Pray for Egypt

Egypt boasts one of the longest histories of any country, tracing its heritage back to about 3000 B.C. This Mediterranean country borders the Gaza Strip and Israel at its northeast, with the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south, and Libya to the west. 

Ancient Egypt saw some of the earliest developments of writing, agriculture, urbanization, organized religion, and central government. Although an early and important center of Christianity, the country was largely Islamized in the seventh century. With more than 106 million inhabitants, Egypt is now the most populous country in North Africa, the Middle East, and the Arab world. 

President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi took power in a 2013 coup and rules “in an increasingly authoritarian manner,” according to the watch group Freedom House, which scores countries by their level of freedom. In 2020, Egypt scored as “not free,” with only 21 points out of 100 for its political rights and civil liberties — a full point drop from 2019. The report points to lack of press freedoms, surveillance of social media and mobile apps, mass closure of NGOs, and continued female genital mutilation, among other offenses.

Religious freedom is an issue as well. Although Egypt recognizes three religions — Islam, Christianity, and Judaism — a local Jewish NGO reported the existence of only six to 10 Jews in the country in 2019. 

Arabic is Egypt’s official language and Islam its state religion. The government estimates that 90% of its inhabitants are Muslim, with the vast majority of the rest claiming Christianity (and 90% of those belonging to the Coptic Orthodox Church). But some sources cite that the percentage of Christians might actually reach 15-20%. 

Even if only 10% of the population, Christians are regarded as second-class citizens — victims of social exclusion — according to Hyun Jeong Ha, associate professor of sociology at Duke University. Many encounter substantial roadblocks to living out their faith, facing discrimination in areas such as justice, education, and basic social services. 

Human Rights Watch, in covering events in 2019, noted that Christians “continued to face systematic discrimination on … institutional levels.” 

The Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy agrees: “While public displays of support for Christians such as Sisi’s attendance at mass and the reconstruction of churches destroyed in 2013 are welcome signs, the tangible situation for Christians has remained relatively unchanged in the past decade.”

The government also places restrictions on building or securing places for worship, which often prevents Christians from congregating. When they do gather, they can encounter hostility and violence. Others have reported forced conversions to Islam and lengthy prison sentences under antiblasphemy legislation.

Despite President Sisi’s calls for unity, Islamic extremist groups target individual Christians and churches in horrific and deadly acts of persecution. Specifically, ISIS publicly vowed to wage war on Christians. 

And yet, even in the face of violence, Christians in Egypt have shown incredible grace and forgiveness. Coptic Christians were nominated for the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize for their refusal to retaliate.

Arabic Media Ministries is daily reaching out to Muslims in Egypt with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Through our television programs, digital media platforms, and personal follow-up team, we provide answers, Bible study resources, and prayer to those who are seeking to know the truth in the midst of a violent and unstable environment.

Please pray:

• For protection balanced with boldness as Christians in Egypt live as a witness to Jesus’ power and love.
• For the rise of mature believers who can build faith communities.
• For Muslims who are seeking, that they find our programs and that God’s Spirit opens their hearts to the truth. 

With your support, AMM’s ministries are touching lives in Egypt. Click here to learn how you can help us share the gospel with those in this ancient land.

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Sources: North Africa Population, Worldometer; Middle East Population 2021, worldpopulationreview.com; “Freedom in the World 2020: Egypt,” freedomhouse.org; "2019 Report on International Religious Freedom: Egypt," U.S. Embassy in Egypt; The World FactBook: Egypt, Central Intelligence Agency; "Egyptian Christians under Sisi: Where Do They Go Now?" by Hyun Jeong Ha, Oct. 19, 2020, Duke Kunshan University Humanities Research Center; "Country Policy and Information Note | Egypt: Christians,” Oct. 27, 2020, Executive Office for Immigration Review, U.S. Dept of Justice, footnote 73; Ibid, footnote 43; “Freedom in the World 2020: Egypt,” freedomhouse.org; "2019 Report on International Religious Freedom: Egypt," U.S. Embassy in Egypt; Country Policy and Information Note | Egypt: Christians,” footnote 66; “Why ISIS Declared War on Egypt’s Christians” by Mokhtar Awad, The Atlantic, April 9, 2017; “Coptic Christians Receive Nobel Peace Prize Nomination,” Sept. 24, 2018, prnewswire.com.