SANDWICHED BETWEEN SUFFERING: The consecration of the Egyptian Church

On Saturday 7 October 2023 the Palestinian militant group, Hamas, coordinated a series of attacks from the Gaza Strip onto bordering areas in Israel.  In a single day, described by media outlets and politicians as the bloodiest day in Israel’s history and the deadliest for Jews since the Holocaust, around 1,400 people were killed and around 200 were taken as hostages to the Gaza Strip.

Sixteen hours after the attack, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to bring the full force of the Israeli military against Hamas:  “The Israel Defence Forces will act immediately to destroy Hamas’s capabilities,” Netanyahu said in a televised address. “We will cripple them mercilessly and avenge this black day they have brought upon Israel and its citizens.”  “Any place Hamas deploys, in this evil city, all the places Hamas is hiding, operating — we will turn it into a ruin,” he said.

And they did!

In the light of these events, we had the opportunity to visit the Church in Egypt, probably the only nation that can provide stability, relief and assistance to the 1,2 million Gazans in need.  We were asked to host a conference and explore from scripture the instruction to be light and salt, walking with integrity, and finding balances in our daily lives.  More than 80 Pastors attended the conference from various denominations and we were humbled to stand amongst giants of faith, who seek to radiate Christ in a season of extreme darkness.

We also had the joy of serving at various Churches during their Sunday morning and evening services, varying from Churches in the city to isolated Churches in villages off the beaten track.

This report aims to provide the INFORMATION, the INSPIRATION, and also the INTERPRETATION of encounters that once again transformed our lives.

FROM A MINISTRY PERSPECTIVE there were three central themes that stood out to us during our visit to Egypt.

Firstly, we recognised that our seven-o-clock news is their daily reality.  What we view on our television sets remains captured on the small screen in front of us and can be kept as near or as far away from our realities as we choose.  With the flip of a channel, we can decide to move on, remove ourselves from the hardships, and enter a new realm of entertainment.  For those who live in the Middle East, whether it be within the borders of Gaza or outside, there are no channels, no screens, and no options – this is a daily confrontation of friends, neighbours, and loved ones suffering beyond compare.

Secondly and thirdly, running in tandem with one another, we were confronted with the unparalleled hardships the region is facing and the unprecedented opportunities it presents.

Strategically Egypt is positioned like no other nation on earth.  To the north, it borders Gaza.  No imagination can grasp, and no mind comprehend, the horror of what is unfolding in Gaza today. Entire extended families are being wiped out beneath the rubble of their own homes or in bombarded hospitals or streets and alleys.  The people of Gaza are facing one of the worst humanitarian crises in living memory. More than 1.5 million of the 2,1 million Palestinians living in Gaza have now been forced from their homes and airstrikes continue to destroy housing, schools, and healthcare facilities.  Per capita, if this was America, it would have translated into 285 million people uprooted in four weeks, with nowhere to go.  Throughout the Gaza Strip, it is estimated that between 13% and 18% of all structures have been destroyed or damaged, a range of 38,000 to 51,500 buildings.

The agonising plight however is that of the vulnerable.  The Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has climbed to over 11,000 people on Friday 10 November with new bodies being added daily.  The victims included 4,506 children, 3,027 women, and 678 elderly people, while 27,490 people were injured.  More children have now been killed in just over four weeks in Gaza than in all of the world’s conflicts combined in each of the past three years, according to the global charity Save the Children. For example, it said, 2,985 children were killed across two dozen war zones throughout all of last year.  A further 2,700 people, including 1,500 children, are also reported to be trapped under the rubble of buildings flattened by Israeli strikes.

But it is not just about the displacement and destruction.  Al Jazeera reports that the war has also resulted in outbreaks of cholera, a number of other diseases, and, worst of all, huge sanitation systems breakdown.  Hundreds across Gaza are being forced to share a limited number of toilets. In shelters in the south, where people are evacuating to, at least 600 displaced people share one toilet, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Sadly, for Egyptians, Gaza is only half the nightmare.  Egypt also neighbours another country to the south that seems to be in an even worse situation:  SUDAN.

