The Call from Egypt, the Highway of the Gospel

Narrated by Nancy; Compiled by Sandra

Replacing the Culture of Death with the Gospel of Life

Egypt is one of the four great ancient civilizations and holds a special place in Christian faith. In Genesis, Exodus, and the prophetic books, we see the layers of connection between God's chosen people Israel and the nation of Egypt. The Gospels also record that Joseph, following an angel's instructions, took Mary and the young Jesus to flee to Egypt.

The world's first lighthouse, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, was built around 300 BCE in Alexandria, Egypt. According to tradition, Mark the Evangelist was the first to bring Christianity to Egypt. Around 40 CE, he arrived in Alexandria, where he began preaching the Gospel and established churches. His efforts led to the rapid spread of Christianity throughout Egypt.

Nowadays, it is almost impossible to find Jewish people in Egypt, and the gospel cannot be widely spread, being as rare and precious as an oasis in the desert. What reasons have hindered the spread of Christian faith in Egypt? How can we today participate in the new and great things that God wants to do in this land?

95% of Egypt's land is desert wilderness. Apart from the banks of the Nile River where green plants can be seen, the rest is covered in sand and dust wherever you look, with no signs of life. This seems to mirror the spiritual condition of the country, as if it's a place that has lost its soul. In this Islamic nation, almost the entire population is Muslim. As an ancient civilization, the pyramids and mummies are cultural heritage and a source of national pride. However, from ancient times until today, deeply rooted death culture and idol worship have bound generation after generation.

After the rise of Islam, Muslims held power for over a thousand years, during which Christians faced persecution and killings. Due to the long-term influence of history, culture, and Islamic restrictions, many Egyptian Christians became traditional or inherited Christians, mistakenly believing that since their ancestors believed in Jesus and their parents are Christians, they are naturally Christians as well, without the concept of spiritual rebirth. Additionally, the government strictly prohibits Christian communities and believers from sharing the Gospel outside of meeting places. This has led to local Christians being unclear about theology and doctrine, rarely stepping out of the church to share their faith, and neglecting participation in the Great Commission entrusted by the Lord Jesus.

The hearts of Muslims are veiled, and Egypt needs the resurrected Jesus. We must know that our redemption is not through the pyramids, but through the precious blood of Christ. To reach this unreached land, I was moved, along with other like-minded friends, to respond to God's call and came to the desert in 2024 to carry out this mission. From what I have heard, seen, and received from God, I deeply believe in His promise in 2 Chronicles 7:14: "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." May we pray together for God's mercy to heal this land.

The Advantages of Chinese Missions

The desert climate is unbearably hot, with even tap water coming out hot. During the mission, the intense heat and sun exposure made me drink water constantly, yet I still felt thirsty, as if no amount of water was enough. On the city streets, refugees, homeless people, orphans, and beggars can be seen everywhere. The environment is dirty, traffic is chaotic, and traffic lights are so scarce they seem to be mere decorations. Speeding vehicles never yield to pedestrians, making it necessary for me to follow closely behind locals every time I cross the street, cautiously matching their steps.

The harsh living conditions did not dampen my or my coworkers' determination and passion for spreading the Gospel. To have more interactions with the local residents, I chose to take the subway and the minibuses that have no designated stops, allow passengers to get on and off at any time, never close their doors, and speed along the highways. This allowed me to closely observe the local customs and cultural practices while also creating more opportunities to share the Gospel.

Egyptians are very polite, especially the young people. Seeing that I am older, they often offer me their seats on the bus. I take this opportunity to chat with them, exchange contact information for future communication, and wait for the right moment to share the Gospel. Additionally, I find one-on-one opportunities to share the Gospel by asking for directions. Through asking a young person who had studied in the UK for directions, I was able to initiate a conversation about faith, which he found very interesting. After referring him to a local church, I hope God will allow the seed of the Gospel to take root, sprout, grow, and bear fruit.

