Friday, December 09, 2005
Preparing to Pray 12/9
O holy Child of Bethlehem
descend to us, we pray;
cast out our sin and enter in
be born in us today
We hear the Christmas angels
the great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
our Lord Emmanuel
-last verse of “O Little Town of Bethlehem”
The latest Vital Worship feature story calls us to pray for the Christian church in Egypt, particularly on these 8 issues:
Courage amid discrimination. Zaki says Egyptians can tell who’s Christian and who’s Muslim by their surnames. Given names make it even clearer. Christians have Western or saint names or Arabic names such as Fadi or Fadia, which mean “savior.” Every person’s religion is noted on their official identity card. Egyptian Christians face more subtle discrimination than outright persecution. Many report being deliberately failed in exams for professional advancement or getting the runaround when trying to buy property or land.
Protection against persecution. With the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in the last ten years, worse things sometimes happen to Christians. Churches burned and Christians were attacked during recent riots in Alexandria over a video CD of a Christian play that traces a young man’s journey from Coptic Orthodoxy to Islam and back to his faith.Wisdom to retain youth. The Arabic Bible uses high classic Arabic, not the colloquial form that most people speak—so Scripture doesn’t always seem relevant to youth. Zaki says that Christians “who do well do very well, but most Christians are middle or lower class.” Muslim missionaries target financially frustrated young Christian men, offering better jobs and money for a car and apartment to those willing to convert.
Blessings on new ways to reach youth. Based on Brink and Boonstra’s lectures, the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo has redesigned a worship course. Dr. Fawzy Gergis translated Sunday Morning Live into Arabic and it will soon be part of the denomination’s curriculum for middle and high school students.
Stamina for pastors, elders, and church leaders. Running so many weekly meetings and Christian organizations takes skill and energy.
Money and building permits for churches without a home. The Synod of the Nile has 150 unregistered groups that don’t have buildings. A single evangelist often scrambles to serve three or four groups.
Clear witness through Christian organizations. To peacefully co-exist with Muslim neighbors and maintain civil rest, the Presbyterian Church doesn’t include the name “Christian” in its hospitals, schools, homes for the disabled, or any other charity. These Christian schools and agencies also hire Muslim staff, which can be an excellent way to build relationships in which Christ’s love shines through. Schools such as Ramses College for Girls enroll Christian and Muslim students, who learn together—except in separate religion classes.
Blessings on permitted outreaches. Campus ministries are for Christians, but it’s okay to hand out event invitations to anyone, even invitations that are subtly “tract like.” Christian bookstores make home deliveries of Bibles, the Jesus Film, and other items. SAT-7 cable TV beams the gospel throughout the Middle East and Africa.
Earlier: Preparing to Pray 12/2
More Resources for Preparing for Worship
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