Twelve hours after the military expelled Mohamed Morsi and his cabinet from office reports from scattered locations across Egypt of attacks against Christians by Morsi supporters began. Angry over what they saw as a coup hard-line Muslims attacked Christian homes, business and church buildings as part of nationwide protests culminating in a ‘Friday of rage.’ On Friday afternoon the national police notified church leaders to be on the lookout for license plate numbers of several cars that informants said terrorists had packed with explosives and were heading toward churches in Cairo and the surrounding area looking for targets. Christians across the country are uncertain about their future. Is the past week’s violence the start of a civil war in which they would be targeted as the Christians in Syria are targeted? Meanwhile the leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Britain announced three days of prayer for Egypt's minority Coptic Christians. See http://www.bosnewslife.com/29427-egypt-christians-pray-after-massacre-amid-concerns-over-nations-future

Pray: for protection for those caught up in the confusion and violence in Egypt, pray that the turmoil would be short-lived and a workable government and constitution be agreed upon quickly. May this be a real moment of opportunity for Christians to share the gospel of peace with those around them. (Ps.4:6-8)

More: http://au.christiantoday.com/article/morsi-supporters-attack-christian-targets-in-egypt-after-removal-of-president/15684.htm

Opponents of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi say they will continue their demonstration against a controversial draft constitution and Morsi’s decree granting himself wide-ranging new powers. Police fired tear gas on Tuesday to disperse them. Mr Morsi's Islamist Muslim Brotherhood movement has called for demonstrations in his support outside the palace. Some anti-Morsi protesters have erected tents around the perimeter wall after Tuesday saw tens of thousands of demonstrators besiege the palace and clash with police. Eighteen people were injured in the brief burst of violence, the Mena news agency reported. At one point, the security forces issued a statement saying President Morsi had to be hustled away for his own safety. It was another sign of how deeply divided this country is as a referendum on a new constitution approaches in less than two weeks. Several newspapers refused to go to press on Tuesday in protest at what they said was the lack of press freedom in the constitution.

Pray: for peace and not war to dominate. (Ps.122:7)

More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20605134

The interim leader has sworn in a Cabinet that includes women and Christians but no Islamists as it moved swiftly to formalise the new political order and present a more liberal face that is markedly at odds with the deposed president and his supporters. The changes came as bloody clashes continued following the coup that removed President Morsi from office and cracked down on the Muslim Brotherhood. For two years Egypt has been split between Morsi, his Muslim Brotherhood and Islamist allies, and secular Egyptians, liberals, Christians and moderate Muslims. The fault lines remain. US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said, ‘We have encouraged the leaders to be inclusive, bringing all political parties in to allow them to participate in the writing of the constitution and the elections.’ The Cabinet includes three Christians. Successive governments had no more than one or two Christians.

Pray: for God to enable the leaders to agree on a constitution that is workable and accepted by the population. (Ps.106:3)

More: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10899001

Egypt's Coptic minority has become increasingly concerned by the growing number of Christians who have been kidnapped, across the country say Christian activists. More than 30 Christians were reportedly abducted in the southern province of Minya last month alone. Local observers say the situation is especially serious in Minya, a provincial capital, which has been dubbed the ‘kidnapping capital of Egypt’. Most Christians are kidnapped for ransom, but there have also been reports that believers were abducted by Islamic hardliners, including girls who were forced to marry Muslim men. International Christian Concern (ICC), a major advocacy group, cited friends and families of some of those who were abducted as saying that even children have been targeted. ‘The kidnapping of Christians is an urgent issue that must be addressed by the political leadership.’ Christians comprise roughly 10 percent of Egypt's mainly Muslim population of 85 million.

Pray: against the kidnapping trend among Christians and pray for their safety and protection. (Ps.5:11)

More: http://www.bosnewslife.com/31255-kidnapping-of-egypt-christians-seen-rising

Anti-Christian violence swept Egypt Wednesday in the bloodiest day yet of Egypt's revolution. World Watch Monitor reported, ‘Islamist protesters took out their anger Wednesday on government and dozens of]Christian buildings and homes.’ The Bible Society of Egypt reported 15 churches and three Christian schools being attacked, and two Christian bookshops completely destroyed by fire. Attacks by Islamist protestors recently forced Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II to cancel speaking engagements and prompted 16 human-rights groups to voice concern. On June 30th the President of Cairo’s Evangelical Theological Seminary said, ‘Previous regimes pushed the Church to give them support, by controlling Christians and calling them not to oppose standing regimes. This minimized the effectiveness of Christians, separating them from the rest of society and depriving them of the liberty to act independently according to their faith and conscience. Now we have learned our lesson and refuse to be a tool in the hand of any regime.’

