Please pray for Egypt’s Coptic Church in selection of their new Pope

Peanut Gallery: The new Pope of Egypt’s Coptic Church will ultimately be chosen by lot… at the hand of a child. Here’s a lesson in church governance for all of us. And here is the precedence.

So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they all prayed, “O Lord, you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen as an apostle to replace Judas in this ministry, for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs.” Then they cast lots, and Matthias was selected to become an apostle with the other eleven. Acts 1.23-26 NLT

Please pray for the Holy Spirit to guide the hand of this child as the new Pope of Egypt’s Coptic Church is selected.

The names of the top three candidates will then be written on separate pieces of paper and placed in a box on the altar of St. Mark’s Cathedral in Cairo according to church bylaws for the selection of their leader.

On November 4, a child from the congregation will be blindfolded and asked to choose one of the three pieces of paper. The chosen name will become the new Coptic Pope who will be enthroned in a ceremony on November 18.

Please read full article below:

Egypt’s Copts to vote for new Pope on Monday

By Jailan Zayan (AFP) – 3 hours ago

CAIRO — Egypt’s Coptic Christians (Wikipedia) will vote for a new spiritual leader on Monday after Pope Shenuda III died in March, leaving behind a community anxious about its status under an Islamist-led government.

The death of Shenuda, who headed the church for four decades, set in motion the process to elect a new patriarch to lead the community through the post-revolution era in Egypt, which is marked by increased sectarian tension.

Five candidates — two bishops and three monks– are vying to become the 118th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of all Africa on the Holy See of St. Mark the Apostle.

A council made up of senior clergy, current and former Coptic public officials, MPs, local councillors and journalists will cast ballots for a new pope on Monday.

The names of the top three candidates Continue reading “Please pray for Egypt’s Coptic Church in selection of their new Pope” →

Please pray for Coptic Christians preparing to elect Pope

Peanut Gallery: For most of the “Arab Spring,” Coptic Christians have been without a spititual leader. These are perilous times. Coptic Christians live under continual Islamist threat in Egypt. The latest riots only aggravate their already precarious position.

After the death of Pope Shenouda III in March, Coptic Christians are preparing to elect a new Pope in December. As the article below notes, it is not an enviable position.

“So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5.1-5 ESV

Please pray that the Holy Spirit would guide and direct the election process for the new Coptic Pope… that he would a man chosen by God and an effective shepherd of God’s people.

The article below (The Christian Post) puts this election process in context –

New Coptic Christian Pope to Be Number One Target of Radical Islamists?
By Stoyan Zaimov, Christian Post Reporter – September 14, 2012|4:11 pm

Egypt’s Coptic Christians are getting ready to vote on a new pope in December to replace the deceased Pope Shenouda III who died in March – but some are worried that choosing a new Christian leader in the region may only incite more violence from their Muslim neighbors.

“A new pope will not offer any additional protection for the Egyptian Christians. In fact the election may well incite Muslims to more violence. The last thing they want is any hope or solidarity among ‘infidels.’ The new pope could certainly find himself the new #1 target,” said Christian Freedom International (CFI) in a statement emailed to The Christian Post. Continue reading “Please pray for Coptic Christians preparing to elect Pope” →

Ready To Be Martyrs: Coptic Christians in Egypt claim their ancient roots.

Peanut Gallery: Please pray for Coptic Christians in Egypt –

READY TO BE MARTYRS:
Coptic Christians in Egypt claim their ancient roots.

DAVID PINAULT | SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

My sharpest memory from Cairo is what my driver said: al-Masih biygarribna, “Christ is testing us.” I’d hired Sami to drive me around the city. As soon as I saw on his wrist the washma, a faded tattoo in the shape of a cross, I knew he was a Copt, a member of Egypt’s Christian minority, a community that predates the Muslim presence by centuries.

Since the early 1980s I had been to Egypt many times as a student of Arabic, as a researcher and as a tour guide on Nile cruise-boats. But this visit in 2012 was my first time back since the onset of the Arab Spring and Egypt’s “Lotus Revolution.”

As we drove, Sami told me about the persecution Copts endure at the hands of Egyptian Salafists. Salafists are Muslims who want an Islamist government in which the harshest interpretations of Islamic law (shariah) are privileged at the expense of both non-Muslims and progressive-minded Muslims. “Things had been less worse for us under Mubarak,” Sami said. Hosni Mubarak, Egypt’s authoritarian ruler until his ouster in the revolution, had suppressed Islamist radicals. But now, said Sami, the Salafists feel bold enough to burn churches, incite anti-Coptic riots and call openly for the expulsion of Christians.

I told him the statistics: in 2011 and 2012, since the revolution’s onset, over 100,000 Copts have fled Egypt. “Well, I’m not going to leave,” Sami insisted. “Christ is testing us. I tell my friends to stay. Christ could end this suffering, this trial, at any time. How will you feel, I tell my friends, if you’re in Canada instead of Egypt when Christ returns?” Continue reading “Ready To Be Martyrs: Coptic Christians in Egypt claim their ancient roots.” →

Please pray for Libyan believers

September 1-2 | Libya – Thank the Lord for new believers. Pray for them, as they are under a lot of pressure right away. Also pray for the seasoned believers, that they will stay strong in the Lord and will be shepherds for the new believers.

At least 30,000 Libyans died in he civil war which ousted Muammar Gaddafi and sectarian violence continues today – click here.

Wikipedia gives an overview of religion in Libya – click here.

Other than the majority of Sunni Muslims, there are also small foreign communities of Christians. Coptic Orthodox Christianity, which is the Christian Church of Egypt, is the largest and most historical Christian denomination in Libya. There are over 60,000 Egyptian Copts in Libya, as they comprise over 1% of the population.[208] There are an estimated 40,000 Roman Catholics in Libya who are served by two Bishops, one in Tripoli (serving the Italian community) and one in Benghazi (serving the Maltese community). There is also a small Anglican community, made up mostly of African immigrant workers in Tripoli; it is part of the Anglican Diocese of Egypt.

Open Doors describes the current plight of Christians in Libya here –

Under Gaddafi’s despotic rule, the situation for Christians was already extremely harsh. The secret police restricted church activities and evangelism was criminalised. But after the civil war that led to Gaddafi’s death, the future could be even worse for the church. Because of the unrest, 75 per cent of expat Christians left the country and it is not clear how many remain. The National Transitional Council is expected to implement Sharia and make Libya an even more Islamic state than before. Under their supervision the Saint George’s Church was ransacked when they took control of Tripoli.

Christians in Libya face a dangerous and uncertain future – click here for more detailed prayer concerns.

And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to
reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. (2 Tim. 2:2)

The Fight for Egypt’s Future | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

Peanut Gallery: Pray for the church in Egypt.

“Are Christians fleeing Egypt? Some, yes. Nearly every church can name a family that has emigrated. Many more families desire to follow suit but cannot.

But the closer one looks, an irony emerges. Coptic leaders report that a significant number of Christians, especially in rural or poor communities, do fear the future. But many of the most ardently Christian—former Muslims who now follow Christ and have the most to lose under an Islamist government—are the most eager to stay. They hold to their love of country—and to their belief in God’s promise in Isaiah 19: “Blessed be Egypt my people.”

Please click on picture/link for full story –