By Dan Tidwell
Overseas Council
As we watch the events unfolding in Egypt and the Middle East, I wanted to let you know the latest news from our Overseas Council partner seminary in Cairo, The Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo (ETSC). Our Middle East Regional Director, Dr. Riad Kassis, just sent me this update. Atef is the president of the seminary.
I was finally able to speak with Atef on the phone. Internet access is still blocked by the government.
He, family, and ETSC community are well. Food and other supplies are available but with much difficulty to obtain. All big stores and supermarkets are closed fearing of looting. He, other faculty members, and neighbors are in charge of guarding the neighborhood and the seminary by all means (rods and kitchen knives …) as the police disappeared from the streets of Cairo. We need to pray for God’s protection and care.
There is a call for a huge demonstration tomorrow. If such demonstration takes place it means that the people are unsatisfied with all the symbolic changes that Mubarak is making. We need to keep praying for tomorrow’s events.
The good thing is that the people of Egypt are once again experiencing the freedom to express their opinion and demand the end of a police-controlled and corrupted regime. Let us pray for a peaceful transition that meets the aspirations of the people.
Please join me, Overseas Council, and many others in prayer for this volatile situation. Pray for the many American missionaries in the area as well as the national Christian leaders that are working to spread the Kingdom of God throughout the region. Pray for peaceful solutions that will allow more freedom for Christians to worship and praise our Lord.