A war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), rival factions of the military government of Sudan, began on 15 April 2023, with the fighting concentrated around the capital city of Khartoum and the Darfur region.  As of October 2023, more than 10,000 people had been killed and 6,000 to 12,000 others injured. As of 24 October 2023, over 4.8 million were internally displaced and more than 1.3 million others had fled the country as refugees.

The health situation is equally dire, with a measles outbreak and high levels of malnutrition leading to the tragic deaths of over 1,200 children under five in White Nile State between mid-May and mid-September. Essential medicines and supplies are lacking, further compounding the crisis.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees puts the total number of refugees, asylum seekers, and stateless people (“people of concern”) in Egypt at 300,000 from 55 countries.  However, as far back as 2016 at the G-20 meeting, President Sisi stated that Egypt was hosting at least 5 million unregistered refugees and immigrants.  Some estimate that this number has now reached double figures with the wars in Sudan, Yemen, Syria, and Gaza contributing new asylum seekers on a daily basis.

Those who suffer are countless but the opportunities for ministry are simply matchless.

ENTERS THE CHURCH

It is important to reiterate and reemphasise the fact that there can be no peace and no reconciliation without the influence and intervention of the local church.  No peace can be initiated and no reconciliation can be negotiated by those who are actively involved in the conflict.  Not Islam, not Jews, not the USA, not Israel, not Hamas nor the Palestinian authorities.  It can only come from an outside source that has peace as a cornerstone of faith:  THE CHURCH.  This will include the Church in Gaza and the Church in Egypt

For Gaza, the war could spell the end of the oldest Christian community in the world, dating back to the first century.  Only 800 to 1,000 Christians are believed to still live in Gaza.  Mitri Raheb, an Evangelical Lutheran pastor and founder of Dar al-Kalima University in Bethlehem, said it was conceivable that the current conflict would spell the end of its long history in this strip of land.

“We know that within this generation, Christianity will cease to exist in Gaza,” he added.

The broader region of historic Palestine is the birthplace of Christianity, as well as the setting for many of the events in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.  In the fourth century, Gaza, located along a major trade route with access to a vibrant port and a cosmopolitan city, became a major Christian mission hub. After 1948, when the state of Israel was established and 700,000 Palestinians were displaced from their homes in what became known as the Nakba, or “catastrophe”, more Palestinian Christians joined the community on the coastal enclave.

Estimates have indicated that the number of Christians in Gaza dropped in recent years to an estimated 800 from the 3,000 registered in 2007, when Hamas assumed complete control of the strip, triggering Israel’s blockade and accelerating the departure of Christians from the poverty-stricken enclave.

But, sandwiched between a disappearing Church in the north and a heavily persecuted Church in the south, we find Egypt, a nation that has diplomatic relations with both Palestine and Israel and has often been a key intermediary in diplomatic efforts to gain peace between them.  Egypt is not a member of the Abraham Accords, but it has hosted meetings that bring together leaders from Israel and countries in the Arab world such as the March 2022 Egypt-Israel-UAE summit.

With 107 million people, Egypt is the largest country in the Middle East and the third-largest in Africa.  Egyptian empires have been rising and falling since more than 3000 years before Christ, and Egypt today is a leader spiritually, politically, and culturally across the Middle East and in Africa.  Egypt has also been a center for Christianity since the early Church in the 1st Century.  Although Christians are only about a tenth of modern Egypt’s population, they are by far the largest Christian community in the Middle East and home to nearly 50% of all Christians living in the 22 Arab nations of the Arab World.

The key to peace will be found within the borders of Egypt.

FROM A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE we found a deep sense of hope by meeting local Egyptian believers.  We were deeply touched by their commitment and devotion and felt humbled to stand in the midst of a force of reconciliation, consecrated by God for a time such as this.  During the weekend conference where more than 80 pastors attended from various denominations, we realised that worship and prayer was not a spiritual duty, it was a matter of life and death.  When the Pastors gathered together to pray for Gaza heaven opened and we all felt the divinity of the moment.  It was an outcry of anguish before the throne of a compassionate God.