Pray: for the Lord to protect Egypt, ask Him to give Church leaders special wisdom and unity, may they positively engage in this season of change and transformation. Pray against corruption, injustice and division that could damage communities. Pray for Egyptians across the country who are caught in a climate of fear and uncertainty. (Ps.1:6)

More: http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2013/july/egypts-pope-praises-recovery-of-stolen-revolution.html

Ramez Atallah the General Director of The Bible Society of Egypt writes, ‘Now when they had departed - behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Rise, take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child to destroy him.’ (Mat. 2:13) For many centuries Egyptians have been proud that when God’s Son needed refuge He came to their land for shelter and security. Today as the bright sunshine of the Arab Spring is being overshadowed by darkening clouds of the Arab Fall many Christians and moderate Muslims are seeking to flee from Egypt for freedom.’ For Ramez comments regarding ‘why Islamist parties have a majority of the votes’ and ‘unprecedented breakthroughs for the gospel’ in Egypt click the 'More' button for encouragement and prayer.

Pray: for God to continue to flood his Egyptian church with the love of Christ, that casts out all fear. (1 Jn. 4:18)

More: http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/829923/8286a76943/1566502707/71f8713e24/

Thousands of people turned out to pay their final respects to Pope Shenouda III, the leader of Egypt’s Coptic Christians for the last 40 years. The funeral was held today at the Cathedral of St Mark in the Abbasiya suburb of Cairo. A day of national mourning has been declared and Copts were given time off work to pay their respects. Throngs of people have lined up to see Pope Shenouda’s body, which has been on display in the cathedral since his death on Saturday, at the age of 88. His death comes at a time of heightened tensions with Muslims and there were concerns that the turnout of large numbers of Christians onto the streets of Cairo would trigger unrest. Pope Shenouda’s four decades at the helm of the Church were marked by increasing restrictions on Christians and hostility from more radical Islamist elements.

Pray: for God’s anointing on the appointment of Pope Shenouda III’s successor. (Ex.29:7)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/funeral.held.in.cairo.for.coptic.pope.shenouda.iii/29504.htm

Egyptian Christians request our prayers for Parliamentary elections within the current context of protest, violence and lack of security. Christians are concerned that the pattern of protest and violent response is nurturing an environment of indifference towards violence, including sectarian violence. Christians continue to be a vulnerable group, disproportionately affected by the lack of security in Egypt, fearing the current climate of intimidation, violence and instability could lead to fewer Christians voting, which would impact their representation in Parliament. Also Christians are concerned that if some parties achieve power they intend to restrict freedom of expression and the religious freedom of minority communities. Although most parties have pledged to fight against sectarianism and discrimination, Christians fear that some parties, likely to have significant representation, would not honour such pledges. Please pray that the elections which are undetaken in stages on 10 March next year, will be conducted in a peaceful environment, in a fair manner, and that all Egyptians, including Christians, will have confidence in the process.

Pray: for an end to violence and for all political parties to uphold current commitments on freedoms of belief and expression.(Pr.2:20-22)

More: http://www.meconcern.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=464:egypt-concerns-of-christians-ahead-of-electio

A Cairo court has ruled the government must destroy all tunnels between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, a route for smuggled weapons and a lifeline for Palestinians. Egypt's ruling Muslim Brotherhood has close ties with the Hamas movement that runs Gaza. Many Egyptians fear the enclave is a security risk for Egypt. The national security adviser said Egypt will not tolerate the two-way flow of smuggled arms through the tunnels that is destabilising its Sinai peninsula. Also this week for the first time since the dawn of Catholic and Protestant missions in the 17th and 18th centuries Egypt’s Christians formally stand united as the heads of the five largest denominations - Coptic Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, Greek Orthodox, and Anglican - created Egypt's first Council of Churches. In recent decades, tension has dominated ecumenical relations with theological disputes, and accusations against minority denominations as sheep stealers. See: http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctliveblog/archives/2013/02/egypts-five-largest-denominations-unite-for-first-time-egyptian-council-of-churches.html

Pray: for the light of Christ to shine on and be in every decision made by Egypt’s leaders at this time of transition. (1Tim.2:2)

More: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/02/201322619219970812.html