Missions

Countries of Focus

General: Egypt—work established in 1986: 2 not-yet-organized churches; 11 members.
Syria—work established in 1920: 5 organized churches; 1 not-yet-organized church; 728 members.

Regional: Both of this week’s focus countries are located on the Eastern Mediterranean Field of the Eurasia Region.

Cultural: Egypt became one of the great ancient civilizations around 3200 B.C., in large measure made possible because of the Nile River, with its annual floods creating rich and fertile land to sustain that civilization. Surrounded by arid deserts, Egypt was unique and powerful in biblical times, ruled by a series of dynasties until defeated by the Persians in 341 B.C., followed by Greek, Roman, and Byzantine empires, until Arabs conquered the country and introduced the Arabic language, and ruled for six centuries. Britain seized control to protect its investments in the rich land in 1882. Egypt acquired full sovereignty from Britain in 1952. The Suez Canal, completed in 1869, made Egypt one of the world’s most important transportation hubs. Its government has passed through numerous unstable periods since its independence. Syria allied with Egypt in 1958, forming the United Arab Republic, which broke up in 1961, when the Syrian Arab Republic was established. International pressures on Syria in recent years have led to on-going conflict with the ruling regime. Most recently, this has resulted in the destruction of much of the country, and one of the world’s most critical refugee crises, creating over 11 million people in need of humanitarian assistance across the country, and an additional 5.7 million Syrians registered as refugees in neighboring countries, Europe, and elsewhere around the world. Islam is the majority religion in Egypt (90%), predominantly Sunni; in Syria, 87% of the population is Muslim, again, predominantly Sunni.  Over 51% of the population of Egypt is under the age of 25, with high emigration rates; in Syria, nearly 53% represent this demographic, though with all of the emigration due to the war there, it is hard to know the accuracy of this number.

Special: The official language of both Egypt and Syria is Arabic. The literacy rate in Egypt is estimated to be 71%; in Syria, it stands at 86%. In Egypt, unemployment is 25%; in Syria, 36%. The poverty rate in Egypt is 30%; in Syria, 9 out of 10 persons live in poverty (90%), in large measure due to the war and the economic and social collapse of the country in recent years.

Mission and Ministry

Mission Challenges:

During the COVID-19 pandemic the number of cases in Egypt has reached 303,783 with 17,294 reported deaths; in Syria, cases have reached 33,933 with 2,238 reported deaths.

There are many challenges to the work of the church in these two countries. In some instances, registration issues hamper church efforts to minister with official recognition; the chaos of civil war and unrest in Syria has left the churches weak and vulnerable; the large number of refugees fleeing their country in search of safety, has reduced congregational strength; and, the destruction of properties in places like Syria, have placed a heavy financial and logistical burden upon pastors and leaders, as well as congregants.

Ministry Approaches:

During the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in countries across the Eastern Mediterranean Field, including Egypt and Syria, Jordan, the Holy Land, and Lebanon, many prayer ministries and initiatives have begun on Zoom. These have not only connected church members, but provide ways for refugee families scattered across the field to connect with local churches. Numerous compassionate ministries have been offered, from food parcels, and clothing, to rental assistance. The number of families helped during this pandemic, across the field, including our focus countries, have numbered 4,500, and the rental assistance has helped 60 families find a secure place to live and begin new life connected with loving Nazarene church families. In Egypt, new discipleship initiatives have been started in Upper Egypt, through our church there. Many new villages are being impacted through these efforts.

Praises

• Give thanks to God for pastors and leaders in Egypt and Syria, and across the Eastern Mediterranean Field, who are ministering to many refugees in child development programs, compassionate ministries, and education; praise God for His provision of strength, courage, and grace in the face of many challenges.
• Give praise to God, that Arab Nazarene Bible College (formerly Eastern Mediterranean Nazarene Bible College) has been able to deliver nine classes online during the COVID-19 pandemic. ANBC is seeking to deliver the approved Course of Study to Arabic-speaking students around the world.
• Give thanks to God that a new NCM coordinator has been found for the much-needed work of Nazarene Compassionate Ministries across the Eastern Mediterranean Field, including our focus countries of Egypt and Syria.

Prayer Requests

• Pray for the churches in Egypt. The Church of the Nazarene is still awaiting official registration in this country. Pray for a miracle that will make that registration possible so that the churches are fully recognized and make full membership possible.
• Pray for the churches that remain in Syria, even in all the chaos of the country, and for pastors, leaders, and congregants who still live in Syria and attend our churches, that God would give wisdom and grace, and provide means for them to know the next steps for the future of the work there.
• One pastor and his wife from Syria died of COVID-19. Pray for that church as it seeks to find a new pastor and recover from this significant loss.
• Pray for Khalil, field strategy coordinator for the Eastern Mediterranean Field, and his wife, Randa, that God would bless their work and ministry in leading this field with all of its complexities and challenges.
• Pray for missionaries Joel and Kristine, and Philip and Katy as they settle into the work and life and of the church in the Middle East, and as they study Arabic language.
• Pray for ministerial development in the Eastern Mediterranean Field, and for Arab Nazarene Bible College as it offers courses in the various countries of the field, that many will complete their Course of Study and become ordained ministers in the Middle East. Pray also for ANBC’s efforts to deliver classes in the Course of Study to Arabic-speaking students in many countries outside the Middle East.