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Giza today, at the foot of the pyramids
Ramez AtallahGeneral Director
Dear Friends,
Who could have imagined the momentous changes that have come about in this region in such a short period and on such a large scale? While the 25th of January Revolution celebrated a beautiful and unprecedented national unity, it has led to a time of extended upheaval. Fear and apprehensions about the future have intensified with the breakdown of security, continued economic difficulties, and sectarian strife.
The Revolution in Egypt was inspired by a revolt against corruption and injustice, yet true liberation can only be achieved when people's hearts are changed by the Holy Spirit. We cannot fail to seize this opportunity to share the relevance of God's Word in a way that resonates with this yearning for greater freedom, justice and equality.
The Bible Society vision is to flood Egypt with God's Word. Through free distribution of creative and relevant Scripture materials, along with a massive public media campaign, including electronic and social media, we are communicating basic Biblical truth, and providing easy access to the Scriptures.
We have been able to continue with our regular activities and distributions this year, and we feel that there is much more to do. By the grace of God, your prayers and generous partnership in our time of need have sustained this organization and done much to effectively ensure the ongoing presence and operation of Bible Work in Egypt.
FlooDing Egypt with
goD's worDthe true treasureThe famous pyramids of Giza are the only remaining wonder of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. In these pyramids and in other tombs throughout the land, pharaohs stored their treasures in anticipation of the afterlife. Yet, in spite of elaborate attempts to hide their untold wealth, the tombs were looted, their treasures taken.
There is an infinitely greater treasure than pharaoh’s gold. It can never be stolen or destroyed, and unlike Pharaoh’s wealth, it shows the true path to heaven.
This treasure is God’s Holy Word: the Bible.
At the base of the Giza pyramids lies the city of Giza, part of the greater Cairo metropolitan area. Although Giza alone has a population of 7 million people, it lacks a bookstore that will extend the Bible Society’s distribution network to the entire area.
But this can change…with your help.
trEasurE in giza!
"I rejoice at Your Word as one who finds great treasure." Psalm 119:162
Contact us at:P.O. Box 5277, 1 Aly Fahmy El Zanaty Street, Heliopolis West, Cairo 11771, Egypt.Tel: 202-2636-1980 E-mail: [email protected] Fax: 202-2636-3979 Website: www.bsoe.org
(receipts for U.S. tax deductible donations)
Thank you,
Protestor waves her Bible in the demonstrations, pictured by major newspaper in Egypt
a Critical timeAs you may know from the news, the future of Egypt hangs in the balance. It is not clear what will replace the regime that was ousted in the January revolution. A truly democratic society is a possible outcome, but only a remote one. The purchase and licensing of property may well become more difficult, especially for an organization like the Bible Society. Authorities rarely interfere with existing establishments, but new licenses can be easily refused. The time to establish a permanent Bible Society bookstore in Giza is now!
If you would like to partner with us to bring the True Treasure to the shadow of the pyramids, you can contribute by credit card through
www.rebuild-egypt.org (tax deductible receipts will be issued for US residents) or contact us at [email protected] so that we can provide you with alternate ways to give from your country.
"…greater riches than the treasures inEgypt." Hebrews 11:26
"We Rise and Rebuild Together"Front page newspaper ads were immediately placed in all the major newspapers of Egypt. On the backdrop of an Egyptian flag, Biblical values such as Honesty, Credibility, Group Effort, Perseverance, and Love were promoted as the building blocks
needed in the rebuilding effort. Our 6 billboards and 230 huge banners all over the country carry the same message of Rise and Rebuild. Our free home delivery number is always highlighted! This is the first time we have been able to use public media to communicate Biblical themes – in the past we could only advertise a product.
Audio-Visual clips and SatelliteTV This remains a priority, so please pray for us to find the best ways to
communicate Scripture truth effectively in the media and digital world. Creating productions of such scale, quality and expense has been a real learning experience for us. Proposals and negotiations take much time, but we are making progress and many clips, ads, and episodes are in the works. Our website will provide updates as these are aired.
Relevant ResourcesOur very first Scripture selection, "Let's Rebuild Together," focused on Nehemiah. Another selection in the first weeks of uncertainty was “Comfort and Hope,” a reminder that these events were not a surprise to our Sovereign God. "True Liberation" presented the revolutionary teachings of Jesus in Luke 12, in response to the Constitutional referendum. The title is also a reference to Liberation (Tahrir) Square, the focal point of the Revolution. The role of the Bible Society is to address current events with truth and perspective from God's Word. These selections take very real issues and point people to the Bible, to find that many of these concerns are in fact very high up on Jesus' agenda.
Devastation and Horror in ImbabaWhile the ensuing upheaval and lack of security has been felt by all in post-revolution Egypt, Christians have suffered specific violence and bloodshed in isolated incidents. In response to the May 7 attacks on three Coptic churches and many Christian-owned houses and businesses in the Cairo district of Imbaba, a selection was immediately produced,
mainly from John 15 and 16, entitled "But Trust…"A priest there said that upon receiving this tract, he immediately changed his message and used this selection as his outline and sermon, making sure that each person received a copy. He said that he has also been using the other new tracts for his sermons, and asked if there were more. He immediately placed an order for 200 each of 20 different Scripture Selections!
