The “Arab Spring” continues …
The events of January 2011 marked an important date to Egyptian history. Through a largely peaceful uprising, the people forced President Mubarak, who had ruled for 30 years, to resign. “Lift up your head, you are an Egyptian!” This was the slogan of the cheering crowd on Tahrir Square in Cairo after this victory. Whether this event really will go down in history as a real revolution remains to be seen. The challenges of the country with its almost 85 million people are huge. More than 50% of the Egyptians are below 25 years of age; all want to have a place to learn, study and work. The population growth remains high at a rate of 1.3% annually. Severe inflations rakes the country and salaries lag behind in the price growth. Unemployment rate is around 15%. More than half of all Egyptians are illiterate. Read more here
Prayer Requests:
- Thank God for Christian satellite television which has been a big encouragement to believers in Egypt. Pray the teaching and evangelistic work through internet, radio, and satellite TV will bear fruit.
- Thank God for both large and small prayer meetings being held annually in Egypt. Pray that congregations will understand and act on their responsibility to train and to send labourers into the harvest. Christians need to be willing to be sent for ministry among people of the Islamic faith, both inside and outside the country (Acts 9:10-17).
- Pray Christians will participate in helpful and Biblical-based ways in the social and political life (remember the examples of Joseph and Daniel).