Prayer Points
- For the peace of Egypt.
- That Egyptian believers will be a beacon of peace, hope and stability in their communities.
- That the Egyptian church will grow in strength to impact the wider Arab region.
- For production of evangelistic tools.
- For a strong and trustworthy government that will act in the interest of all its people.
- For Muslim-background believers to share Christ's love with their families and neighbours.
LOCATION
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea , between Libya and the Gaza strip, and the Red Sea north of Sudan
POPULATION
95 215 102 (2017 est.)
RELIGION
Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 90%
Christian (majority Coptic Orthodox
Other Christians include Armenian Apostolic, Catholic, Maronite, Orthodox, and Anglican) 10% (2015 est.)
INTERNET USERS
34 800 000 (2017)
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
13,1 % (2016 est.)
MISSIONARIES
Sent 340
Received 1500
LEAST REACHED GROUPS
25
KEY CITY
Cairo
Population:
20 000 000
Urbanization Rate:
1.68% annual rate of change
Majority Religion in city:
Muslim
We Pray...
Lord, we thank you for increasing Scripture and Christian literature distribution in Egypt in the last 10 years. We pray, for the various Arabic-language studios where programmes are prepared, and for Christian broadcasters and listeners.
Father, we pray for the peace of Egypt. We pray that Egyptian believers will be a beacon of peace, hope and stability in their communities. Lord God, may they receive the encouragement and boldness they need to stand firm before their oppressors. Holy Spirit, will you strengthen the Egyptian church to impact the wider Arab region. We pray also for Muslim-background believers to share Christ's love with their families and neighbours.
Lord God, we pray for a strong and trustworthy government that will act in the interest of all its people. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
State of the Church
Christians in Egypt have always faced opposition and persecution, but estimates show that Coptic Christians have been persecuted more since the start of the revolution than in all the years under Mubarak rule. It was estimated that by the end of 2011, 250 000 Christians would have left Egypt for a ‘better life’ in the west. And this number is likely to increase, as conservative Islam sweeps the nation.
Yet with these dramatic shifts in Egyptian society, there appears to be a positive shifting within the Egyptian Church. In the past, Coptic and Evangelical Christians have struggled to find common ground and to work together, but on 11 November 2011, an unprecedented event occurred. In what became known as the ‘Mohattam Gathering’, over 70 000 Christians, both Coptic and Evangelical, met together in Cairo’s ‘Church in the Cave’ to worship, pray and cry out to God together on behalf of their nation.
And for those Christians who choose to stay in Egypt, there is a determination to stand as a strong Christian witness despite the risks involved. A Christian leader shared his view of the Church’s position in the context of growing Islamist extremism, stating that “the darker it gets, the brighter our lights can shine”.
Overview
Egypt is arguably the intellectual center of Sunni Islam, with the Al-Azhar University in Cairo seen as the global heart of Islamic instruction. Yet for over 1 000 years, Egypt was a majority Christian country and in recent times, 47 percent of all Christians in the Arab world have been based in Egypt. There is still a strong Christian presence in this key Arab nation today despite efforts to minimise Egypt’s great Christian heritage, to downplay the size of the Church, and to marginalize its contribution to society.
Under former president Mubarak, whose rule was secular rather than Islamic, Egypt enjoyed years of relative stability. But the Arab Spring Revolution, which started in Tunisia, set massive political and social changes in motion. Mubarak was ousted after two million Egyptians gathered in Tahrir Square, demanding democratic change.
In November 2012, President Morsi assigned to himself an almost totalitarian rule, resulting in protest marches against the president and his new government. He was replaced by former Army Chief Abdul Fattah al-Sisi.
More Resources:
- National Prayer Initiative: Pray4Egypt
- Regional Prayer Initiative: Pray North Africa
- African Prayer Initiative: Pray Africa
Bibliography
- INcontext ministries – http://incontextministries.org/
- CIA World Factbook
- Atlas of Global Christianity – Todd M.Johnson & Kenneth R. Ross (Published by – Edinburgh University Press) (Missionaries and national workers: Africa 2010, page 267)
- Prayercast – http://prayercast.com/
- Unreached people groups – http://www.joshuaproject.net
- The voice of the Martyrs – http://www.persecution.com/
- Jul-Dec, 2010 International Religious Freedom Report – http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2010_5/index.htm
- Operation World – http://www.operationworld.org/african-countries