Despite the upheaval and insecurity over the past several
years in Egypt, Bible Society of Egypt (BSE) reports that its mission to make
Scripture available to Christians has been expanding significantly thanks to
God’s grace in supplying its ministry needs.
With support from American Bible Society, BSE’s outreach to
children and bookshop restoration projects have added to the successful
Scripture engagement efforts.
The Friendly Lion
BSE’s Kingo Festivals feature the “Friendly Lion,” who
demonstrates the relevance of Biblical values for children. Last fall, churches
and Christian properties suffered a wave of violent attacks. Afterward, a Kingo Festival was held in
a village where four Christians were killed. The biblical focus of the Kingo
Festival was the story of Joseph and his brothers.
One young girl said: “I saw my church burned and my
Sunday-School class room, that I decorated with my friends, destroyed. But I learned how to forgive from
Joseph, who forgave even after all his suffering and did not take his chance to
revenge when he had it.”
Repaired Bookshops
Among the many Christian places destroyed in the violent
demonstrations late last summer were BSE’s bookshops in Assiut & Minia.
Today, one of the shops is back in business and the other, as well as a new
bookshop in a crowded suburb of Cairo, will open soon.
BSE notes that while bookshops in the West are closing and
shifting to online distribution, the physical presence of bookshops is
significant to Bible work in Egypt because most consumers chose only to make
cash purchases in person.
Because these bookshops are service centers placing the Word
of God in the public arena available to everyone, each bookshop opens up new
opportunities for reaching people who would otherwise not have access to
Scripture products.
BSE asks for prayer as it works to provide God’s Word and respond
to the complex needs of Egyptian Christians during this time of great
transition.
