Egypt Country Profile

Tom Doyle

Middle East Director

e3 Partners 

    Biblical History 

     Throughout the pages of Scripture, Egypt has played a major role in the life of Israel and also in the life of the Church. In the Middle Kingdom years of the Egyptian Dynasties, Joseph and Moses were both used by God to save the Israelites as they were on their way to becoming God’s holy nation. God raised both of them up to a position of power within Egyptian Empire which at that time was the “heart of pagan worship” worldwide. During this time period Egypt was busy building tombs for their rulers and their families whom they worshipped as gods.  These tombs dominate the landscape of Egypt from Cairo to the Valley of the Kings near Luxor. In a sense, Egypt is one big graveyard even today. God brought Israel out of this culture of death and gave them life in the Promised Land.

      In the New Testament Jesus’ family fled to the desert of Egypt because of an angelic warning about Herod’s plan to kill Jesus before he ever made it out of Bethlehem.  Later on at Pentecost in Acts 2, there were Egyptians present when the Spirit of God descended on the first church meeting in Jerusalem. This outpouring of God most likely happened on the southern steps of the Temple Mount.

      The Gospel quickly spread to Egypt after Pentecost. Mark the Apostle was the first missionary to Egypt and later the first martyr in Egypt also. He was killed in the northern city of Alexandria for preaching Christ after leading perhaps hundreds to the faith throughout the villages in Egypt. Egypt also became a major center for Christianity in the early years of the church. The Alexandrian School of Theology produced some of the most important Christian leaders in the early formative centuries of the church. Egyptian monasticism influenced believers to live simple lives and to be content with Jesus alone as they followed Christ daily in the harsh desert of Egypt.  

Islamic History

      50 years after the birth of Islam, Egypt was conquered by invading Muslim armies and the spiritual direction of Egypt was transformed overnight. Christians were given the chance to keep their faith in Christ but were required to pay heavy taxes to the Islamic government now ruling Egypt and the entire Middle East. When they were unable to come up with the enormous payments, many of them converted simply to keep their families alive. Their “conversions” had nothing to do with religious conviction but rather physical survival. Today over 90% of Egyptians are Sunni Muslims. They have made it incredibly difficult for believers and nominal Christians to practice their faith. The reason for this is that Egypt has become the learning center Islam. Spiritual leaders in the religion of Islam are respected more if they study in Cairo, Egypt. Saudi Arabia has the holy sites of Mecca and Medina and is considered “the heart of Islam”. Egypt has the Islamic schools of Cairo and is considered “the brains of Islam”. Through Islam, Egypt has returned to its pagan roots and its culture of death with the destructive teachings of Islam and especially Wahabbism which teaches the way of Jihad as an essential part of the religion. Despite the Islamic stronghold on the nation…… God isn’t finished with Egypt! 

The Promise of God

“In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the heart of Egypt, and a monument to the Lord at its border. It will be a sign and a witness to the Lord Almighty in the land of Egypt…….the Lord Almighty will bless them, saying ‘blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance.” Isaiah 19:19 ff. 

e3 Ministry in Egypt

      The believers in Egypt live for the day that Christ will redeem their people.   Throughout their history as a nation they have often been in direct opposition to God. In the Old Testament they fought Israel continually. In New Testament days and today they persecute and martyr believers. Yet today, God appears to be reversing Egypt’s course.

      In 2002 the ministry of EvangeCube began in Egypt and grew steadily. Trainings were done throughout the country over the last few years. The major ministries within the country that we worked with were: Kasr El Dobara Church, International Bible Society, and Arab World Evangelical Ministries Association. All 3 of these ministries are located somewhere in Egypt and they welcomed us and also became great partners in our ministry. Their leadership is committed to the process of evangelism and church planting and they have come alongside of us to launch the ministry.

      In November of 2006, the e3 strategy was launched in Egypt after years of prayer, and leadership training. In God’s amazing timing a young evangelist and church planter joined the e3 team and the ministry went full force. Through a generous gift, e3 Egypt began. With experienced Middle East leadership the ministry took off faster than in any other country within the region. Within a few months, God has raised leaders up, Egyptians have come to Christ, and new churches have been planted with many more on the way. A strong team of trainers and pastors are being equipped along with an army of believers to accomplish the work of the ministry within the nation of Egypt. 

Why Egypt is so Strategic

      Egypt is the one of the most influential nations is Islam today. The reasons for this are:

-Cairo is the most influential training center for Muslim Imams in the Middle East.

-Egypt is the gateway to Africa.

-Egypt is the nation that connects Asia and Africa. 

      In short, we believe that God has called us all together for a specific purpose for Him in the nation of Egypt. This nation can be reached for Jesus Christ! It is ripe and it’s ready for a great harvest that will shake the world of Islam, and influence the entire Middle East for the Glory of the Lord Almighty!