Egypt (MNN) — Life for Christians in Egypt looks different from just ten years ago when the Muslim Brotherhood was in power. Now, the Egyptian government has given Christians more freedom, and there are more licensed churches than ever in modern history. Tasos Ioannidis, president and CEO of AMG International, says there is also increased safety although some churches are not officially recognized.
It is easiest to establish a Coptic Orthodox Church. Other Christian groups may freely gather for worship whether or not they are officially registered as a church.
“Evangelical Christians still face challenges, especially for Christians in Egypt that come as refugees from Sudan or other places, or former Muslims,” says Ioannidis.
According to the UN Refugee Agency, Egypt hosts refugees from 59 countries. Since April, when war broke out in Sudan, close to 300,000 Sudanese refugees have fled into neighboring Egypt. Ioannidis says Christian refugees are normally able to meet for worship but are at risk of deportation if they entered the country illegally.
Even so, the relative peace and religious freedom in Egypt provide opportunities for the Gospel to spread. He says,
“There is growing hunger and interest in learning more about the Gospel. There are a number of former Muslims and Muslim background believers that are now being discipled. And it is exciting to see that.”
AMG supports national leaders who drive outreach through personal interactions, conferences, and intentional discipleship.
“Right now we are in a period of calm. So there is opportunity, but it is very possible that in the future things will revert to a more challenging environment,” says Ioannidis.
“[Believers] can be praying for wisdom for the national missionaries who are engaged in sharing the gospel. They can pray for the new believers who are coming to faith, and they are in an environment that is hostile to them, especially if they are refugees.”
Header photo by George Youssef on Unsplash.
