Christians flee their homes … and not just in Iraq or Syria
We’ve all seen the stories in the news of Christians being forced out of their homes by extremists in the Middle East but it’s no longer just in wartorn countries such as Iraq and Syria.
Now Christians in a northern Egyptian city have fled after extremists murdered three more believers there.
Militants linked to Islamic State reportedly told our brothers and sisters in al-Arish in North Sinai they’d be killed if they stayed. They’ve now killed seven Christians in the city in less than a month.
Please pray that God would protect Christians in North Sinai.
Four Christians were killed in the city between January 31 and February 16. We’ve now learnt that three more have been murdered: Saeed al-Hakim and his son Medhat died on February 23. The next day, militants raided the home of Kamal Youssef and shot him dead in front of his wife and children.
Christian families that have fled al-Arish have found refuge in other towns where local churches are reported to be caring for them.
Islamic State published a video last month calling on its followers to kill Christians in Egypt. Militants are reported to be stopping female teachers in North Sinai and demanding they wear Islamic dress or travel with male relatives. If they don’t, they’ll face ‘severe punishment’.
Please forward this to Christian friends so that they can pray and act too.
We’ve all seen the stories in the news of Christians being forced out of their homes by extremists in the Middle East but it’s no longer just in wartorn countries such as Iraq and Syria.
Now Christians in a northern Egyptian city have fled after extremists murdered three more believers there.
Militants linked to Islamic State reportedly told our brothers and sisters in al-Arish in North Sinai they’d be killed if they stayed. They’ve now killed seven Christians in the city in less than a month.
Please pray that God would protect Christians in North Sinai.
Four Christians were killed in the city between January 31 and February 16. We’ve now learnt that three more have been murdered: Saeed al-Hakim and his son Medhat died on February 23. The next day, militants raided the home of Kamal Youssef and shot him dead in front of his wife and children.
Christian families that have fled al-Arish have found refuge in other towns where local churches are reported to be caring for them.
Islamic State published a video last month calling on its followers to kill Christians in Egypt. Militants are reported to be stopping female teachers in North Sinai and demanding they wear Islamic dress or travel with male relatives. If they don’t, they’ll face ‘severe punishment’.
- Ask God to comfort the families of the seven Christians killed in al-Arish, and provide for them.
- Pray that our brothers and sisters in Egypt will stand firm in their faith. Pray that their powerful witness will prompt many to want to know more about Jesus.
- Pray for wisdom and firm resolve for the Egyptian Government in tackling this extremist threat and pray that Islamic State terror in the Middle East would end.
Please forward this to Christian friends so that they can pray and act too.
