December 2004

The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel--which means, "God with us."
Matthew 1:23

Christmas greetings from Cairo!

During this season we celebrate a unique event in human history—the entrance of God into our lives in a particular way. Jesus, fully human and fully God, was born to Mary in Bethlehem almost exactly 2,000 years ago. In this way, God began a 33-year “ministry of presence” with all human history. The importance of being present with and for others cannot be underestimated. Just as God came to us in the life of Jesus, all Christians have a call to come to those in need and be with them.

The presence of Evangelical (or Protestant) Christians in Egypt is something else that should not be underestimated. Though Christians in Egypt comprise only about 10 percent of the population and Evangelicals (i.e. non-Orthodox) about 2 percent, their impact is noticeable. As missionaries founded churches and began teaching the Bible in the mid 1850s, for the first time in the history of Egypt Arabic versions of the entire Bible became available to the common people. In recent years, as Bible teaching (from the same Bible translation originally made by missionaries) has found its way into the church and children grow up learning and reciting scripture passages, the Orthodox Church has experienced a revival. Gradually, Evangelical varieties of Christianity have come to be seen as not as “foreign religions” but as a return to the biblical roots of Christianity.

Her husband had died and she felt it was her duty to recommend to her son what he should study. The woman told Samuel, “from the time you got on the train I felt that you were someone I could trust.” Rev. Samuel counseled the woman to consider her son’s wishes for his own future, and the son to listen to his mother and consider her advice. I was amazed at how this woman asked Samuel, an Evangelical Christian, for counseling and how he considered it important to be present to her in her time of need.

My own ministry of presence here is one of being a witness to the work of Christians at the seminary who equip others to change lives, and with my life and words, to witness to the love, grace and forgiveness offered through Jesus Christ. After 10 months I feel as if I am just learning what it means to witness to Christ in this place. But I know that all training happens “on the job.” There is no way to learn how to be present to people except to do it. I believe this is why Jesus was born among us and “grew and became strong, filled with wisdom” (Luke 2:40). He lived most of his life in Nazareth learning how to be present, a faithful witness to his Father in Heaven.

This Christmas, please pray for all the Christians struggling to be witnesses to Jesus Christ in this region of so much beauty and tragedy. Pray for the Christians of Egypt who are longing for the freedom to openly express their faith. Pray for an end to the ongoing conflicts and injustices in Palestine, Sudan, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Finally, please pray for everyone in this part of the world—Christians, Jews, and Muslims—to recognize in the coming year the presence of the God we all worship in each other.

In Christ,

Brice Rogers

Contributions to my ministry from individuals may be sent to: Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Individual Remittance Processing, P.O. Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700. Please write the title and ECO number on the subject line of the check (Brice Rogers, Mission Volunteer International #E074031) and on your cover letter as well. Churches should use their normal receiving sites. Whether church or individual, please send a copy of the cover letter to Victor Makari, Area Coordinator for the Middle East and Europe at 100 Witherspoon St. Louisville, KY 40202-1396.