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EgyptRestricted
Christian Persecution in Egypt
Overview:
Egypt has the fastest-growing population in the Middle East and also the largest Christian population among majority-Arab nations. It remains a base for Christian activity throughout North Africa and the Middle East. Many well-established churches and parachurch ministries in Egypt are working to reach both cultural Christians and Muslims with the gospel. Several of these groups also send their own Egyptian missionaries throughout the region. While overt Christian activity results in persecution, church growth and the establishment of Egypt as a regional base of missionary activity are encouraging developments.
Major Religion:
87 percent of Egyptians are Sunni Muslims. 13 percent are Christians.
Persecutor:
Various Islamic extremist groups operate in Egypt, including the Muslim Brotherhood and the self-proclaimed Islamic State (ISIS).
What It Means To Follow Christ In Egypt:
Christians who are outspoken about their faith are often beaten or imprisoned. When Christians are attacked or kidnapped by Muslims, the government rarely provides protection or assistance. Christian converts from Islam face the most problems, including being expelled from their families, being divorced by their Muslim spouses, losing their children and losing their jobs. Additionally, because their government-issued identity cards identify them as Muslim, it is difficult for them to attend church, to marry, to register their children in school, to get a job or to emigrate elsewhere. Christians charged with apostasy or proselytizing Muslims are generally imprisoned for a week or two, with a few notable exceptions.
Access To Bibles:
Bibles are readily available at Bible societies, churches and bookstores in a variety of formats, translations and languages. However, not all Egyptian Christians can afford a Bible, and persecution and high illiteracy rates make Bible distribution an ongoing challenge. Give Bibles
VOM Work:
VOM responds to widespread persecution needs, provides Bibles and Christian literature, distributes assistance, and trains pastors and other leaders. Give to VOM’s Global Ministry
Prayer Requests:
- Pray for the encouragement and growth of those who receive Bibles throughout the country.
- Pray that Egyptian believers will forgive and bless their persecutors.
- Pray for Ali, whose father tried to kill him when he became a believer through a satellite TV program.
- Pray for Kadisha, whose family tortured her for her faith. She escaped and is now in hiding.
- Pray for Wadia and her son, who are in hiding after suffering persecution from family members.