Morocco in Need, CHOG responds

Being part of the 3W team means living in one of the most active parts of the world.  Our region—Europe and the Middle East-- is almost entirely prone to massive earthquakes, is the heart of the world’s refugee crisis and currently has two hot wars going on:  Ukraine-Russia, and Israel-Hamas.  There is never a lack of drama or people in need in this region, and that gives our team and the greater Church of God, an opportunity to be a part of responding to these immense needs and challenges.

Thanks to donations to the Church of God Disaster Relief Fund, I was able to travel to Morocco which was hit by a devastating earthquake on October 8th in the Atlas Mountains.  As winter is setting in, there is a desperate need for food, shelter, and clothing.  Your donations were able to make a difference. 

I connected with our partners on the ground (who I won’t name for security reasons).  We in the Europe-Middle East region are very proud of our emerging young leaders, and in Morocco, I met with three of our finest who make up part of our 3WLN network.  I learned a lot about this beautiful country, its culture, its religious atmosphere, and the earthquake needs. 

Morocco is a nation that is officially Islamic and is strict about it compared to many other more lenient and liberal Islamic nations.  It is not legal to convert Christians or to become a convert.  Consequently, our brothers and sisters there must be very careful.  As is often the case, the Christian community always feels called to respond to human suffering and disasters.  Networks have evolved with our young leaders being at the forefront of these churches and believers working together to bring hope and relief. 

One of the things that most struck me was the need for toys for children.  Why?  Because it helps them disappear into their imagination and escape the tragic situation, they find themselves in.  A truck or a doll can give hours of relief to a child who is having to deal with their world suddenly disappearing.  The hardest hit areas are where Berber tribes live in the Atlas Mountains.  It's a dangerous terrain as it is filled with unsteady rocks and boulders dangling from cliffs.  Some Christian relief workers died on the dangerous, curvy, roads of Morocco’s hardest-hit interior. 

The influence of Islam is weaker in the areas where the indigenous Berber tribes live, and they wonder who these people (Christians) are who come to them and not only bring supplies and food, but also friendship, love, hope, and a listening ear.  No one else does that and it has a tremendous impact.  As tragic as the situation is, God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love God and are called to his purpose (Romans 8:28).  We want to thank all of you who support our team and leaders in this region during the good times and the bad times.  We couldn’t do it without you, but we can do it altogether with God.

The Economic and Political Success of Morocco

(This post is part of a series on the Moroccan earthquake that took place in early September. The 3W Team is working to support ongoing relief efforts through contacts on the ground.)

During the last World Cup, the country of Morocco nearly won the entire tournament.  While they ended up in 4th place, the world marveled at their talented football squad which eliminated many of the world’s best teams.  

Morocco is a nation that the world should know about whether they play well in football or not.  It is a large nation in North Africa that touches the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, and the Sahara desert.  While Morocco is over 1,000 years old, the modern country of Morocco received its independence in 1956 from France and Spain.  

Today, Morocco is a nation of 37 million people that is 99.6% Muslim.  It is a nation with a monarchy, a Parliament and an independent judiciary.  Around the time of the Arab Spring, the King’s powers were reigned in substantially in favor of empowering the democratically elected prime minister.  However, subversive acts against the King are highly illegal and strictly enforced.  Both conversion to Christianity and practicing acts of homosexuality can lead to months of imprisonment.  

While there is poverty in Morocco, particularly in the mountainous areas where the earthquake took the most lives and did the most damage, many of its cities are modern and prosperous.  Rabat is the cosmopolitan, modern capital.  Marrakesh is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Africa.  

Its Berber and Islamic architecture, with marketplaces and medieval walls give tourists the feeling they are in a Saharan oasis.  Tangier is located only about 8 miles away from Spain in Europe, separated by the strait of Gibraltar where the Mediterranean and Atlantic Ocean come together.  Tourists are attracted to its low-cost of living and beautiful villas hugging the dramatic cliffs along the coast.  

In addition to the booming tourism sector, much of Morocco’s agricultural sector is based in areas that look like Italy or Greece, with climates that are great for growing olives, grapes, fruits, and vineyards.  

Many Moroccans are multilingual and speak Arabic or Berber, as well as French, English, or Spanish which is useful for trade and dealing with tourists. Americans are far less likely to consider Morrocco a tourist destination.  But for Europeans and Asians, Morocco is an irresistible place for a dramatic, sightseeing experience.  

As one of the most successful countries in Africa, Morocco could have a positive political and economic trajectory if it can keep growing economically and remains politically stable.  

As our team continues to help coordinate relief efforts, will you consider supporting families whose lives have been impacted? You can do so through the Global Strategy Disaster Relief fund. One hundred percent of your donation will go to the Moroccan relief efforts. Simply click on the link and fill out the information. Make sure to write “Morocco” in the memo section.

Give to Morocco Disaster Relief Efforts

Islam and Christianity in Morocco

(This post is part of a series on the Moroccan earthquake that took place in early September. The 3W Team is working to support ongoing relief efforts through contacts on the ground.)

Not all Muslim nations are filled with large populations of followers of Islam.  While most people in Muslim nations are born into the faith, in countries such as Indonesia, Iran, and Lebanon; many practice other faiths, are atheists, or just don’t practice Islam in their daily life.  Morocco, however, is a nation where Islam has had a stronghold for a long time.  Today, Morrocco is one of the most conservative, Islamic states in the Middle East.  

