Alexandria, Egypt's Rich History

Alexandria has a rich history. Founded by Alexander the Great in 332BC, it quickly grew into one of the major cities of the Roman Empire along with Rome, Athens and Byzantium. It was in Alexandria in about 250BC that the Septuagint was translated traditionally by seventy scholars. This was a response to the large Jewish community living in the city at the time. Here also was the famous library of Alexandria, the Pharos Lighthouse and Alexandria School of Theology led by Clement and Origen.

Today Alexandria, with over 5 million inhabitants, is the second largest city of Egypt after Cairo, and one of the largest cities in Africa. It is still the official seat of the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate. Alexandria fell under the control of Muslim armies in 642AD. Over a period of time the strength of Christianity dwindled.
The city was slowly dying until the opening of the Mahmoudia Canal connected Alexandria with the Nile. Almost overnight the city became the major port of Egypt.

The growth encouraged immigration from Italy and Greece that also affected the nature of the city, but after the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 Greeks and Italians were driven from the city. In recent history the city has again suffered economic and political loss due to poor management, but a recent change of governors has inspired badly needed change and an increased confidence in the economic future of the city.

Alexandria, Egypt is a city with a spiritual hunger

Alexandria is the site of more than 15 Christian conference centres. It was in one of these conference centres that a renewal movement began in the 1950's. Sadly, the renewal seemed to affect mostly those who came from other parts of Egypt. Many of the churches today suffer from disunity and until recently, there were very few Christians interested in reaching out to the majority. As a result, the number of those who have believed from a Muslim background, is very low and few have been integrated into a local church.

Flag of Egypt

Map of Egypt

There are signs of change appearing. Some individuals are sharing their faith and the number of believers from Muslim background is growing. Muslim fundamentalism seems, at present, to have lost its vitality and a number of people who were involved have begun looking for something else that will better meet their spiritual hunger.

Prayer guide for Alexandria, Egypt:

* Pray for the church: for protection, opportunities to share their faith, for follow-up and on going discipleship, especially for those who have come from Muslim background.

* Pray for the Church to run effective training programs for individuals interested in sharing their faith.

* Pray for the leaders of this great city to make wise and righteous decisions in their government and for the people to find real freedom.

Background on Egypt (World Factbook)

The regularity and richness of the annual Nile River flood, coupled with semi-isolation provided by deserts to the east and west, allowed for the development of one of the world's great civilizations. A unified kingdom arose circa 3200 B.C., and a series of dynasties ruled in Egypt for the next three millennia. The last native dynasty fell to the Persians in 341 B.C., who in turn were replaced by the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines.

It was the Arabs who introduced Islam and the Arabic language in the 7th century and who ruled for the next six centuries. A local military caste, the Mamluks took control about 1250 and continued to govern after the conquest of Egypt by the Ottoman Turks in 1517.

Following the completion of the Suez Canal in 1869, Egypt became an important world transportation hub, but also fell heavily into debt. Ostensibly to protect its investments, Britain seized control of Egypt's government in 1882, but nominal allegiance to the Ottoman Empire continued until 1914. Partially independent from the UK in 1922, Egypt acquired full sovereignty following World War II.

The completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1971 and the resultant Lake Nasser have altered the time-honored place of the Nile River in the agriculture and ecology of Egypt. A rapidly growing population (the largest in the Arab world), limited arable land, and dependence on the Nile all continue to overtax resources and stress society. The government has struggled to ready the economy for the new millennium through economic reform and massive investment in communications and physical infrastructure.

During demonstrations beginning on 25 January 2011, protesters called for his resignation as president of Egypt. On 1 February 2011, Mubarak announced that he would not seek another term in the 2011 Egyptian presidential election. On 11 February, Vice President Omar Suleiman announced that Mubarak had resigned as president and transferred authority to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces following 18 days of protests challenging his nearly 30 years of rule. On February 13, 2011, the Egyptian military, heeding protester demands, dissolved the Egyptian parliament.

Economy of Egypt

Occupying the northeast corner of the African continent, Egypt is bisected by the highly fertile Nile valley, where most economic activity takes place. In the last 30 years, the government has reformed the highly centralized economy it inherited from President NASSER. In 2005, Prime Minister Ahmed NAZIF reduced personal and corporate tax rates, reduced energy subsidies, and privatized several enterprises. The stock market boomed, and GDP grew about 5% per year in 2005-06. Despite these achievements, the government has failed to raise living standards for the average Egyptian, and has had to continue providing subsidies for basic necessities. The subsidies have contributed to a sizeable budget deficit and represent a significant drain on the economy.

Statistics on Egypt

Population: 82,079,636 (July 2011 est.) World Rank #15

Life Expectancy at Birth: 72.66 years. World Rank #123

Ethnic Groups: Egyptian 99.6%, Berber, Nubian, Bedouin, and Beja 0.2%, Greek, Armenian, other European (primarily Italian and French) 0.2%

Religions: Muslim (mostly Sunni) 90%, Coptic 9%, other Christian 1%

Languages: Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by educated classes

Literacy: 71.4% | male: 83% female: 59.4%

Video: What Is Next For Egypt?

