Peril worsening for Egyptian Christians

(Cover photo courtesy AINA.
 Story photo courtesy Christian Post)

Egypt (MNN) ― Some scholars believe Egypt's continued onslaught of violence against Christians could be the worst in 700 years. And it's not over yet. Musselman, a spokesman with the Voice of the Martyrs Canada, says, "Talking to those that are plugged in to what's going on, they believe that the violence, the destruction, and the assault on the Christian community will continue for at least several more years."

The recent headline news may bear that out. It seems like every Friday after Muslim prayers end, there are riots and protests that erupt among members of the Muslim Brotherhood. A sudden burst of unpredictable violence lurks just beneath the surface, similar to that of 3 July.

The target? Christians. Coptic Church leaders are trying to keep a lid on the tensions. They're encouraging calm and talking about peace, unity, and forgiveness. The most obvious reason behind the message, says Musselman, is that "when people react with violence against violence (which is totally understandable), it just leads to more violence."

Easier said than done. The Islamist takeover of a town in Egypt has Christians drowning in fear. Dalga's takeover followed the ouster of the country's president, Mohamed Morsi. On 3 July, Morsi's Islamist supporters attacked Christians, their homes, and businesses in the southern Minya province.

Radicals have yet to leave, promising defiance of the military-backed leadership that has replaced him, and successfully stopping army attempts to send in armored personnel carriers.

Trouble in Sinai could mean a second insurgency could erupt in Minya and Assiut provinces, home to two of the biggest Christian communities in Egypt, while at the same time a foothold for the Islamists.

Musselman considers, "That's very much possible. You've got the Muslim Brotherhood who are not going to sit down and say ‘OK. I guess we lost this thing. We're going to forget about it.' No. That's not what they're thinking about."

The problem is that in the security vacuum, it has been Christians largely paying the price. Musselman explains, "Of course we've seen dozens of churches destroyed, Christian businesses destroyed, homes destroyed--a lot of intimidation. There's a lot of fear right now because even the military and police say they can't adequately protect them."

While the constitution allows for freedom of conversion, in practice, discrimination is commonplace. What's more, waiting for a new constitution puts things in limbo. With things as bad as they are for Christians, Musselman wonders, "Who knows what's going to be happening two months from now? People are leaving.

There's a lack of trust in what's going to happen there." He goes on to add that with the mass exodus of Christians fleeing Egypt, "Who knows how many will be left to vote, or to think at this point in time there's any reason to even be involved in the constitutional process?"

And yet, there's opportunity. "In the middle of all this, there's also been an incredible expression of forgiveness by Christians in places like Minya, south of Cairo. We're seeing where they are actually writing on their destroyed churches, ‘We forgive you.'" The open-handed extension of forgiveness to those who have pulverized their communities speaks volumes for the Christ they follow. It takes guts to speak His name, though, in an atmosphere where you can be killed by a mob just for wearing a cross or being identified as a Christian.

That's where you come in. "Be praying that they will be strong, that they will not be ruled by fear, but they would use wisdom. And also [be praying] that the Christians, in large masses, would exhibit forgiveness."
Pray that God will strengthen and embolden Christians in this time of political uncertainty and give them new opportunities to share the gospel.

Fridays are dangerous in Egypt

(Photo courtesy Globovision)

Egypt (ODM) ― During the last two weeks, a total of seven Christians have been murdered and 17 kidnapped during the violence.

Hundreds more have been injured. Additionally, the rampage has resulted in the destruction or damage of 212 privately-owned Christian shops and homes, and 95 church buildings. Buildings include orphanages, schools, and Bible book stores.

Open Doors ministry partners are confirming that Christians are living in fear, especially those in the countryside where Muslims are the majority. Many Christian families have lost everything and escaped with only what they were wearing. In the wake of the unprecedented violence targeting Egypt's Christian community, Open Doors is working closely with local church partners to support and comfort those left traumatized by painful losses.

Open Doors USA is asking for emergency financial support for those suffering for their faith in Jesus Christ. The need is substantial with a goal of $430,000. The funds will be used for what is most needed to bring hope and relief to many suffering and devastated Christians.

"Christians in the West must understand that the rampage against the followers of Jesus is targeted and intentional," says Open Doors USA President/CEO Dr. David Curry. "Unless we pray, advocate, and support those faithful believers who are under attack, the persecution will continue and perhaps widen. Please consider how you might support our brothers and sisters in Christ."

To make a donation, go to www.opendoorsusa.org and then click the "Help Egypt" icon.

