The Union Church of Libya requests prayer for a new building to be used in Tripoli for worship as they are facing eviction from their current premises.
Established by expatriate Christians in 1962 as an international fellowship, the Union Church is one of five Christian denominations recognised by the government. In 1970 the church rented land in Tripoli and erected buildings on it. That land was expropriated by the former Gaddafi regime due to its proximity to the seat of the government. The rental contract was terminated by the government.
The regime rented a building for the church in Tripoli, on land that also had been expropriated. For 51 years the Church has been using this building, which serves as home to four Protestant congregations with Christians from many nationalities.
Now, descendants of the original owner of the land and buildings have had ownership returned to them by a governmental commitee estabished to return expropriated buildings. Since the demise of the former regime in 2011, a great number of expropriated properties have been returned to their original owners. The owners have filed a court case for a speedy eviction. The Union Church was informed of the case last December. A court session is expected on 27 August.
The cost of buying a new building is far beyond the means of the church.
Prayer Points
The Union Church has asked for prayer:
- for the Christians and leadership of the different congregations who use the current church building to know the peace of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit
- for the Union Church to be given a land and/or a building to replace the confiscated building or;
- that the Lord will provide for the church to buy property in a place in Tripoli, where most of the congregants live
- that the court would give the church time to find a new building before evicting it
