Libya
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Official name: Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya |
DEMOGRAPHY
ECONOMY |
LIFE & LIBERTY |
Contents |
[edit] Geography
[edit] Location
- Libya is a country in North Africa. Bordering the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Libya lies between Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west. With an area of almost 700,000 square miles, 90% of which is desert, Libya is the fourth largest country in Africa by area, and the 17th largest in the world. The three traditional parts of the country are Tripolitania, the Fezzan and Cyrenaica.
[edit] Region
[edit] Climate
[edit] Natural Resources
[edit] Demographics
[edit] Peoples
[edit] Provinces
- The Cities of Libya
[edit] Life
[edit] Economy
[edit] Government
- The country does not have a constitution, and there is no explicit legal provision for religious freedom.
[edit] Religion
- Islam 96.5%, Christianity 3% (workers from other countries), Buddhism 0.3%, Other 0.2%
- Libya is comprised of 96.5% Muslims and only 3% of the population are Christians. Libya was completely transformed by the discovery of oil in 1959, and much of the wealth has been used to fund the spread of Islam abroad. Islam is the chosen religion of the state and it is illegal for Christians to share the Gospel.
- Col. Muammar al-Qadhafi has made statements denigrating Christians and Jews and urged the practice of Islam. Echoing a statement in April 2006 that all persons are required to be Muslims, Qadhafi noted in a March 31, 2007 speech in Agadez, Niger, that “Christianity is not a faith for people in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas.” Qadhafi declared that those who do not practice Islam are “losers” and that it was a mistake for Christians to say Jesus was crucified.
[edit] Islam
[edit] Buddhism
[edit] Christianity
[edit] History
[edit] Churches
- There is no Bible in Libyan Arabic. Pray that the right people can begin to work on a translation.
[edit] Church and State Relations
- Meanwhile in an answer to prayer, a new wave of religious freedom is sweeping across Libya. This follows three decades during which the tiny Christian community faced restrictions. “People are respecting us. They accept us. We are free,” said Roman Catholic Bishop Giovanni Martinelli, who is based in the capital Tripoli. The 1969 revolution that brought al-Qadhafi to power led to church buildings being confiscated and closed down. Catholics were allowed to keep only two churches. But now there are Greek Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox and Anglican communities, he said.
- Most worshipers are Africans, mainly illegal migrants, and Asians. Martinelli now celebrates three services in different languages every Friday, whilst the Muslims go to their mosques. There are Christian services in Korean and English in the morning, and in the afternoon there is a service in Tagalog for the Philippine community. On Sunday the Mass is in Arabic. “We see this as the hand of God,” Simon Martin, an Anglican evangelist, said.
[edit] Mission
- Open evangelism is totally impossible in this nation, The last missionary outpost was closed in 1960. The entire indigenous population is unreached. Despite the increasing freedom for expatriates granted by the state, Libyans are off limits for evangelism. Approaches to them are potentially dangerous to both parties. There is a powerful network of secret police looking out for anyone who breaks the law.
- A number of expatriate workers are seeking to reach Libyans, but are hindered by the elaborate secret police networks. There is a shared sense of despair and hopelessness.
- Pray for the calling of more Arab Christians and tentmakers to specifically reach Libyans in a sensitive and effective manner. Pray for this tightly-shut land to open to the gospel of Jesus Christ, despite all these challenges.
[edit] Broadcasting
- Pray for radio stations that broadcast Christian programs to Libya to have an impact in this closed country.
[edit] Councils and Networks
[edit] Future Trends
[edit] For More Reading