An Egyptian Christian leader states: "What can Christians do? Although the fight seems to be between groups of people, it is clearly a spiritual war. It is written in Ephesians 6:12 that 'our struggle is not against flesh and blood....' Therefore to win the war, believers need to use the right weapons. Egyptian Christians are appealing to people around the world to pray and fast with them."

His prayer requests for Egypt include:

* An end to the current violence

* The police and army to control the situation and bring long-lost law and order back to the streets of Egypt

* For God to expose the lies and deceptions being told so that the truth will be revealed to the entire world

* That Christians continue to love, forgive, and rebuild their country, churches, homes, and businesses

* The country's future leaders bring peace and harmony to all parties and bring Egypt out of poverty and chaos

Egypt is ranked No. 25 on the Open Doors 2013 World Watch List of the worst persecutors of Christians.
For almost 60 years, Open Doors has worked in the world's most oppressive and restrictive countries, strengthening Christians to stand strong in the face of persecution and equipping them to shine Christ's light in these places.

Open Doors empowers persecuted Christians by supplying Bibles and Christian literature, training Christian leaders, facilitating social/economic projects, and uniting believers in the West in prayer for Christians, who are the most persecuted religious group in the world and are oppressed in at least 60 countries.

Report: 42 churches attacked in Egypt

Destruction of Egypt's Christian community.
 (Images courtesy 8thirty8/Facebook)

Egypt (MNN) ― The violence in Egypt could be considered "historic." It silenced a church for the first time in 1,600 years.

Security issues following last week's rioting forced officials to consider the risks of a large gathering of people.

At the same time, a scholar at the Hudson Institute's Center for Religious Freedom was quoted by The Christian Post as saying that last week's attacks on Christian churches and believers in Egypt were the worst in 700 years. Most of the violence seemed to be concentrated in southern Egypt in a 24-hour time frame.

Human Rights Watch, an international human rights group, visited 11 sites in Minya city and Bani Suef, where last week's attacks took place. Their investigation took note of attacks on at least 42 churches (though several ministries working in the region cite as many as 60 churches), as well as those on dozens of Christian institutions, schools, homes, and business owned by Christians. Their conclusion: this was an intimidation campaign thought to be waged by supporters of ousted Islamist President Mohamed Morsi.

In their new report, HRW accused authorities of being "largely absent or failed to intervene" when churches or properties come under attack. While authorities did little to stop the violence, now the military-backed government is trying to capitalize on the church burnings to paint the Brotherhood as terrorists.

The wave of attacks also included drive-by shootings, kidnappings, destruction of church buildings and Christian-owned property, and now lethal shootings. Unidentified vandals marked church buildings and Christian-owned homes and businesses declaring, "Egypt is Muslim, not Christian." During the rampage, many of the same buildings were destroyed.

AMG International has some quiet work in Egypt. President and CEO Tasos Ioannidis says the trouble has been disruptive for AMG ministry partners; they have to keep a low-profile. "The best thing to do is just avoid being identified at this point because a lot of them will be targeted if they are recognized as members of the Christian community."

Just how volatile is it? He says in the report they got this week from their partner, "There was a news story about a taxi driver who was pulled over because he had a cross hanging from the mirror of his car: he was killed, and the taxi was destroyed."

Ioannidis goes on to explain that "the Christians are being blamed for a lot of what is happening right now from the Muslim Brotherhood. They are being targeted, so our co-workers are trying to just avoid situations where they would be in danger. There is a lot of property damage, but property can be rebuilt."

According to The Washington Post, a high-ranking Western official (who spoke on condition of anonymity) doubted the Muslim Brotherhood had orchestrated the assault, blaming vigilantes instead. However, when that came up, Ioannidis disagrees. "From our people on the ground, they are clear that the violence is coming from the Muslim Brotherhood. They see that as being part of their effort to stay in power to control the situation in Egypt."

Still, the Gospel is present throughout Egypt. Even though the voices of some of the churches have been silenced, it's temporary. It's also just one small part of the larger body of Christ. AMG ministry partners haven't given up hope, but they need the protection of an army to keep going forward. Ioannidis sums it up this way: "This is a very dangerous time for them, so they need God's protection. The first thing to do is pray for them daily, and pray that God keeps them safe."

If the paradox of persecution still holds true, as historic as the violence is in Egypt, so will be the new believers on the other side of the turmoil. Will you add your voice to the growing chorus?

Egyptian Crhristians harassed by Islamists

Egypt 2012 (Photos by Ruth Kramer)

Egypt (MNN) ― As tensions boil in Egypt, the country's Christians are dreading its repercussions.

