Back in Action

I am back from a mid-winter vacation, and there is so much to talk about! Those of you who are local, I hope you come hear Mark Grayson and Melissa Roussin share about their recent experiences with The Center for Champions in Rwanda. Our partnership with this vital ministry continues, and I am really looking forward to hearing from Mark and Melissa.

I am also watching with trepidation all the goings-on in North Africa and the Middle-East. Christians all over the world have been praying for a long time for peace and an end to corruption in these parts of the world, and I know I am praying more for the people of these lands right now. Praying for a peaceful transition of power, for the end of corruption, and for the safety of Christians under the new governments. Of course, all of this assumes that democracy will sweep through the entire area, but I am hopeful!

Let me know what you think of the situations in Egypt, Libya, Iraq, and all of the nations dealing with peaceful protests right now.

Egypt, etc..

I have a lot of things running through my mind with regard to missions this week.  Obviously there's a lot going on in Egypt, more on that later.  

I am still thinking a lot about Sudan, about the peaceful outcome of the election there, and how it could have run to violence.  Praise God that the prayers of Sudanese Christians have been answered so far, and lets remember to stand with our Sudanese brothers and sisters in praying for a smooth transition to statehood.  

Eastside Academy has been on my mind, too.  Some of you know I have put some effort into making the school's new library a workable place for kids to connect with information & literature.  These last few months it's been a tough go, time-wise for me, and I am praying for a couple of people to come alongside me in this task.  It's good stuff, with some chances for interacting with the students.  Do you know someone who might be interested?  There's filing and data entry to do, too.

Now, Egypt.  I didn't write last week in part because I was so much trying to catch up on events there.  I didn't want to write a post without having a good idea of what was going on, and how to pray about it.  I am so glad that the violence has calmed down, just as I am glad that the protests have been allowed to go forward.  The fact that people are still sitting in Tahrir Square speaks volumes for the impact this protest has.  It also gives me hope that Hosni Mubarek will be as good as his word.  

I don't know what's best for Egypt, but I can share that Egyptian Christians (about 10% of the nation's population) are asking for prayers of protection as this process goes forward.  Many young Egyptian Christians have been involved in the protests, and Christian and Muslim shopkeepers worked together to protect their businesses in the unrest last week.  Still, the Christian church in Egypt is worried that if certain groups gain power, there might be widespread persecution like that in Iran.  As I pray for a peaceful transfer of power--to a democratic government--occurs in Egypt, I will also pray that those elected will continue to respect the ancient tradition of Christianity in Egypt.