It is the most populous
country in the Arabic speaking world. Hosting
the most influential training center for Muslim
clerics posted throughout the Middle East, it is not
uncommon to hear of its residents traveling to nearby
locales such as Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon to
find stable work. Sharing a
critical border with Israel, and being therefore the
pivotal land bridge that conjoins North Africa to
Eurasia, its role in the region for keeping peace or
making war should never be understated. As
the key component connecting the Indian Ocean to the
Mediterranean through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal,
it functions as the hinge on which economic and
political security swings. And with
the intrigue felt the world over for its historicity
and phenomenal artifacts, it boasts significant
exposure to the West through tourism and media.
And for weeks, the headlines have been
plastered with images of unrest and revolt as the face
of Egypt undergoes unprecedented transformation via
the communication channels of the technological
revolution. Meanwhile the
world stands by, some mesmerized, others already
demonstrating signs of boredom with it all, most
realizing that the outcomes of these events have the
potential to affect, for good or for bad, every corner
of the globe. For me, I take
it personal.
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A
Prayer for Egypt
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Dan
Nelson - pastor |
Particularly,
since I first began to make real friends there just
over five years ago when God opened doors for me to
participate in the African Leadership Conference in
Cairo and El Minya. The focus is on
training, equipping, and encouraging Christian leaders
living in Egypt, some of which are refugees from
various countries in turmoil. I
have since discovered not only great faith among these
heroes, but models of what it means to serve God in
conditions that can even threaten one’s very life.
While most
people seem to use it to tell the world what they had
for breakfast, some are driving people to action.
This is how the news spread to organize the
shake-up in Cairo. Of my 350
friends or so on Facebook, at least fifty of them are
Egyptian, and it is being used to similarly to connect
us, from the ground in the land of the Nile, across
the planet to this small town in Southern California.
I am greatly encouraged to have other options
for news than just the major networks. I
get to hear the word on the street, literally.
And what are they saying? My
friends in Egypt are beseeching us to fast and pray
for them.
Yes its true, while some are
calling for rioting and violence, others are appealing
people to pray. Maybe we can do
more than just watch it on the screen, we can petition
the God of the universe and really have an impact on
the outcome. In the event that you
understand what I am talking about and are willing to
get involved, I want to give you three specific names.
Samir is a leader in his church.
He serves as a pastor to many in his local area
and, as an elder in the larger Egyptian church, has
influence across the nation affecting thousands.
His family are devoted Christians, and together
with many others, serve Jesus as great personal cost.
A few years back, Samir stood before a
congregation of hundreds of people to present a
commemorative token of our partnership in the Kingdom
of God, which I keep in my office to remind me daily
of his important alliance.
Akram is an artist. He
expresses his faith through paint, stained glass, and
various artistic mediums. You can
come by my office and see a sample of his work. In
every generation, there are individuals like Akram
that use their gifts to communicate God’s truths and
messages of peace in unique ways. Please
pray for him and his fellow artists that are standing
for righteousness in a time of upheaval and
uncertainty.
Sameh is an educated young adult
that has dedicated his life to helping humanity and is
involved in various endeavors to ensure that those in
surrounding villages have food and the staples for
life. Like the other young people
that have been marching on the streets in
demonstration, Sameh wants to see change and a future
for his generation. The difference
is that he is putting different priorities at the top
and he is exhorting anyone who will listen to take
action through involvement in prayer. He
sent me an e-mail last week asking me to share his
heart with you.
These are three of my personal
friends who are in the midst of it; each one is unique
in roles and responsibilities in this action.
And they each have a voice and influence, and
the potential to make real impact with those that are
in their circles. Further, they are
asking for your support through fasting and prayer.
Won’t you come alongside them at this time?
Make a difference! Answer
the call! Change the world!
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