Since President Mohammed Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood were removed from power by the military in early July, Islamist extremists have targeted Egypt's Christian minority, holding them partly responsible. E3 Partners Middle East expert Tom Doyle explains, "Whenever there is some political change, whenever there is something new--the Arab Spring, whatever arises--inevitably targets result...and typically, it's Christians."

Over the weekend, a clash in one southern city between Christians and Muslims saw 15 people wounded, and homes and a church burned. It started innocently enough: Muslim neighbors had a dispute over a speed bump being built in front of a Christian home. Tempers flared and fighting broke out, resulting in the ruins seen in the light of day.

When asked why Christians were blamed for the Morsi's ouster, Doyle said, "They went from having oppression under the government, to now [being] out of power and then being the agitators. They really can't do anything to the military, at this point, because the military is so strong. So they're going after Christians. They're unleashing their anger on Christians."

Applications to leave the country are increasing among both Christians and Muslims. By some estimates, tens of thousands of Christians have fled post-revolution Egypt.

According to corresponding reports from the Voice of the Martyrs USA, radicals have vandalized Christian-owned shops to identify them. Many Christian shop owners have closed their businesses. Christian women and girls are staying at home to prevent being attacked or kidnapped by radical Muslims. Asking for protection provides little comfort. Doyle cited a case where church officials got wind of a threat against them, asked police for help, and only after the church burned to the ground did help arrive. As cases like these pile up, he says, "God is their protector there because they cannot depend on the government."

Doyle goes on to say that the paradox of persecution comes to life in times like this. "There's unrest on both sides, Christian and Muslim. It's a dangerous situation, and people are reevaluating how they think and what they believe."

As people begin questioning the violence, their dogma, and more, ground is being prepared for the seed of hope. "We really need to pray for believers there. There are Christians that are in above-ground churches, like the Coptics. There are underground believers that come from a Muslim background, that are worshiping privately in homes so they're not in danger."

Christians in Egypt are asking you to pray with them for protection, but there's more to it than that. "Pray that the Christians can be known for love and not retaliation," notes Doyle. When believers respond in the name of Christ, and with boldness, it gets noticed. "Privately, Muslims are coming to faith in Jesus, wanting a different way, looking for a different relationship with God that they can only find through Jesus."

Christians nervous under new president Morsi

(Photo by Jonathan Rashad)

Egypt (MNN) ― He's only two days into his presidency, but Egypt's president elect Mohamed Morsi has already made some promises to Christians. The question now is whether it's possible for him to keep them.

The Muslim Brotherhood candidate was announced over the weekend to be the winner of Egypt's first democratic election. During his victory speech on Sunday, Morsi pledged to be "a president for all Egyptians," noting that Muslims and Christians both were vital to building Egypt.

If you have been following MNN's coverage of the Egyptian elections in the past few months, you know that many believers in particular are skeptical and even frightened of a Muslim Brotherhood-run Egypt. Although Morsi says he is for women's rights and religious freedom, many are deeply concerned by the Brotherhood's decades-long agenda to overthrow the Egypt's past secular government.

So in reaction to Morsi's speech, Todd Nettleton with Voice of the Martyrs says, "Speeches are nice, but actions are better."

"Christians now watch and say 'Okay, he said nice words. Now what are his actions going to be?'" Nettleton adds. 

"That's really what they're looking for: how are his actions going to reflect that? Are they going to reflect respect for the Christian community and respect for religious freedom? Or are they going to be hardline, Islamic, Muslim Brotherhood actions which would limit religious freedom and move Egypt more and more toward a Sharia state?"

Overall, says Nettleton, a lot of believers are not only skeptical that Morsi has a pro-Christian agenda, but, "Understandably, they're nervous about what this means for their future as far as religious freedom, and as far as their ability not only to worship, but also to witness and serve Christ in Egypt."

Persecution in Egypt has been dreadful over the centuries. Egypt is the 15th worst country in which to be a Christian when it comes to persecution, according to the Open Doors World Watch List. Believers are nervous that a government led by a Muslim Brotherhood leader might only increase crackdowns on Christians.

In the midst of transition, says Nettleton, the Gospel will undoubtedly go forward as it has been doing. And it's too early to know how extreme or lax Morsi's regime will be. But Christians are holding their breath until actions start showing up.

There's much room for prayer. Pray for believers to have peace and calmness of spirit. Pray also for Morsi in the coming days as he picks his cabinet members.

"[Pray] that the people who will honor religious freedom -- the people who will understand that there is a large Christian community in Egypt that deserves to be protected and deserves to have rights -- will get into positions of influence and positions of power."