Courageous faith and coffee shop encounters in Morocco

“When I became a believer, I thought I was the only one,” says Omar. It’s a feeling felt by many Moroccan Christians, such is the expectation that all citizens are Muslim. But the church in Morocco is growing, as courageous believers like Omar defy hostility to share Jesus.

Like many Christians in North Africa, Omar* first encountered Jesus through the internet. He saw the words “God loves you” on a website, leading him to John 3:16. “That verse touched me,” says Omar. Eventually meeting with other converts gave him the impetus to grow in his faith. “It is wonderful to praise God together with other Christians,” he says. 

Initially, Omar kept his new faith secret from his family, even creating a fake Facebook page to talk about Jesus – that was until it was discovered by his brother, who told their father. He was kicked out of home. Omar has since reconciled with his father. “He asked forgiveness for all he had done. Our relationship is now very good.” 

Today, Omar has a YouTube channel, bringing together his skills as a videographer and his passion for the gospel. “It is an open channel, as far as I know the only such in Morocco,” says Omar, who stresses that his aim is not to criticise Islam but to share Jesus. It features apologetics, testimonies, Bible teaching and worship songs.  

Offline, Omar frequently travels all over Morocco – which is number 23 on the World Watch List – to meet with isolated believers for Bible study and prepare them for baptism. His own experience of persecution enables him to identity with the challenges many are facing.  

He also meets with seekers, often in coffee shops. In one encounter, he was talking to someone who said that his mother and sister also wanted to become Christians. He went to their home and all three gave their lives to Jesus! 

To equip him, Omar is doing an online theology course, which your support is funding. “It’s a real blessing for me,” he says.  

“I was a shy and fearful boy,” says Omar. “Now God has given me big courage to talk about Jesus. That doesn’t come from me – God is doing that. The most important thing is knowing that I am loved by God. Through what I do, I glorify His name. I feel His love when I talk about Him.” 

*Name changed for security reasons