Written by: Open Doors Southern Africa
Article source: JOY! Magazine
Anyone who visits Cairo around Christmas time might think that persecution is non-existent in Egypt – brightly-lit Christmas trees, huge light projections on buildings wishing everyone a merry Christmas, and Christmas songs in the shopping malls. However, children who follow Jesus are ridiculed and discriminated against because of their Christian identity – especially in the slum-like neighbourhoods far away from the flickering lights of the Christmas decorations.
Persecuted children
Adel*, a 10-year-old boy from Cairo, is one of many children who experience a high level of persecution because of his faith. Violence, harassment, and discrimination are a daily reality where he lives.
Initially Adel didn’t understand the real meaning of Christmas and thought that it was just a day on which he received a gift from the church. Growing up in poverty and with a father addicted to alcohol, he was forced to start working at a garbage filtration workshop from a very young age. If he did not bring home enough money, his dad would beat him. He was also bullied and discriminated against at work.
You can spark hope in the lives of persecuted Christian children in Egypt.
A Christian friend
Adel never went to Sunday school and didn’t learn about God at home. He seldomly went to church, usually only at Christmas time to get his gift. He was depressed and looking for a way to escape his unhappiness – but
his whole life changed drastically when he joined the children’s ministry at a local church supported
by Open Doors.
Here he met a children’s worker, Marta*, who became the Christian friend Adel had always longed for. He told her about his life and difficult circumstances, and she started talking to him about God as his Father. His image of God was distorted as his own father did not set a good example.
Created for a purpose
“Previously I hated my life and didn’t know the purpose of it, but now I learnt that I was created for a purpose and known by God before I was even born. I am now building a personal relationship with the Lord and it makes me happy. I know I have a Father in heaven who I can always talk to.
“I also learnt how to defend my faith against misconceptions. In the past I didn’t know what to say when my co-workers said bad things about Jesus, but now I share my faith with them and am proud about my Christianity,” says young Adel.
A special Christmas
Adel’s struggle isn’t over yet, but Christmas will be special for him this year. For the first time the physical gift he gets in church will not be his highlight, but rather the celebration that Jesus Christ came to the earth because He loved a poor little boy in Egypt and so many others.
Millions of Christian children in Egypt
Adel is just one of approximately 5 million Christian children in Egypt. Many children from isolated villages have little or no access to Christian children’s programmes, Biblical teaching, or fellowship. With the help of our local partners, Open Doors was able to reach 23 500 children with its children’s ministry this year.
You can help change a life
You can spark hope in the lives of persecuted Christian children in Egypt and around the world this Christmas. Your gift will transform a child’s life with the love of God today through Bibles, support, Christian training, and so much more – please make use of the banking details below.
*Names changed and representative images used for security reasons.
Geopende Deure – Open Doors NPC | Nedbank
Branch code: 198765 | Acc: 113 750 4552 (Business) | Ref: JE2111
Geopende Deure – Open Doors NPC | Absa
Branch code: 632005 | Acc: 160 340 568 (Current) | Ref: JE2111
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Date published: 22/10/2021
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