Cairo Church and Feeding Center
|
Need - $15,715
Received and pledged - $8,480 (as of 1/12/2026) Background: Several years ago, my wife and I went as "tourists" to Egypt. Every day, we visited different historical places so that we would be seen as such. However, our purpose was not to see the old, but instead to see our new and vibrant ministry there and determine how we might encourage you to help them. One evening, we waited until the sun was setting to visit a low-income apartment area. Moving quickly to avoid being seen by as many people as possible, we entered the building and walked up several flights of stairs. A door opened and we were greeted by about seven adults and as many children. One of our friends had started a feeding center in that apartment, and each evening the children would come to eat. The host was a young man with a beautiful family. Our man in Cairo had been discipling him for a short time and wanted us to meet him. We could only stay long enough for a cup of tea, a word of encouragement, and prayer. Egypt has more liberty than most Arab countries, but it is still illegal to witness to a Muslim. American missionaries must restrict their witness to the Coptic people, the original Egyptians who refused to turn to Islam in the fifth century (639 AD). Their faith is that of an Orthodox "Christian" Church, which separated from the Roman Catholic centuries ago, as did all "Orthodox" churches (Syrian, Greek, Russian, etc.), but kept the primary false doctrines they had always taught. The Church quickly outgrew the pastor's house. We unofficially opened a feeding center there and had more children coming than we could hold. These were church kids, neighborhood kids. Feeding centers always result in parents wanting to know "WHY." Why are you giving free food to my kids? How can you do that? Why do you love us? Such questions all have but one answer – JESUS. Before long, a denominal church saw what our men were doing. This group had a large, beautiful building with a handful of people. We had a young pastor, a large congregation, but no building. They invited a merger, which seemed to solve everyone's problem, until the denomination found out and decided to cast out our pastor, thinking all the new converts would stay, but they were wrong. The sheep followed their Shepherd. The Lord opened the door for us to move to a new area in a suburb of Cairo, which has a population of 700,000, predominantly Muslim. In the last year, the team has reached many families for Christ. One family owns a small apartment building and has donated an apartment to the Church for use as a meeting place. (This deprives his family of rental income, which they rely on.) With the walls removed and other improvements completed (which they paid for), they can squeeze in almost ninety people at a time into a room that is less than 600 square feet. The Church marches on! Here's how we can help their future: Meeting on bare concrete floors is considered a bad reflection on our Lord in their culture. Their worship places are extravagant, large, and beautiful. Having such a place as ours gives an unbelieving Coptic or Muslim the impression that our God is not sufficient. They would be embarrassed to be seen attending such a meeting. Custom is everything. In our culture, it would be like starting a church in an old storage shed. Who's going to come? Our team discussed it, and this is what we have decided to ask for your help with.
Interesting Facts About Egypt:
This year, President Al-Sisi of Egypt told a close friend of mine that the "Isaiah 19 Highway" (at least the Egyptian portion of it) is now completed. In fact, that's what they are naming the highway. I'm not a prophecy expert, but I believe this refers to a Millennium event when Assyria, Egypt, and Israel are at peace and will build a highway, enabling people to travel to Jerusalem to worship Christ. If so, take your seat and fasten your seatbelt because Rapture Airlines is about to take off! Let's do all we can, while we can, wherever we can |
|