Mission Crossroads is a three-time-a-year magazine focused on worldwide work of the PC(USA). It offers news and feature stories about mission personnel, international partners and grassroots Presbyterians involved in God's mission in the world.
Issue link: https://missioncrossroads.epubxp.com/i/491857
10 Spring 2015 What is the real situation of Christians in Egypt? Before the coming of Islam to Egypt in the seventh century, the main religion of the country was Christianity. Te Christian minority (8 to 12 percent) in Egypt is directly descended from those who refused to convert to Islam. In spite of being discriminated against and the many limitations some experience as "second class" citizens, many Christian entrepreneurs have thrived with the free market economy that began in Egypt in the early '70s, and it is estimated that they now control a signifcant portion of Egypt's wealth. Many churches in Egypt are fourishing with plans to expand their facilities to accommodate the growing numbers of weekly worshippers. In spite of the great difculty in getting permission to build new churches, dozens of new church buildings are opened every year. Christian ministries of all sorts are also booming, with expanded programs and modern facilities to accommodate their activities. So what's the true picture of Christians in Egypt: "a persecuted minority" or "a thriving community"? Both statements are true. Like Christians everywhere in the world, those who name the name of Jesus are often ridiculed or scorned. Although Jesus is respected by all Muslims as a prophet and they afrm his virgin birth, tensions have always existed between Christians and some of their Muslim neighbors. Sometimes these tensions spill over into violence especially in rural areas where the rule of law is less enforced. A period of unprecedented change Since the remarkable events of the 18-day popular revolution ( January 25–February 11, 2011), Egypt has been in a state of constant change. Four years later we are on our third constitution, third president, and expecting the election of our third parliament! Te most remarkable development during these four years, however, undoubtedly has been the wholesale rejection by the majority of Egyptians of the Islamists agenda of "Political Islam." Analysts have referred to this as a modern day "miracle"! No one expected it. With the political pendulum swinging from one extreme to the other several times, where are we now as Christians today? In this short article I can only give a brief bird's eye view of how the church in Egypt has responded to this rapid and unexpected change and some of the challenges facing us. Political sensitization Before January 25, 2011, it was nearly impossible to fnd a Christian interested in politics. Christians never voted, and had very little nationalistic fervor. Several years would go by without a pastor ever making reference to Christian social responsibility except as it related to the poor Christians whom his church served. Te same also was true of the average Muslim Egyptian. But January 25 and what followed changed this. Te main topic of conversation of Egyptians for the past four years has been politics. Newspapers and TV stations that did not exist then, now have a very large readership or audience from all walks of life. Te best known TV personalities used to be well-known actors. Now they are well-known political writers or anchor men/women who host political/social talk shows and attract large audiences. Before January 25 newspapers and TV shows rarely involved women or Christians. Now TV talk Christian witness in Egypt: The church in the midst of revolution By Ramez Atallah 1912 Training Schools for "Bible Women" are opened in Zagazig and Tanta. 1914 Dr. Charles A. Watson founds the school that will eventually become the American University in Cairo (AUC). 1917 Britain declares its support of "the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people" (Balfour Declaration). Tension between the Christian and Muslim communities erupts. In 1948, most Western governments recognize Israel as a sovereign state. Presbyterian missionaries question the decision as unjust for the native inhabitants of Palestine. 1919 Demonstrations against the British occupation erupt throughout Egypt. Suppressive reactions by British authorities ignite hostility against Westerners and burning of Christian stores. US President Woodrow Wilson supports British rule of Egypt and disappoints Egyptian aspirations for self-determination. Missionary teachers at girls' school in Cairo