Egypt (MNN) — Egypt's constitution gives preference to
Muslims, and Christians are treated as second-class citizens.
According to I.N. Network,
Egypt is a tough field. Islam is
the state religion, and Cairo is the intellectual capital of Islam. Archaic
discriminatory laws and the rise of Islamic Fundamentalism has resulted in the
authorities turning a blind eye to a culture of police brutality and to
Islamist violence and terror against Christians.
In some cases, the threat isn't made directly against believers but against those who are helping them. I.N. Network's Rody Rodeheaver says they've
felt that firsthand. Fundamentalist Muslims have been running their IN Network team off
rental properties. "Nate has been
working there for a number of years doing correspondence courses, training,
discipling and working under a great deal of duress. We've had to move our offices because people
would threaten our landlords. It affects your ability to build teams; it affects
the areas where you can work."
What started as a bad situation, God turned for good. "God has allowed us to find a property
where we can now own that property, and therefore it will not be subject to the pulling of our
lease. In this property, we're actually able to expand our training, to do more
of the work that God has called us to do there."
The I.N. Network Egypt ministry currently offers a Bible
correspondence course, providing over 8,500 copies monthly to participants in
Egypt and neighboring countries of Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.
They're also training 50 pastors a year in a professional
Bible school program. Half of the trainee's time at the Bible School is spent
ministering in villages and house churches. This hands-on ministry gives them
real-life experience which supplements their classroom training. The other half
of their time is spent ministering to the needy, providing them with blankets,
shoes, clothes, school fees for children, and food.
Additionaly, I.N.
Network Egypt annually runs three leadership training seminars in Egypt and two
in Jordan for Sunday school teachers, pastors, church leaders, worship leaders,
and young people. The average attendance at each conference is around 110
people.
Growth in these areas would produce phenomenal results in
God's kingdom. However, I.N. Network still has funding needs for the property
purchase. They've already raised 80% and made a down payment on the new
flat. They still need to raise $25,000
more. Rodeheaver hopes to be ready to
move into the new facilities by October. You can help. Click here.