We also realised that the Church in some parts of Egypt does not only face the realities of persecution and opposition but the hardship of isolation.  What struck me personally was the plight of the forgotten saints. From small villages in Upper Egypt to century-old monasteries in the desert, it seems like believers in the Middle East often bear the cross of suffering alone.

One of the leaders shared a letter that was sent from a pastor in Gaza.  The Pastor asked the question, in the light of Western believers who publicly and proudly proclaim they stand with Israel, if he, as a Gazan, is also regarded as being part of the body of Christ.  There was no doubt in my mind that the public support by Western believers for Israel has left the Church in the Middle East feeling alienated and isolated.

A surprising highlight was also a chilling reminder that we were only 350 km from the actual war.  One evening, while walking through the streets of a suburb in Cairo, we came across one of the trucks that was on its way to Rafah, the border of Gaza, with much-needed relief supplies.

Another highlight was visiting a small Church in Southern Egypt.  Even though the church was more than an hour’s drive from the nearest city, we were surprised to find armed soldiers outside the church.  It seemed like the war in Gaza has overflowed into the Egyptian society and has placed everyone on high alert.  The church started with an hour of worship.  The worship, however, was not a time of “praise and worship” as we do in the West, it was a total immersion into the presence of God.  The congregants were mostly farmers, great men and women of God living simple lives.  It always amazes me how God inhabits the presence of His people when He is welcomed as the only guest of honour.  Not the speaker, not the worship leader, not the pastor.  And He did!

As a team, we also realised the importance of encouragement and visited a number of ministries, ranging from the Egyptian Bible Society to SAT7 in an effort to express our solidarity.  It was once again impressed on our hearts that it is an amazing privilege to pray FOR people, but it is even a greater joy to pray WITH people.

THE BIBLE SOCIETY OF EGYPT deeply impressed us with their vision, groundbreaking initiatives and their pursuit of excellence.  Considering that Christianity in Egypt is a minority and that the Church is still regarded as a Persecuted Church, the numbers are staggering.

In 2022:

• 221,846 Arabic Bibles were delivered
• 89,852 New Testaments were delivered
• 566,553 Online Unique Users
• 104,991,128 Online chapters requests

https://biblesocietyegypt.com/

We were equally moved by the ministry of SAT7, a digital Christian TV broadcasting channel that broadcasts to 21 Arabic-speaking countries in the Middle East and North Africa.

At least 400 million Arabic-speakers in the Middle East and North Africa have access to satellite TV. Thanks to SAT-7 ARABIC, 95 percent of the region’s population can turn on their television and find the very thing most needed in their troubled region: hope.

https://sat7.org/our-channels/channel-overview/sat-7-arabic/

HOW DO WE INTERPRET THIS?

For interpretation, I would not be so presumptuous as to rely on my own wisdom in a situation so complex.  In this regard I would like to quote Dr. Rula Khoury Mansour, a Palestinian Protestant theologian from Nazareth and a citizen of the State of Israel, she also serves as an adjunct professor at Bethlehem Bible College and the Asia Graduate School of Theology in the Philippines.

Dr. Mansour writes as follows: (https://www.comeandsee.com/view.php?sid=1426&fbclid=IwAR1df7oYaYBGP5NxZvO4L4ALPyJ6WxtWvsNZxiy0MwAe60GZ4KKDraQzJ80)

Christ’s response to enmity inspires and encourages us in three ways:

FIRST, TAKE ACTION: In challenging times, we have the ability to initiate creative solutions. Christ urged His followers, often those who were oppressed, to reject revenge and explore creative ways beyond conventional responses, offering an alternative to fight or flight. These initiatives are transformative and aim to affirm the humanity of both the oppressor and the oppressed, seeking positive transformation in their relationship. Gideon, observing the hunger of his people, took an action. He collected and threshed wheat secretly in a winepress, hiding from the enemy, to provide food for those in need. His initiative is a powerful example of creative, simple actions that brought about change (Judges 6:11-16).

