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The pilgrimage of Algerians from Islam to Christianity is taking place in our times. Converts confront several obstacles that must be surmounted to accomplish their journey.

The obstacles to Muslims leaving Islam are based on the Qur’an and the actions of Abu Bakr, the first Muslim Caliph. Upon learning of the death of Muhammad in 632AD, several Arab tribes, who had accepted his claims as Prophet and leader of the Umma (the New Islamic Community), decided to return to their previous tribal status quo. Immediately, Abu Bakr led punitive campaigns against them, forcing them to return to Islamic rule. These campaigns are known in history as Huroob al-Ridda (Wars against Apostasy). From then on, the Umma believed that 'once a Muslim, always a Muslim,’ i.e., there is no going back; al-Ridda is not tolerated.

THE TESTIMONY OF AUGUSTIN, AN ALGERIAN CONVERT

The following Is translated from Témoignages - Augustin (jesus-messie.org):

“My name is Augustin. I am Algerian, I am 33 years old, I am married, and I have two children. I am a convert from Islam.

"I lived all my life in Algeria as a moderately practicing Muslim. Around the age of 17, I became a very conservative Sunni Muslim. I lived during this period for two years, which was followed by the rise of several questions about my religion.

“In August 2015, I met an Englishman at my work. He began to speak to me about Jesus Christ and the Gospel. He suggested that I read the Bible. I installed an app on my phone and read some Bible verses; I found them helpful as they spoke to me personally!

“So, I began to question my faith. Why the multiplicity of the prohibitions and the laws and practices in Islam? I consulted the most reliable sources, hoping to get answers and deepen my faith in Islam.

“That didn’t happen in my spiritual pilgrimage. I was led to Jesus Christ on January 17, 2017.

“As a converted Algerian, I experienced several problems in Algeria; I suffered pressure from my family. In our neighborhood, an ex-terrorist turned radical Muslim threatened to kill me. I managed to leave for France with my wife and my two children on October 11, 2017. We settled in the city of Rouen.

“The first thing I did after our arrival in France was to meet a priest and ask for baptism. The priest explained that for converts, it's a journey that requires at least two years for the instruction in the Christian faith of the family members. Gradually, we began to attend Mass and met many parishioners. Our baptism took place on May 6, 2019, at the Easter Vigil at Rouen Cathedral.”