Egyptian Christians say they'll be fasting and praying this week and they're asking us to join in.
With the rise to power of the Islamists, prayer for Egyptian Christians may be more crucial now than ever.
Here are just some recent developments:
- According to International Christian Concern, Christian families have fled the Sinai town of Ramah after Islamic militants threatened to kill them if they did not leave. Instead of standing up to the extremists in defense of the Christians, the governor reportedly encouraged the Christians to re-locate to another town.
- Attacks against churches are ongoing and Egyptian Christians were arrested and beaten recently because of the anti-Mohammed film trailer.
- Reports have also surfaced that some Islamist members of parliament are demanding government control of Egyptian Coptic Church finances.
- And though the Constituent Assembly beat back attempts of Salafists to impose strict shariah language in the new constitution that's being drafted, there's still a chance that Islamic law will be imposed on the society.
Won't you join with our Egyptian brothers and sisters in Christ for this time of prayer and fasting? They need us to stand with them -- one of the oldest Christian communities in the world. They date back to 43 A.D. -- six centuries before Islam.
Egypt needs a strong, vibrant Christian community shining light in the midst of darkness.
It needs the love of Jesus even more.
Here's a link to the Open Doors announcement about the three days of fasting and praying in Egypt, Egypt Prayer