Because the law prohibits public evangelism, secret police are present everywhere, constantly monitoring. If discovered, local people face life-threatening danger, and their families may also be implicated. Foreigners would require intervention from their embassy to resolve the situation. A friend's Egyptian husband was arrested for sharing the Gospel and has been missing ever since. Thinking about it breaks my heart.

Thank the Lord that, through the guidance and protection of the Holy Spirit, I was able to travel safely back and forth during the three months of visiting.

After spending time interacting with them, I discovered that Muslims are actually kind-hearted and simple people who are very fond of East Asians. With the current trade and tourism boom brought by the "Silk Road," Egypt has been given new economic vitality. By my estimation, 90% of tourists at famous attractions are Chinese. As a result, locals are eager to learn Chinese. Cairo University offers Chinese language courses, and on the streets, people actively approach Chinese visitors to greet them in Chinese, take photos together, and practice Chinese conversation. This creates a more advantageous opportunity for Chinese people to share the Gospel compared to other ethnic groups.

In local gatherings of a dozen or so people and family fellowships in Egypt, my presence often draws attention. Especially when people learn that I converted from Taiwan's traditional folk beliefs to become a follower of Jesus Christ, they become even more curious and eager to hear my testimony.

Nourishing the Body and Soul

During my trip to Egypt, my partner and I started early and returned late, sometimes spending up to 14 hours a day outside, traveling between gatherings and various activities. Fridays were the busiest, typically beginning with an 8:00 AM departure. We would take the subway, transfer to a minibus, and then be picked up for the meeting location. After worship, everyone would split into groups to shop at supermarkets for food packages and ingredients, as well as purchase barter cards for refugees. The convoy would then head to refugee areas for visits. The weekly demand for supplies is immense, and we hope that Christians from other countries can provide practical support and fervent prayers.

This trip to Egypt primarily followed the "Holy Family Route" (referencing Matthew 2:13-15) and the "Isaiah 19 Highway" (referencing Isaiah 19:23), focusing on key cities such as Heliopolis, Memphis, Zoan, Rameses, Luxor, the Sinai Peninsula, Mount Sinai, Cairo, the Nile Delta, and the Nile Valley. Along the way, we engaged in prayer walks, one-on-one evangelism on the streets, participated in evangelical church gatherings, observed several Coptic Orthodox churches, and conversed with monks in monasteries. During the journey, we were involved in ministries for Muslim women, street children, and refugees while also caring for cross-cultural workers residing in Egypt from various regions. We had opportunities to serve at camps for impoverished orphans and visit abandoned or abused poor women and homeless girls. The scenes we witnessed were deeply heartbreaking.

Despite the challenges, seeing God's kingdom expand in Egypt, with Christian churches still standing in Cairo, along the Nile River, and in the Sinai Peninsula, provides great encouragement to those serving. Young volunteers, equipped with translation assistants, serve underground churches and minister to refugee families. Gatherings at various branch locations have limited attendance to avoid disturbing neighbors. Meetings involve group discussions, and outreach points are continually increasing. This approach aligns with local customs and biblical teachings. The current total membership is approaching 500 people, demonstrating significant progress.

Workers at each branch location share the Gospel message while emphasizing youth succession and coworker training. Every week, workers are required to return for classes to enrich themselves so they can better nourish the young believers, aiming for personal spiritual growth to occur in tandem with pastoral care. The branch locations are flexible, with lively gathering methods. What's even more encouraging is seeing Chinese people pioneering new congregations. A Chinese volunteer who has been in Egypt for only six months has already begun planting churches due to the rapid spread of the Gospel. This demonstrates that if one dares to act, results can be seen.

Pastor A once preached on the topic "Who is Jesus? Know Jesus!" The content was solid and the teaching was profound. It's uncertain how much the attendees could absorb, but from the sharing of two sisters afterwards, we saw the power of God's word; they truly received something. We thank God for letting us see hope and a future. Oh God! We ask that You greatly bless this land, filling it with Your glory. May more people obey the command of the Lord Jesus to go and make disciples of all nations!

