Day 14
Albania
Pray for the Christmas services and events planned this month by churches in the capital city of Albania. As invitations have been sent out and continue to be given to friends, co-workers, and neighbors, pray that the Holy Spirit will soften people’s hearts and cause curiosity to grow. Pray that as people attend the Christmas services and events, the kindness and love of the Christian people will touch their hearts. Pray that their spirits will recognize the truth that is, the story of Jesus’s birth. May many enter the Kingdom due to this month’s activities (The Bible, Luke 23:42).
Source: Christian workers in the region
Albania is a beautiful country with pristine beaches and medieval-era castles. Albania is no longer under communist rule. A NATO member with an future EU membership, Albania looked like another success story. However, corruption and downward-spiraling criminal activity transformed the country into one of the poorest in Europe. Albania’s main problem today is gangs operating in human trafficking, and drug smuggling rings in addition to the Albanian mob. Moving tons of cocaine into Europe, Albania is fast becoming known as “The Columbia of Europe.” Unemployed youth find it easy to be employed by the criminal enterprise. Cocaine addiction is also on the rise in Albania. Although a Muslim majority, Albania allows freedom of religion. The persecution of Christian Believers happened in Albania to those who converted from Islam. The congregations of traditional denominations are largely nominal in practicing their faith.
Day 14
Morocco
Jordan News Agency reported that officials from the Jordan Medical Association and Morocco’s National Council of the Order of Physicians have signed a cooperation agreement. A Moroccan medical delegation visited Jordan to establish a framework for developing programs in areas of mutual interest. The initiative also aims to arrange training, exchange experiences and scientific visits, improve research, and provide information on investment opportunities available in both countries’ medical fields. JMA chief Ziad Zoubi and CNOM president Mohammadin Boubekri inked the deal. Pray for the emotional needs of the Moroccans to get solved so that they will accept the love of Christ who came in search of them (The Bible, Luke 19:10).
Source:
Morocco is a beautiful North African country that attracts over 10 million tourists annually. Well-known tourist spots include the Marrakesh market, the Badi Palace, and the waterfront fort. A former French colony, Morocco annexed neighboring Western Sahara to gain access to their vast mineral wealth. Although the United States and Israel recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara, the rest of the international community does not recognize this authority. Today, Morocco is a middle-income country and one of the foremost economies in Africa. Recovery from COVID-19 is slow in the tourism sector. More tourists are becoming victims of scams and other hostile behavior from local businesses. Like most Islamic countries, Morocco does not allow conversions from Islam to any other religious belief. In the past year, there was an increase in violent attacks on home churches and against individuals. Persecution levels are high, especially in extremist stronghold areas. On September 8, 2023, an earthquake measuring 6.8 claimed over five thousand lives. More than 250,000 people have faced a humanitarian crisis in Morocco since this seismic disaster.
