Libyan Arabs in Libya

Libya is a proud, oil-rich nation that is undergoing rapid socio-economic change. At the same time, the government, a military dictatorship, and the strong family structure enforce the continuation of Sunni Islam. Most of Libya's citizens are urban dwellers and 63% are of Arab background. They appreciate the free public education, health care, and new apartment buildings provided by the government, while somewhat disillusioned by the government's promises of all that the oil can provide for their lives.

Today's Libyans do not know that a man from Cyrene, on the Libyan Mediterranean coast, carried Christ's cross. The Church was successfully planted in Libya in the first century A.D., but later uprooted by Islam. Most only hold negative stereotypes of Christians, never having heard the Gospel explained.

There are hundreds of thousands of foreign workers in Libya, some of whom are Christian. However, due to nominal faith and government laws, they are reluctant to explain their faith to their Libyan co-workers and neighbors.

Many young men travel to study in European universities, bringing back Western cultural values and a secularized view of religion. Did they meet loving, sharing Christians in their university towns? Due to the danger of persecution and ostracism, we do not know if there is an invisible Libyan Arab church.