Middle East

Egypt: Fasting and Prayer

While many fear the Muslim brotherhood could hijack Egypt’s revolution, one organization says there’s a spirit of hope for Christians in that predominately-Muslim nation.

President of IN Network USA Rody Rodeheaver says, “There is a rejoicing. I think there is a genuine joy on their part that [President] Mubarak has stepped down and that there is some hope for change and maybe some real freedom and a voice in the country.”

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Rodeheaver says Christians have set aside the next three days for fasting and prayer “that the revisions of the constitution will not shut out the Christians.”

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Rodeheaver also says Christians are reaching out to help Egyptians adversely affected by the poor economy caused by the riots. “They used to be poor, and now they’re extremely poor and quite destitute. So our staff is reaching out to these people and trying to provide groceries.”

Source: Egypt: a window for the Gospel

Pew on Egypt: Apostates, Beware

Behold a little bit of what the Pew Global Attitudes Project found on the general subject of Muslim Publics Divided on Hamas and Hezbollah

At least three-quarters of Muslims in Egypt and Pakistan say they would favor making each of the following the law in their countries: stoning people who commit adultery, whippings and cutting off of hands for crimes like theft and robbery and the death penalty for those who leave the Muslim religion. Majorities of Muslims in Jordan and Nigeria also favor these harsh punishments.

Well, maybe that 75%+ is accurate or maybe it’s only for polling purposes.

In addition to the above link, you might also be interested in these:

Egypt: Away from the Cameras

While no one knows the political result of the unrest in Egypt, Christians are already feeling the effects of riotous distraction.

According to Assist News, the carnage took place in the village of Sharona near Maghagha, Minya province. Two Islamists groups, aided by Muslim neighbors, descended on the roof of houses owned by Christians, killing 11, including children, and seriously injuring four others.

The report stated the massacre has nothing to do with the mayhem in Egypt, but the murderers took advantage of the lack of police protection and thought they could commit their crime and no one would notice.

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So far, the protests have focused on jobs, free speech and democratic elections, not religion, but a few radicals are using this distraction to attack Christians.

Read it all

How to Pray for Egypt

Early this morning via their Facebook page, Operation World presented one Egyptian’s nine-item list of How to Pray for Egypt:

We have just received the note below from an Egyptian friend who has been involved in the prayer ministry in Egypt, but also involved on government level. This note is really helpful to understand the situation in Egypt and helps us to pray with insight. Please read it and pray fervently for this very special nation:

"Thank you for your messages and prayers for the Nation of Egypt. I have been in a state of disbelief and a little confused and now amazed as to what is taking place.

Many have asked me how we should pray for Egypt and to be honest I was not sure. The news is conflicting at the same time the things said do not match with my knowledge and understanding of the reality of Egypt and the people.

The past two days, listening to news on Al jezeera, BBC, and talking to parents and then talking to friends…. Each one had their own analysis and view about what is going on to an extreme… Confusion, confusion, confusion…

But one thing I sensed with them and agreed on is that last Friday, evil was unleashed in Egypt.

The Protest started as [….]

So, please Pray for:

  1. A peaceful transition of power. Wisdom and revelation for the leaders and to the way they address the people of Egypt.
  2. A quick end to this protest and the economic crisis accumulating.
  3. That the evil unleashed will hit a wall, and the plans of the enemy to start a civil confrontation will not succeed.
  4. Peace and security to return to the streets of Egypt
  5. A restraining of the Muslim Brotherhood and other political parties who have evil hidden agendas.
  6. For the Church to have a prophetic voice at this critical time. For Wisdom and revelation from the father to speak life and revealed truth to the Church and the Nation.
  7. The Church to move prophetically and know how to handle this difficult time with confidence and boldness.
  8. That Egyptians will not be taken lightly or mistreated any longer.
  9. That President Mubarak will leave with dignity and honor, and non of His family will be harmed.

Source: How to Pray for Egypt

HT: Stener Dahle Fagerlie (a Facebook friend)

Persecution 2011

Start praying: 2011 is ramping up to be a year of heavy persecution.

Many are hoping that the first 12 days are not an omen for what the rest of 2011 will look like for believers, especially in the Middle East. Many Christian leaders, however, may find it difficult to remain optimistic.

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Already, Christian and secular news sources alike have reported a rise in the persecution of Christians worldwide. The arrests of 70 converted Christians in Iran, the assassination of anti-blasphemy law governor in Pakistan, and the bombing of a church in Egypt is a lot for just 12 days. And just yesterday, six Coptic Christians were shot by Muslim extremists on a train in Egypt, killing one and wounding the other five.

Read it all

Whose Is Jerusalem?

I have a bias.

Is it wrong to be biased?

Well, here’s part of the story referenced in the title:

The demolition of an east Jerusalem hotel to make way for Jewish homes in a predominantly Palestinian neighborhood is sparking concerns from Europe to Egypt, which suggests a new intifada could break out as a result.

The Shepherd Hotel project will bring only 20 Jewish homes to Sheikh Jarrah, but it is at the forefront of a broader, intensely controversial Jewish campaign to establish a foothold in Arab neighborhoods circling the heart of Jerusalem.

Proponents see the efforts as a way to secure Jews’ rightful claims to the city as their “undivided and eternal capital.” Opponents, including much of the international community, say such efforts will preclude the possibility of creating a Palestinian state with a capital in east Jerusalem, thus rendering the two-state solution null and void.

“If current trends are not stopped as a matter of urgency, the prospect of east Jerusalem as the future capital of a Palestinian state becomes increasingly unlikely and unworkable,” wrote 25 consuls-general from European Union member states in Jerusalem in a new confidential report obtained by the Independent. “This, in turn, seriously endangers the chances of a sustainable peace on the basis of two states, with Jerusalem as their future capital.”

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After the 1967 war and its annexation of east Jerusalem, Israel took possession of the hotel under its absentee property laws, which apply to buildings whose owners are absent or considered members of an enemy state.

Source: Shrewd development deal likely to preclude possibility of creating Palestinian state

Regarding Jerusalem and the “West Bank” (How much more time must pass before it becomes the “East Bank”?!) and the 1967 war, surely there’s a parallel to this not-so-long-ago perspective in American domestic politics:

“Elections have consequences.”

“I won.”

But I don’t expect anything I say to make a difference, so I’ll just not say more.

I’ll just quote somebody else, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”

Above all, love God!