Long before Christianity was based in Rome or Western Europe, it was centered in North Africa.  Augustin of Hippo and Cyprian the Bishop of Carthage were two of the most influential Christians that ever lived.  

Many of Christianity’s most important doctrines were discussed, debated, and decided upon in the areas we now call Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, and Egypt.  But the rapid rise of Islam in the 7th  Century began a period of rapid Christian decline.  When the Catholic empire was at its height, Christianity made a minor comeback in Morrocco, but it was not to last.  

Today, it is estimated that less than 1% of the country is Christian—a remarkably low percentage---roughly the same as that of Japan percentage wise. There are no good sources to state with certainty how many Christians live in Morocco, but in this large nation of 37 million people, there are probably significantly less than 100,000 Christians.  

As our team continues to help coordinate relief efforts, will you consider supporting families whose lives have been impacted? You can do so through the Global Strategy Disaster Relief fund. One hundred percent of your donation will go to the Moroccan relief efforts. Simply click on the link and fill out the information. Make sure to write “Morocco” in the memo section.

Give to Morocco Disaster Relief Efforts

Morocco Earthquake: Traveling to High Atlas Mountains

(This post is part of a series on the Moroccan earthquake that took place in early September. The 3W Team is working to support ongoing relief efforts through contacts on the ground.)

On Friday, September the 8th, Morocco was shaken by a deadly earthquake measuring a magnitude of 6.8.  For the next 10 days, aftershocks would continue to decimate the region of Marrakech-Safi and its surrounding communities. The death toll reached 3000 people and more than 5000 were injured.

The 3W Team has been in communication with contacts in the region who have been traveling to the impacted areas, specifically the High Atlas Mountains. In this area, an estimated 50,000 homes collapsed during the earthquake. One contact has shared they are not only delivering necessary supplies, but they are also connecting with and consoling families whose lives have been devastated.

Due to the unstable terrain, trips made into this region are very difficult as volunteers make their way into the 10,000-13,000-ft elevation mountain range.  Typically these trips require volunteers to take several days off of work in order to get supplies into the areas where there is the most need.

Though difficult, these volunteers believe the journey is worth the effort in order to bring encouragement and supplies to families that have lost nearly everything, including precious family members.

Our friend and contact on the ground in Morocco recently shared, “Our conversations revealed poignant stories, including the tragic death of a 14-year-old in their village. Another person had a massive rock sitting on their home after it fell from the mountain, and miraculously didn’t cause any harm to his family members. The villagers were living without proper shelter, on the riverside, risking flooding in the coming months of winter. Their remote location left them feeling disconnected from the care and support they so desperately needed. We distributed games for the children, as well as bags with essential food and supplies.”

They went on to share stories of families who have lost everything,  “We met A.’s family, who connected us to three families living on the precarious edge of a mountain. L. and his children were fortunate to have survived the earthquake, along with others like A.’s dad, as their houses crumbled around them. The main door was blocked, and they were able to survive after fleeing in the dark from a tiny opening made in the wall by the window side. Y., a high school student, needed an x-ray for his injured hand.”

The work in the High Atlas Mountains will take several months to bring even a minimal level of stability to the lives of those who have been impacted. The 3W Team is committed to walking alongside those who are bringing relief and restoration to these families who have suffered so much loss.

Will you consider coming alongside too?  If you would like to help support these families, you can do so through the Global Strategy Disaster Relief fund. One hundred percent of your donation will go to the Moroccan relief efforts. Simply click on the link and fill out the information. Make sure to write “Morocco” in the memo section.

Give to Morocco Disaster Relief Efforts

Morocco Earthquake: Coordinating Efforts

(This post is part of a series on the Moroccan earthquake that took place in early September. The 3W Team is working to support ongoing relief efforts through contacts on the ground.)

On Friday, September 8, the region of Marrakech-Safi in Morocco was shaken by a deadly earthquake. The 6.8 magnitude quake and its aftershocks devastated homes and local infrastructure, making the relief efforts slow and arduous, causing a severe humanitarian crisis. The death toll has surpassed 3000 and more than 5600 people have been injured. Many more have lost their homes and livelihoods.

Our Three Worlds Leadership Network (3WLN) contacts on the ground began coordinating relief efforts almost immediately after the earthquake struck. In the last month, we have been communicating with and collecting information from those contacts. One of them recently shared this summary: “Tragically, not only have people lost their homes, but also their livelihoods, including the animals they relied on for work. This has left the community in a dire state of vulnerability, with limited resources and no immediate relief in sight.”

As winter approaches, the vulnerability of tens of thousands of people living in the High Atlas Mountain region and suffering the most severe devastation will be compounded. Our contact shares the following: “One of the most concerning aspects of the situation is the lack of a concrete rebuilding plan for the victims. With winter approaching, the affected villages are filled with fear, as they are isolated from the rest of the world. There is no transportation, limited resources, and a heavy reliance on local agriculture.”

Our Goal

As we partner with our contacts and their network on the ground, our hope is to send funds to purchase and deliver supplies to 100 families in the most remote and heavily impacted region. These supplies will include iron tents, food, water tanks, blankets, clothes, solar energy packs, sanitation equipment, and more. These efforts will help affected families face the oncoming winter.

If you would like to help support these families, you can do so through the Global Strategy Disaster Relief fund. One hundred percent of your donation will go to the Moroccan relief efforts. Simply click on the link and fill out the information. Make sure to write “Morocco” in the memo section.

Give to Morocco Disaster Relief Efforts