Due to natural disasters, war and other crises, there are many refugees from throughout the world in North Africa. The OM team in one of these North African countries includes a group of believers who are refugees themselves. Some of them have lived in their host nation for many years.
“After COVID-19, we saw a lot of house churches form among refugees, all of whom were from a Muslim background,” remembers OM field leader, Astrid*. “As people came to believe in Jesus, they shared their new faith with their neighbors while looking for ways to help them.”
God has used their experiences and pain to help others experiencing displacement in a way many locals and foreigners cannot. Through these relationships, Christian refugees have invited their fellow countrymen to Discovery Bible Study (DBS) groups. These groups, made up of an average of six people, meet, discuss a passage from the Bible and then share what they’ve learned with someone else during the week. Slowly, the groups have grown and multiplied. As of early 2025, many groups have multiplied several times over.
OM’s role is to support this network of believers, especially the leaders. This includes not only relational support, but training as well. Additionally, the increase in the number of Bible study groups has influenced a shift in our approach, altering our focus from one-on-one discipleship training to teaching leaders how to disciple groups of believers, with a goal of moving from a network of small groups to house churches.
With each new stage of church growth, new questions arise. Baptism has presented an interesting predicament, especially in a Muslim-majority country and culture, where a public declaration of faith can be dangerous. There have been many questions among the leaders about the theology and practice of baptism. As a result, they have worked together to discuss and study the Bible, then compose a document outlining what baptism means, who can be baptized and how it will be done.
But from there, the discussion has gone from theological obedience to logistics. With such an important event needing to be in a discreet location, there have been many things to consider. For instance, where could they find water? In this modest culture, what should people — particularly women — wear to be baptized? Who would bring towels? How would everyone get to the baptism?
For the first baptism, everything had to be carefully thought out to ensure safety and accommodation for all. A Bible study group decided to go to a community center with a pool for an entire day. They planned for the baptisms to be in the morning before the pool got busy.
However, when the day came, people were late, and some people brought friends along who weren’t known to the whole group, which made others nervous for their safety. In the end, the group waited until evening, when the center was less busy. Despite the challenges, three people were baptized.
After this event, the group leaders realized the plan needed to be adjusted given that it had taken a lot of time, money and effort to carry out. The believers now have a small inflatable pool they can set up and fill in an apartment. Each house church will decide how they will celebrate baptisms based on the agreed-upon statement formed by the network leaders.
The next practice they’re working to figure out is communion. With a now-established methodology for study and discussion, the leaders will go through the same process, focusing on what is biblical, practical and sustainable. With each issue that arises, whether spiritual, cultural or practical, the group asks: “What does the Bible say?”
“Every next step is new territory,” says Astrid. “This continually raises new questions for the teams pioneering this ministry, taking everyone deeper into the Bible. It’s exciting to witness.”
Please pray for the Christian refugee churches in North Africa!
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*Name changed for security reasons.
