Letter from Ramez Atallah, The Bible Society Cairo. 20 Jan 2012
Dear Friends,
We are thrilled to let you know that the 43rd International Cairo Bookfair will be from January 22nd to February 7th! Cancelled in 2011 because of the Revolution, we pray that there will be no turmoil or violence during this time. The number of publishers participating this year is considerably fewer than in the past, and we have no idea what to expect!
We have accelerating inflation and unemployment. Despite these troubled times, we hope that many families will see the Bookfair as an inexpensive outing during the mid-year school-break, and that there will indeed be good attendance. Although financially unprofitable, we have decided to place two different Bible Society stalls, one inside the large tent area, and one outdoors. In this new atmosphere of freedom and openness, this is a wonderful opportunity we don't want to miss!
The Bookfair has always been a unique occasion to make the Scriptures easily available and affordable to a wide variety of people who would rarely enter a Christian bookstore or church. 2012 will be the 20th annual Bookfair for the Bible Society of Egypt! We have seen the typical questions and discussions with both adversaries and Truth seekers evolving through the years, with progressive openness, interest and awareness.
Please pray:
Pray that people would show up.
Pray for the safety and security of all.
Pray that people would be even more open and keen to seek the Truth and come to know Christ through His Word.
Pray that our team would be encouraged and enabled to carry on with our mission of Flooding Egypt with God's Word, with sensitivity and boldness.
As for the situation in Egypt these days, security is improving somewhat. We are very grateful that there were no attacks on Christians during the Christmas and New Year's Eve church services. For the first time ever, public Christian New Year’s eve prayers were even held in Downtown Tahrir Square!
As for Parliamentary elections, not surprisingly, the Islamist parties will command an absolute majority. What we don't know is how these parties will work together, what changes will be made to the constitution, and what authority will be granted the new president.
What we do know is that He who promised is faithful. And therefore, we will hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering.
Sincerely,
Ramez Atallah
General Director
The Bible Society of Egypt
P.S. At this point, we have no funds specifically designated for the Bookfair. If you would like to partner with us to make the Scriptures affordable and easily accessible at the International Cairo Bookfair, please click here to donate online. (for US dollar donations.)
Letter from Ramez Atallah, The Bible Society Cairo. December 2011
Good News from Egypt
“Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him."
(Matthew 2:13)
Dear Friends,
For many centuries Egyptians have been proud that when God’s Son needed refuge He came to their land for shelter and security.
Today, as the bright sunshine of the Arab Spring is being overshadowed by darkening clouds of the Arab Fall, many Christians and moderate Muslims are seeking to flee from Egypt for freedom.
GOD AT WORK
Rather than focus on the many economic, social, political, cultural and religious problems which Egyptians are struggling with, I want to share with you some remarkable news of unprecedented breakthroughs for the Gospel.
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29 years ago my wife, Rebecca, began ministering with an
unknown Coptic Priest who was serving the despised and neglected Garbage Collectors of Cairo. On November 11th the largest prayer meeting in the history of the Middle East took place at the Garbage Village’s Cave Church complex with more than 50,000 people from all denominations and all walks of life praying for Egypt. We are hearing dozens of stories of healings and spiritual transformation which took place among those who attended this 12 hour event or even among those who watched it on satellite TV. With all the sanctified imagination she could muster, there is no way that when Rebecca first began ministering with Father Simon could she have imagined such an event taking place. You can see it on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgch-bXGHLI&feature=BFa&list=PLCF7073A8355407F6&lf=plpp_video
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Ø During the fighting which took place in the vicinity of
Liberation Square recently, the nearby hospital was damaged. Kasr El Doubara (KDC) Evangelical Church which is also nearby established a “hospital” on its premises which was manned, among others, by Salafist and Muslim Brotherhood doctors and nurses! This was picked up by the media, and when interviewed, these Islamists said how welcome and loved they felt serving in that Church hospital!
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Ø Last night I attended the opening service for a Church around the corner from my home. This is the first time since the 1950s that a Protestant Church has opened in the suburb where I live!
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Ø Last month the Bible Society bought a shop in the Giza district of Cairo (with 7 million inhabitants and 115 Churches) which we are renovating as a Bible bookshop. It will be the first Christian bookshop in Giza.
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Ø Last week we finished rebuilding the roof of the new Bible Society national distribution center (warehouse) and are hoping it will be in operation by the summer.
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Ø As you know, the objective of our “Rebuild Egypt” campaign 
was "To flood Egypt with God's Word." We began with highlighting Biblical values which resonated with the aspirations of the Egyptian youth. As the situation in Egypt has progressed and regressed, we have become increasingly more focused on equipping the church, seeking to encourage and assure people not to fear the future, but to trust in the Lord. You can follow news of this campaign on www.rebuild-egypt.org
THE ANTIDOTE TO FEAR
In the opening service of the new church close to us, the pastor preached on the fact that “perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). He went on to explain that true believers should not fear. The best antidote to fear, he said, is love. We do not fear those we love. So the solution is to love those we fear! What a message for Christians in Egypt today!!
With warm greetings, Yours sincerely, Ramez
General Director, The Bible Society of Egypt admin@bsoe.org
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