Spring 2000

Week four

What's inside:

UPG information; Mobilize Your Campus!; project list; and God’s Heart for the Nations Bible study

Unreached People Group (UPG) focus: The Arab Berbers

The Berbers once inhabited almost all of Northern Africa. Most Berbers became Christian during the period of Roman rule. After warding off several invasion attempts by the Arabs, they finally were conquered in the seventh century by an Arab invasion from the east. During the subsequent centuries, the Berbers have become increasingly influenced by Arab culture. Islamic Law replaced tribal order as the system of justice, and Arabic replaced the Berber language. Even though some tribal units resisted for several centuries, Islamic law forced them to become Muslim, even if in name only. In time the Berbers, without exception, accepted Islam. Today, the Berber tribes are practically 100 percent Sunni Muslim. This form of Islam, based on the five pillars of essential duties, has been embraced with a few modifications to suit the indigenous culture.

For centuries, the Berbers have lived in a balance between herding and agriculture. As cities filled with people speaking a more classical form of Arabic, the social status of the rural Berbers fell. Increasingly harsh conditions in North Africa have caused many Berbers to immigrate. Large populations of Berbers can be found in parts of some European countries where they have found jobs in unskilled or semiskilled labor. Attempts to minister to these Berber populations have produced little visible fruit and new, creative ministry forms are essential.

Prayer Points:

• Pray for the identities of missionaries already on the field to be hidden from the eyes of the government.
• Pray that the Berbers will become frustrated with Islam and will seek a personal relationship with Christ.
• Pray that port ministries will touch Berbers returning from European vacations.
• Pray that indigenous believers would be unified in the Spirit. 
• Pray for the effectiveness of university-based works.

WE NEED YOU! Are you a mobilizer? Help us find students to reach out to a world in need. No one is closer to students than you are. You see them in class, the BSU or BSM and at church. Take some time to find out what they are doing this summer. You can make an eternal difference by pointing others towards service. You and your friends can find more information about summer and semester missions on our Web site www.thetask.org/students, but don’t waste time. Applications for summer projects are due by MARCH 10.

To learn more about how to mobilize your campus, check out these guidelines at www.thetravelingteam.org/mobilize.htm  

Project List for North Africa and the Middle East (NAME)

Bible study:

GOD’S HEART FOR THE NATIONS