by Alliance workers serving in North Africa

We call them the Willow people. This is the code name we use because it would be too dangerous to use the group’s real name publicly. The Willow people are believed to have been Christians hundreds of years ago. In the late 1600s, however, members of a rival religious group conquered much of the region, violently driving out Christianity wherever they could. Over the centuries, the Willow became extremely devoted to the religion of their conquerors, reportedly more than other neighboring tribes. To demonstrate their devotion, they openly opposed Christianity, blocking all gospel access, allowing no churches to be reestablished among their people, and thwarting all forms of Christian witness by outsiders. The men grew up hoping to defend their faith on the battlefield, and they were willing to go to war for local authorities in exchange for the assurance that they would enter heaven as their reward.

In the 1980s and 1990s, when radical officials decided to rid the country of Christians once and for all, they recruited Willow men to carry out a brutal military campaign, which left some two million Christians dead. The Willow were considered a model of the region’s majority religion. Seeking recompense for the horrific acts of violence they committed in the name of their faith, they demanded funding for schools, hospitals, and infrastructure improvements in their area. The authorities had no interest in satisfying these demands, however, and formed and trained a militia to exterminate the Willow people and confiscate their land. This genocide continues today.

A Ripe Harvest

Over the last 22 years, tens of thousands of Willow people have fled their homeland, becoming refugees in the North African country where we serve among them today. Many individuals and organizations from traditionally Christian nations have responded to the ongoing genocide and refugee crisis by providing food, medical care, and other forms of humanitarian aid. This outpouring of generosity and compassion has softened the hearts of many Willow people toward the West, which is often vilified in our region and viewed with extreme distrust.

Yet, the most encouraging development for us has been the way so many displaced Willow people have left their former belief system and embraced the gospel as the only true way to salvation. We continually praise God for placing us where the harvest is so ripe! Because of your incredibly generous gifts, prayer, support, and all forms of partnership, 11 house churches have been planted among the Willow and are leading people to Christ weekly through clandestine worship, prayer, and discipleship sessions. It is only with much courage—and after much deliberation—that Willow people choose to follow Jesus. After embracing Christianity, they often face intense pressure to return to their former religion. Believers may be refused an inheritance, disowned by family members, or even have their wives and children taken from them.

Despite these risks, nearly 50 Willow students are enrolled in an intensive ministry training program to become leaders in the underground house church network. All these students have committed to serving with The Alliance for at least five years after completing their education. For most, this program includes college-level coursework at one of the local evangelical theology schools and hands-on training in ministry disciplines such as Bible translation, radio outreach, and film evangelism. From the beginning, the Bible translation work has been one of our highest strategic priorities. It was, admittedly, an ambitious undertaking. When we first started serving among this group of refugees over 20 years ago, the work to create an alphabet for their native language—unwritten for generations— was still underway. Since then, we have painstakingly worked alongside some of our Willow students to translate books of the Bible into their language using this newly developed writing system.

A Bold Vision

Through your generosity and prayers, you are spearheading the formation of a new national church. Each new baptism and church plant is a step in this direction. This past summer was highlighted by a historic occasion, as four of our seminary students were ordained as the first Alliance pastors from the Willow refugee community. Praise God for the courageous step of faith these men have made! We have confidence the Lord will continue to bless them with fruitful ministries and draw many more Willow people to salvation through their tireless work to proclaim the gospel in word and action.

Our vision is to be joined in heaven one day by one million Willow worshipers. This may seem audacious to some, but we have unwavering faith in the Lord to accomplish even the boldest things we pray for. Radio outreach offers one of the most exciting and viable strategies to expand our pioneering work among the Willow people. Recently, an underground radio studio agreed to record Bible readings at a discounted rate for us. These readings will be in the Willows’ native language. Bible studies will also be recorded. No such initiative has ever been undertaken for this people group. Eventually, the radio station hopes to broadcast Bible reading and study materials 24/7 to thousands who have never received gospel access.

There is no end in sight to the violence that has engulfed the Willows’ homeland for more than two decades. Since April 2023, an estimated 10 million people from that country have been internally displaced of have fled to neighboring countries to escape war and food shortages. Many of them are Willow people who are still without the light of God’s Word to guide them out of darkness. We believe the sovereign hand of the Lord has guided them to safety here in North Africa so they, like the Willows who arrived before them, can encounter followers of Jesus, be renewed by God’s Spirit, and receive “a crown of beauty” (Isa. 61:3) as coheirs with Christ in God’s Kingdom.

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