SECOND, TRANSFORM RELATIONSHIPS: As peacemakers, our aim is to bring about change in oppressors by exposing their injustices and persuading them to amend their ways. This shift in our approach shifts us away from seeking vengeance and positions us as instruments of God, advocating for justice and peace through compassion. Turning the other cheek (highlighting the cruelty), walking the extra mile (initiating dialogue), and handing over the coat (emphasizing injustice) are not acts of weakness but rather heroic stances. They serve to highlight the combination of justice and mercy by exposing wrongdoing and fostering dialogue, with the intent of convincing oppressors to abandon their harmful ways and embrace the paths of truth, thereby opening up the possibility of living in dignity and harmony. Rizpah, who publicly exposed the injustice committed by David against her sons by keeping the fact of her sons’ deaths visible before the people of Israel for months, provides a powerful example of creative action that transform relationships with oppressors (2 Samuel 21:1-14).

THIRD, EMBODY SACRIFICIAL AND LIBERATING LOVE: Christ’s example demonstrates the power of self-control and love. Following His lead, we can endure suffering without seeking revenge and view injustice as an opportunity to embody Christ’s love and justice as we work to advance His kingdom. This love is both sacrificial and liberating. The four scenarios (turning the other cheek, giving your cloak, going the extra mile, and giving to the one who asks) embody this sacrificial and liberating love. In essence, love and justice are expressed through a lifestyle dedicated to conquering evil with goodness. They guide us in growing in Christ-likeness and in the process, in restoring others and society. The Good Samaritan story exemplifies sacrificial and liberating love. Christ’s instruction not to resist evil is about avoiding retaliation, but it is not an invitation to pacifism in all circumstances. Instead, it’s a strategy to prevent revenge and contribute to the promotion of good while preventing evil.

Please pray with us…

• Divine Goodness and Sovereignty: We trust in God’s complete sovereignty over tragedies and injustice, believing that His goodness ensures that He is with us in our suffering and will work things out for His good purposes, and that in His time, God will bring justice and right all wrongs. May we internalize that, the fact that God has ultimate control over all injustices doesn’t release us from our responsibility to be agents of peace and justice.
• Cessation of the war: We pray for God’s intervention to stop the bloodshed in this war and protect innocent lives in Israel, Gaza and the wider Palestinian territories.
• Acknowledgment of Suffering: We mourn with and pray for all those grieving and suffering both Jews and Palestinians of this ongoing strife. May our hearts be open to understand that our shared humanity diminishes when others are humiliated and abused.
• Healing and Comfort: We pray for all those who have been affected by this conflict, both Jews and Palestinians, seeking healing, comfort, and freedom. May they find solace and peace in their distress, and may God’s loving presence provide them with strength and resilience to overcome trauma. Grant them guidance, support, and the assistance needed for recovery and restoration.
• The Church: Lord, grant the church in Israel/Palestine the perseverance to walk the path of grace, even when it feels difficult, and when anger and fear threatens to take hold. Let Your love be our guide as we navigate the challenges of our time. Teach us the art of love that can overcome hearted and promote justice. Remind us that our mission, as the mission of Jesus, involves being sent into the world to love, to serve, to heal, to save and to free, presenting a counterculture so we fight revenge through mercy/ forgiveness and we resist evil with good and seek justice in the road of reconciliation.
• Leaders and decision-makers: We pray that God may guide leaders and decision-makers, granting them wisdom and courage to pursue lasting peaceful resolutions. May they prioritize unity, understanding, and dialogue to bring an end to the collective punishment and focus on the deep need for both sides to live in peace and safety.
• Uniting for Peace: We pray for protection and strength for those who are striving to build bridges amidst the chaos; working together to prevent polarization and escalation between Jewish and Palestinian communities. Bless their efforts and grant them the wisdom as they contribute in fostering harmony. We pray for the emergence of international peacemakers, who have wisdom, compassion, and courage to contribute to a just and lasting peace in this troubled region. Grant them the insight to navigate the complexities of this conflict, the empathy to understand the suffering on all sides, and the determination to bridge divides and foster reconciliation.