So it’s 2 years after the historic Protest at Tahrir Square and things are still really really dodgy in Egypt. Some great stories, but much suffering and hardship. As you probably know, we went to Cairo in 2011 during a very difficult patch for the church and were there to witness the historic all night prayer…
Read MoreEvoke 5: Stories of justice and hope
This Sunday I am presenting 5 stories with 5 images from 5 places I have visited recently. The five countries are Egypt, Turkey, China, Morocco and Indonesia. These are places of unrest, tragedy, tension, uncertainty, hope and joy. The photos I took at those locations last year may not be National Geographic quality but they evoke…
Read MoreYou don’t have to live like a refugee
Well sometimes you do have to live like a refugee. Especially when you ARE a refugee. I got an email from Egypt today saying that one of my friends that I met in Cairo last year, who was arrested and beaten very badly shortly before we met will be going through the same treatment again,…
Read MoreOn Muslims Destroying Religious Shrines and Pagan Artifacts
Are the Muslims REALLY planning to destroy the pyramids? I think NOT. The story this week from Egypt appears to be a hoax. Which is good news. Last year we had a fantastic tour of both the pyramids and the Cairo museum by Ibrahmim Morgan, an egyptologist and historian. We even took a camel tour of…
Read MoreEgypt: A Christian vice-president and potential for change
Last year in Egypt I met some amazing people who live in Cairo and have a special interest in the goings-on among the government and church. One of them is W. I asked him for the skinny on the recent happenings. Andrew: Hi W. I just heard some news about Egypt: “One of the first decisions will…
Read MoreCoptic Pope Shenouda III Dies
The head of the Coptic Orthodox Church Pope Shenouda III has passed away at the age of 88. He was greatly loved and respected. I saw pictures of him on walls all over Cairo. I have a lot of respect for the Egyptian Orthodox church. It’s one of the oldest churches in the world and…
Read MoreEgypt the top twitter hashtag for 2011
Egypt tops the most popular twitter hashtags for 2011. HT:Rombizco TOP 10 TWITTER HASHTAGS #egypt #tigerblood #threewordstoliveby #idontunderstandwhy #japan #improudtosay #superbowl #jan25 Egypt was on my radar also and I spent some time there in November. My most popular blog post in 2011 was about the historic prayer gathering on 11.11.11 that I attended. Go Egypt!!!…
Read MoreSomething is Happening in Egypt
We left Egypt a week ago, right before Revolution II broke out. Something is happening there. In some ways I wish I was still there but at the same time, I feel we were present for the beginnings of a spiritual revolution that is just as important as the political changes, and instrinsically linked to…
Read MoreEgypt: Ev. church treating victims
I just spent a week and a half in Cairo, Egypt. People have asked me what’s behind all the violence – is it the Christians or the Muslims? Neither. This is more political than it is religious. Muslims are standing up for Christians and vice versa. It’s not hard to figure out who or what is…
Read MoreSeeking unity in the Egyptian Revolution
Egypt: 33 bodies in the main Cairo morgue right now. Might be more in Alexandria and other cities. 1700 injured, many blinded by rubber bullets. Last month’s violence against Coptic Christians, which resulted in 23+ deaths, was the bloodiest sectarian violence in Egypt in 60 years. This week, things got even worse. Its a mixed…
Read MoreVideo of Egypt’s All Night Prayer Gathering
I was one of the only foreigners at this month’s historic all night prayer gathering in Cario’s cave church complex. Heres some shaky video that I took. There is some English translation in real time, thanks to my friend Samy who accompanied us. Sound is not great. Just listen harder. I should mention that this…
Read MoreThe Skinny on Egypt’s Prayer Gathering
“I saw signs of the beginning of revival that I have never seen before!” an Egyptian evangelical leader told us yesterday. On 11.11.11, Egypt had a historic prayer meeting that we attended. It was amazing and we were so privileged to be there. Egyptian leaders are telling us there has been a significant spiritual “shift”…
Read MoreEnjoying Egypt
I am still in Egypt. Having a great time. Yesterday our group went out to see the pyramids and ride a camel into the Sahara. I don’t usually do the tourist thing but this one made sense. The pyramids are fantastic. Here’s our tour group on camels. As for tourism in Egypt, now is a…
Read MoreLargest Christian Gathering in Egypt in a Thousand Years
A thousand years is a long time. As far as we can tell, the prayer meeting last night that I attended in the cave church of St Simon, which they said had 70,000 [update: official count was 71,000] by the time I was leaving, was by far the largest Christian gathering in Egypt in over…
Read MoreThe Cave Church at Garbage City
This week we visited the monastery of St St Simeon (Simon) the Tanner (or shoemaker) which is now most commonly referred to as The Cave Church. It’s longer name is St. Simon the Tanner Coptic Orthodox Church in the Mokattam garbage village. St Simons, the cave church on a garbage dump, is the largest Christian church in…
Read MoreEgypt and the Day of Prayer 11.11.11
Update: Just got back. 70,000 tickets sold. Going very well. What a shame that the evangelical leaders were not allowed on the stage. Hopefully they will all learn to get along. Update: More info about the Day of Prayer taking place today . . YES TODAY . . in Cairo. I talked with one of…
Read MoreEgypt. Where are the bloggers?
So I arrived in Cairo last night on my way to New Zealand. I have a few days to see some sights, eat some dates, and meet some bloggers. Where are the bloggers here in Egypt? – I would have liked to have coffee with Alaa Abd El Fattah, one of the bloggers at Manalaa.net, but unfortunately, he is…
Read MoreLargest capital flight since the Exodus?
The Exodus provided Bob Marley with one of his greatest songs but the actual event in Egypt, which occurred around (1312 BCE), some cost the country some serious coin. When the persecuted Hebrews left Egypt, they took took gold, silver, clothes, as well as significant human resources. And now it’s happening again! Not with the Hebrews,…
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