Egypt

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Do Egypt's Christians face an uncertain future?

The landmark November 28 elections for the lower house of the Egyptian parliament are approaching. Many Christians are nervous about the future, but others are seizing the opportune moment for an undaunted testimony of Jesus

By Henrik Ertner Rasmussen

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In June, I visited Egypt for the first time after the revolution that led to the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak. Before the revolution, his image was visible almost everywhere on public streets and squares, but now the portrait of the "father of the country" was conspicuous by its absence. The police were not nearly as visible on the streets as they have been in the past.

Bible work is flourishing - and the need for prayer feels acute

In the current uncertain situation, the Bible Society is providing guidance to Christians from the Bible so that people will be more firmly rooted in their relationship with Jesus Christ and not despair because many believe that the Muslim Brotherhood will come to power and further restrict Christians' ability to express their faith. The Egyptian Bible Society is also calling on Christians around the world to pray for Egypt, especially for the upcoming parliamentary elections, which will hopefully be the first truly free parliamentary elections in Egypt's history.

Help is sought for the most disadvantaged

As even more Egyptian Christians than usual in recent months have expressed a desire to emigrate to a Western country, it is important that we in Denmark support our brothers and sisters in Egypt, especially the weakest and most vulnerable. A social church ministry based in the Coptic Orthodox Church in the "garbage collectors' village" on Mount Muqattam on the outskirts of Cairo cares for mentally disabled children of Christian families whose only source of income is garbage collection. With personal sacrifices and help from abroad, the garbage collectors have managed to build not only several churches on the mountain, but also centers for basic education and a center for the mentally disabled.

This school is nearing completion but lacks funds for things like an elevator, which is much needed because the building has eight floors and many of the children are also physically disabled. Every May, a volunteer staff member takes these children to a summer camp to get them out of the noise and grime of the garbage city to a camp center where they can swim in clean seawater and learn to swim, as well as enjoy regular camp activities, adapted to their condition, of course. Every year, volunteers are needed for this camp for the disabled, and if there are any of our readers who would like to make an effort to help these Christians for a couple of weeks in the second half of May, the Danish European Mission is happy to put them in touch.