Thank you very much for your prayers. It is such an encouraging reminder for us that we are not alone but a part of God’s one family.
Due to the recently imposed curfew, all our evening services were cancelled. So we decided to hold a prayer meeting every day from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
While we shared our fears during those times, we also shared what we were learning and what God was saying to them. Here are a few examples of what people said:
“I remembered what Nehemiah did when he heard the bad news about the destruction of his city and I repented and wept.”
“I recognized that in this hard time I should not think about my own needs but think of who my God is (Ps. 63).”
“I feel that the Lord is calling each one of us to be ‘a watchman for the people’ (Ezek. 33:7). It is time for us to stop being selfish and go out to encourage those who are afraid.”
“The church is safe. Even if we have one loaf of bread, we will share it.”
“It is time for believers to test their principles and values.”
How different is the way believers see things.
One of the positive things that we gained through these tough days was getting closer with our Muslim neighbors. After the police disappeared and the chaos started, we had to stand together to watch and protect our homes and neighborhoods, and that was the first time after years of tension between Muslims and Christians. We see the crisis as a bridge for us to reach them.
Please pray with us that the leadership that comes after Mubarak will give more freedom for the Egyptian church and grant us the right to carry on the Great Commission freely and plant new churches without the restrictions we’ve had.
Pray that we may have wisdom to discern when and how to interact with the government in the coming period.
Pray that the Lord might enable us as a church to restore and maintain our vision. There is a lot of destruction in the country. We need to be positive and active in our communities and serve our people practically to rebuild and restore. The coming days are a golden chance for us to interact with people.
Pray that the Lord may complete His healing for His wounded children from fear and all the negative feelings mentioned above.
(Condensed from a letter written by Mounir Malaty, pastor of First Baptist Church, Cairo, Egypt)
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