Hearing Egypt's Call, Building the Gospel Highway

While we see hope, we also feel a greater need for the Gospel. Muslims are educated from childhood in the concepts of "honor and shame" by their families and society. Converting to Christianity is considered a great shame, so they dare not convert. Even if they do believe, they cannot do so openly, fearing rejection by family and friends, expulsion from their community, loss of employment, arrest, or even murder... These are all real dangers.

This mindset can be a matter of life and death. During earthquake rescue operations, when women were found buried in the rubble, rescuers sometimes needed to tear open their clothes. However, the deeply ingrained culture of "honor and shame" led some women to choose death rather than allow their clothes to be torn. Such tragic and heartbreaking incidents illustrate how people who haven't accepted the Gospel don't understand that God created humans in His own image and likeness, causing them to value "face" more than life itself. They also don't realize that "everyone must die once, and after that comes judgment," which results in "face" becoming the ultimate judgment. If the Gospel were widely spread, how many lives and souls could be saved?

The harvest field here needs more workers, especially to help local children and youth.

The government’s lack of focus on raising per capita income and implementing effective policies to improve living standards has resulted in widespread poverty. This neglect extends to issues like elder care and child upbringing. Severe problems such as incest (parental sexual violence against children) and rising divorce rates, coupled with factors like the early death of parents, have left many families broken. Even in families where parents are alive, the inability to support many children often leads to school dropouts, truancy, begging, and homelessness. During visits, a 12-year-old girl whose parents had died was encountered. She had fled home after repeated sexual abuse by her uncle and stated that she would rather live on the streets than return home. These street children often fall into bad habits, such as smoking, drug use, and promiscuity. Across Egypt, street children are a common sight. Among the country’s population of over 100 million, there are more than 3 million street children, with over 1 million in Cairo alone, which has a population of 10.2 million.

God once promised to make rivers in the desert and roads in the wilderness; He will do wonders and new things! Can you and I hear Egypt's cry? Are we willing to take part in realizing God's plan? May brothers and sisters actively participate in caring for and helping these children, redeeming these lives and souls that should be full of hope. May the Holy Spirit move all churches to participate in building the "Isaiah 19 Highway," paving the way. May the family of the Kingdom, through prayer and action, enable the lost souls in this unreached land to hear the Gospel. May we see a "New Exodus," freeing the people here from spiritual oppression and the mentality of cultural enslavement. May the Gospel work uniting the three nations be accomplished soon.

May we together respond to Egypt's call, seeing the Gospel highway that God has opened in the desert, from Egypt to Assyria to Israel. May all descendants of Abraham recognize Jesus as the Lord of life, in whom lies the way to eternal life. May there be peace in the Middle East, bringing blessing to all people on earth.

"In that day, Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth. The Lord Almighty will bless them, saying, 'Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance.'" (Isaiah 19:24-25)

Readers who are moved to contribute or participate, please contact us via email at: nancyhumih@gmail.com.

Note: The "death culture" refers to the ancient Egyptian belief that death does not mean a person's complete disappearance, but rather existence in another form in another world. Therefore, they do not fear death and believe that life is a continuous cyclical process. Influenced by this concept, most people spend their entire lives from a young age building their own tombs, believing that this will be their "eternal home." The pyramids of the Egyptian pharaohs are a good example of this. (Source: https://m.163.com/dy/article/IM7SVH5A055660VM.html?spss=adap_pc)

Interviewee

Nancy is a cross-cultural researcher and humanitarian service worker. After leaving traditional folk beliefs, she was called by God to dedicate herself to spreading the Gospel and now also teaches at a seminary.

Sandra, a journalist, loves the Lord and has emerged from a transformed life like a butterfly breaking free from its cocoon. She is willing to be used by Him, sharing the Gospel and living out her testimony so that more people may come to know the Gospel and experience the beauty of salvation.