to the sword (martyrdom) to advance His Kingdom. Pray for Muslims among the Amazigh peoples of North Africa to wrestle with this contrast and for their hearts to be softened to Christ.

Read

March 15 2024

March 15, 2024

Many Muslims when faced with difficult questions about their religion fall back on the claim that God is unknowable. In Christianity, though we cannot fathom the fullness of who God is, we do believe that God revealed Himself to us in Christ and wants to be known by us. Today we pray for Muslims among the Amazigh peoples of North Africa to encounter God by knowing Christ.

Read

March 14 2024

March 14, 2024

There are many teachings in Islam that allow for murder, enslavement, rape, and abuse of women. Today we pray for both men and women among the Amazigh peoples of North Africa to see the value of women, who are created by God as His image bearers as well.

Read

March 13 2024

March 13, 2024

Islam teaches that women cannot fast or pray when they are menstruating. We thank God that this is not a reality for us in Christ. Pray for women among the Amazigh peoples of North Africa today who cannot fast because they are menstruating and will have to make up this day of fasting later in the year by themselves. Pray for their hearts to be softened to a God who welcomes them into His presence any day of the year because of Christ's blood on the cross.

Read

March 12 2024

March 12, 2024

Islam teaches that Muslims are born into Islam, inheriting the religion of their parents. Christianity teaches the opposite, each person must make a personal decision to follow Christ and His teachings. Today we pray into this issue and ask for God to give grace to Muslims among the Amazigh peoples of North Africa to question this teaching that they inherited their religion from their parents.

Read

March 11 2024

March 11, 2024

In Islam, it is a sin to doubt. It leaves many Muslims with fear of eternal damnation if they question anything they have been taught about religion. Pray today for Muslims among the Amazigh peoples of North Africa to seek the true God who is big enough for our questions and doubts.

Read

March 10 2024

March 10, 2024

In Islam God has 99 names–such as All-Merciful, The Beneficent, The Source of Peace–but none of those names is Love. Father God, who reveals yourself as the God of Love throughout the Bible, please reveal yourself to Muslims among the Amazigh peoples of North Africa with your true nature.

Read