Remember to pray for the wise and safe transition of Egypt, not only for itself but also the region.

Egypt from Gus Bendinelli on Vimeo.

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The Nile Delta is a fertile farming region that extends from the northern edge of Cairo to the Mediterranean Sea. The three major cities marking the limits of the Nile Delta region, but not included in it, are Cairo, Alexandria, and Port Said. Referred to simply as the Delta, the region consists of the area surrounding the branches of the Nile River, which splits into the Rosetta and Damietta branches at a point just north of Cairo.

Population Explosion

As one of the Middle East's and Egypt's most densely populated areas the Delta is home to approximately 32 million people living in several large towns and thousands of villages. The region includes twenty cities each with populations of between 90,000 and 500,000 people. The local population increases by about 500,000 people each year. Covering the same land area as the state of Vermont in the USA (22,000 square kilometers) this small area is home to 12% or 1 out of every 8.5 native Arabic speakers in the world (The total population of the 22 countries of the Arab world is 323 million but only 272 million have Arabic as their mother tongue).

Delta's Diversity

The people of the Delta range from the poor, rural and uneducated to the wealthy and urban who have advanced degrees from universities in Western nations. There are even several universities in the Delta, but the overall literacy rate is low. Despite urbanisation the vast majority of Egyptians in the Delta are farmers. Egypt is one of the world's top rice producers, almost all of which is grown in the Delta.

The US ambassador to Egypt enjoys attending an annual celebration in the Delta city of Tanta. Sayid al Badawi founded a Sufi order and the mosque in Tanta housing his tomb is one of the largest in the Middle East.

Flag of Egypt

Map of Egypt

The overwhelming majority of the people in the Delta are Muslims. However there is a significant minority, roughly three percent, who identify with the Coptic Church, which traces its origins to Mark the Evangelist, the writer of the Gospel. A tiny minority of Christians in the Delta are Evangelicals.

Prayer Requests:

* Pray for boldness for all believers (current and new believers) resulting in the Gospel being shared thousands of times daily.

* The Delta is filled with a spiritual atmosphere of fear, confusion, fanaticism, and magic. Pray for fear to be driven out by perfect love, for clouds of confusion to be burned away by the light of truth, for fanaticism to be overcome by humility, and for demonic bondage resulting from practising magic to be broken in the name of Jesus. Pray that people will get to know the real Jesus, despite any errors they may have been taught.

* A family for Jesus can make God’s most powerful unit for building his kingdom. Pray for entire families to come to Christ so that they will devote their homes, as well as their hearts, to the Lord.

* Pray for people to listen to and watch the Christian radio and satellite broadcasts which can be heard in the Delta.

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Nubian Life

Although most of the Nubians are farmers, some have found jobs in cities as teachers, government workers, seamstresses, and retailers. They sometimes gather together in a community called the Nubian club. The literacy rate among Nubians is high in comparison to their rural Egyptian neighbours. Primary and secondary schools have been set up in New Nubia, and there are also teacher-training facilities in the area. In addition to education, radio and television help the Nubians to be linked with the rest of Egypt despite their remote geographical location.

Life for the Nubians centres on important ceremonies, such as birth, marriage, death, and the first haircut and circumcision for boys. However, their traditional animistic beliefs are still intermingled with Islamic practices. The traditional beliefs of the Nubians centre on the spirit of the river Nile, which they believe is influenced by angels, sheikhs (religious leaders), and other powerful beings. The sheikhs are sought daily for their advice in the areas of health, fertility, and marriage.

Nubian Hopes

Flag of Egypt

Map of Egypt

The Nubians believe Islam provides hope for a better life after death. There are few known Christian Nubians, and most Nubians have not had an opportunity to hear the Gospel. The Nubians in Egypt only have portions of the Bible written in their language, and even these are not widely distributed. Intense prayer, increased evangelism efforts, and additional Christian resources are necessary to reach them. Prayer is the key to breaking the stronghold of Islam over their lives. Recently, several prayer teams from different nations have passed through the Nubian lands.

Prayer Guide for the Nubians in Egypt

* Pray that the Holy Spirit will soften the hearts of the Nubians to the Gospel message.

* Ask the Lord to send long-term labourers who are ready to minister the love of Jesus to the Nubians.

* Ask God to send linguists to translate the Word of God into the Nubian tribal languages.

* Pray that God will reveal Himself to the Nubians supernaturally.

* Pray for the evangelism ministries among the Nubians in Cairo and Alexandria.

* Ask the Lord to save key leaders among the Nubians who will boldly declare the Gospel (Acts 8:26-40).

