Arabian Peninsula

On the Arabian Peninsula other religions and beliefs than Islam, can only be practiced in private homes. Gatherings such as Bible groups are forbidden. But if you look a little closer, in the most totalitarian environments there are many signs that something is happening beneath the surface. People are coming to faith, not just scattered individuals, but larger groups. But people who come to faith in Jesus are taking a big risk. 

The Arabian Peninsula is perhaps the world's most difficult region to live out Christian faith. In recent years, the gospel has become accessible to people who previously had no opportunity to share it. People come to faith after meeting Jesus in a dream, listening to preaching on TV or watching a widely shown Jesus movies dubbed into Arabic.  

The internet offers new opportunities for contact and community and for getting answers to questions. 

 

Stefanus Alliance partners: 

The Stefanus Alliance has several partners and activities in the region, but for security reasons, we cannot reveal where or who. 

In terms of mission, the Arabian Peninsula is one of the most exciting places to be involved at the moment. People who come to faith need to meet other believers who can help build them up and give them a community. This is not easy, as changing faith is often associated with the death penalty. 

The authorities in several countries in the region are proactively seeking information in order to strike down Christian activities. Families and local communities feel that their honor is being insulted; this means that many believers are persecuted by their own people. Many have been killed for their faith in order to restore their family's honor. 

Those who have chosen to follow Jesus Christ are consequently very vulnerable. Many feel lonely and have a great hunger for fellowship and teaching. The church for many is the electronic church in the form of TV programs and contact on the internet. 

Stefanus Alliance’s projects in the region are to support missionaries, arrange gatherings and conferences where Christians who are living in hiding can meet and nurture their fellowship without fear, and also to support media projects for evangelizing activities. The missionaries are Arabic-speaking and from the region, and they know the challenges faced by new converts in a very different way than Western missionaries. 

An indigenous and local church is emerging on the Arabian Peninsula. This is in secret, and many are completely alone in their faith. Their own family would kill them if they knew about their apostasy from Islam. Stefanus Alliance works through its partners to teach and strengthen those who must practice their faith in secret. In this way, a vibrant church is built in areas where family, society and authorities do not allow any other faith than the officially recognized one. Christian minorities do exist in several of the countries, but these are Christians with backgrounds from other countries, or guest workers, and not people who have converted from Islam. 

The Arabian Peninsula is one of the most segregated societies in the world, where many are locked behind walls. The family is the only place where trust exists. Stefanus Alliance's legacy is to bring the gospel behind the walls.