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In the Middle East, using the word "Gypsy" to identify someone is considered an insult. In reality, this word speaks of an ancient people that originally emigrated from India to Europe and the Middle East centuries ago. Although there are at least one million Gypsies in Egypt, they are not counted in the national censuses or registered by the government. They have no identity cards or birth certificates and are not eligible to work. They live in clans and families in or near the cities of Alexandria, Fayoum, Cairo and Salaam City.

Their dark skin and brown hair gives them the appearance of East Indians. Their language is related to Sanskrit and the languages of north-west India. Some Gypsies settle in one city, while others move from one place to another looking for employment or refuge. Numbers of Gypsies gather in Cairo from different parts of Egypt on the birthday of the prophet Mohammed the "Mouloud El Nabi".

Gypsies often use several names to hide their true identity, making them somewhat mysterious. "Ashoor" can be found playing his flute and accompanying dancers during festivals and parties. On another occasion he is "Abu Sereea", serving coffee in different festivals from a mobile coffee shop in the Nile Delta. He may take the name of "Abu Doma" while doing iron-working in Cairo.

Jobs

Gypsies have a wide range of low-paying jobs. Some sell fruit in the parking lots of cities such as Cairo, while others do iron-working. Young Gypsies who rebel against their parents often find themselves in jobs that require little skill or end up in drug trafficking. Some women work as dancers in the evening at religious festivals in the city of Tanta and later as prostitutes during the night. Gypsy women are highly valued because they work hard - whether in sales, factory work or prostitution. In many cases Gypsy men don't work at all, but profit from their women's efforts. "Pleasure seeking" is certainly a phrase that sums up most Gypsies. The ultimate aim of their work efforts is very often simply to create opportunities for pleasure, be that through laziness, smoking, drugs or sex. Christian moral values and finding a profound meaning of life are unfamiliar concepts to them. Their lifestyle usually leads to rampant poverty. Rejection and low self-image are written on their faces and deeply rooted in their hearts.

Flag of Egypt

Map of Egypt

In Egypt, most Gypsies call themselves Sunni Muslims, but in reality they often have very little religion. Their strong beliefs in the supernatural and miracles are opening doors for the gospel. They enjoy listening to stories about Jesus and the Christian saints performing miracles. When they discover that they are loved and accepted they welcome people into their homes. The Jesus who brings joy and does miracles can reach them!

Prayer Guide for Gypsies in Egypt

* Pray that Egyptian Christians will reach the Gypsies of Egypt with the love of Christ.

* Pray that Jesus be revealed to the Gypsies of Egypt.

* Pray that they will be delivered from evil spirits.

* Pray that Gypsy women would be reached.

* Pray that converted Gypsies will take the gospel to their own people.

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Only 1-2% aided by charitable organisations in Egypt

In recent years, understanding and initiatives for disabled people have grown considerably in Egypt. However, only one to two per cent of all disabled people living in Egypt are aided by charitable organisations. For those who are able to live independently there are special establishments (for certain blind, deaf and dumb individuals or those with minor mental handicaps). For multiple or very severely disabled people, however, there are no facilities. Hardly anybody knows about the benefits of early stimulation. Some people with disabilities living in the cities of Cairo and Alexandria do get early treatment. Those in the south of Egypt, however, depend on the help of their relatives, who generally understand very little about the handicapped or their needs.

For example, three-year-old Asma still cannot sit or speak. Her parents have attempted many things, have consulted different doctors and tried medicines, and have even used a sort of physiotherapy, but nothing has helped much. Sadly, there is also no specialist in the Christian hospital where they are seeking help. However, a foreign lady with a disabled child herself was able to give them counsel. Asma's mother absorbed the information about the illness and possible stimulations. With proper treatment, Asma may be able to develop further and will still be able to learn many things.

Hidden truth in Egypt

In Egyptian society, severely disabled people are often literally hidden at home. Willingness to be identified with the disabled hardly features in the minds of their relatives for fear of "shame". Also, it is as though such a child may diminish his or her siblings' chances for marriage.

Flag of Egypt

Map of Egypt

"Islam" means "submission to God's will". Muslims do not usually ask probing questions such as, "Why does God allow the disabled to suffer?" God's justice in the face of suffering is not questioned. In the Bible, God is one who suffers with His creation, yet He is Lord over every need and has overcome the suffering by His cross and His resurrection. In Islam, on the other hand, the main focus of how God is seen is not on God's love, but on God's almighty power. Suffering Muslim parents often do not find much tangible comfort and encouragement in their faith.

Prayer for Egypt:

* Pray for the families of Mohammed and Asma, and for other families in similar situations.

* Pray that the specialised Christian doctors and staff needed to work with disabled children will hear the call of God and respond.

* Pray for the existing Christian initiatives in working with disabled people (in Beni Suef, Asiut, and Assuan (Aswan)).

* Pray that churches may develop more interest in this matter. Pray for disabled Muslims whom you may know about personally.

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