Comfort and Perspective 30,000 audio CD's of Scripture readings, "Be Strong and Courageous," also produced specifically for Imbaba, has met a need among discouraged Christians. The goal of the Bible Society is to encourage and equip the Church to respond within a Biblical framework. The Christian faith was born in unstable political circumstances and has usually thrived most when threatened. We were also able to serve 1,000 families in this poor inner-city district, giving each a food basket and an appropriate package of Scripture products, which included several thousand free Bibles and other Scripture resources.
"I never dreamed we would own one!" One widow lady, a custodian in one of the churches in Imbaba, said, "For years I have admired those nice Bibles in the bookshop window. But I never dreamed that we would ever own such wonderful things!" She has a 12 year old son and a younger daughter who received an illustrated children's Bible, some Bible story books and coloring books. "My son will read this to me," she said proudly, hugging her large-print New Testament. Another lady, who has poor vision, was overjoyed at receiving a large-print New Testament. "I have longed to read the Bible for years and years. Finally I will be able to read this Bible!" Several older ladies, who are illiterate, are grateful for the cassettes, and looking forward to sharing the Bible stories and coloring books with their grandchildren. "I will use these with my grandchildren when they come to visit."
Christian CitizensIn this new, post-revolution Egypt, many now feel like they do indeed have a voice. Our latest resource for free distribution is in line with the current theme of reform. This 44 page booklet, "Yes to Change!" is The Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5 - 7, laid out as the Constitution of Christ. In these past months there have been public events to promote citizenship and discourage sectarianism in Egypt. Small packages of literature from all backgrounds are distributed by these groups in hopes of encouraging understanding and unity. The Sermon on the Mount has been included in many such efforts. The next selection coming out this fall in time for the parliamentary elections is called "Citizenship," based on Paul's experiences and our responsibility according to Romans 13:7.
rEvolution rEsponsE 2011
"We Rise and Rebuild Together"Front page newspaper ads were immediately placed in all the major newspapers of Egypt. On the backdrop of an Egyptian flag, Biblical values such as Honesty, Credibility, Group Effort, Perseverance, and Love were promoted as the building blocks
needed in the rebuilding effort. Our 6 billboards and 230 huge banners all over the country carry the same message of Rise and Rebuild. Our free home delivery number is always highlighted! This is the first time we have been able to use public media to communicate Biblical themes – in the past we could only advertise a product.
Audio-Visual clips and SatelliteTV This remains a priority, so please pray for us to find the best ways to
communicate Scripture truth effectively in the media and digital world. Creating productions of such scale, quality and expense has been a real learning experience for us. Proposals and negotiations take much time, but we are making progress and many clips, ads, and episodes are in the works. Our website will provide updates as these are aired.
Relevant ResourcesOur very first Scripture selection, "Let's Rebuild Together," focused on Nehemiah. Another selection in the first weeks of uncertainty was “Comfort and Hope,” a reminder that these events were not a surprise to our Sovereign God. "True Liberation" presented the revolutionary teachings of Jesus in Luke 12, in response to the Constitutional referendum. The title is also a reference to Liberation (Tahrir) Square, the focal point of the Revolution. The role of the Bible Society is to address current events with truth and perspective from God's Word. These selections take very real issues and point people to the Bible, to find that many of these concerns are in fact very high up on Jesus' agenda.
Devastation and Horror in ImbabaWhile the ensuing upheaval and lack of security has been felt by all in post-revolution Egypt, Christians have suffered specific violence and bloodshed in isolated incidents. In response to the May 7 attacks on three Coptic churches and many Christian-owned houses and businesses in the Cairo district of Imbaba, a selection was immediately produced,
mainly from John 15 and 16, entitled "But Trust…"A priest there said that upon receiving this tract, he immediately changed his message and used this selection as his outline and sermon, making sure that each person received a copy. He said that he has also been using the other new tracts for his sermons, and asked if there were more. He immediately placed an order for 200 each of 20 different Scripture Selections!
Comfort and Perspective 30,000 audio CD's of Scripture readings, "Be Strong and Courageous," also produced specifically for Imbaba, has met a need among discouraged Christians. The goal of the Bible Society is to encourage and equip the Church to respond within a Biblical framework. The Christian faith was born in unstable political circumstances and has usually thrived most when threatened. We were also able to serve 1,000 families in this poor inner-city district, giving each a food basket and an appropriate package of Scripture products, which included several thousand free Bibles and other Scripture resources.
"I never dreamed we would own one!" One widow lady, a custodian in one of the churches in Imbaba, said, "For years I have admired those nice Bibles in the bookshop window. But I never dreamed that we would ever own such wonderful things!" She has a 12 year old son and a younger daughter who received an illustrated children's Bible, some Bible story books and coloring books. "My son will read this to me," she said proudly, hugging her large-print New Testament. Another lady, who has poor vision, was overjoyed at receiving a large-print New Testament. "I have longed to read the Bible for years and years. Finally I will be able to read this Bible!" Several older ladies, who are illiterate, are grateful for the cassettes, and looking forward to sharing the Bible stories and coloring books with their grandchildren. "I will use these with my grandchildren when they come to visit."
Christian CitizensIn this new, post-revolution Egypt, many now feel like they do indeed have a voice. Our latest resource for free distribution is in line with the current theme of reform. This 44 page booklet, "Yes to Change!" is The Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5 - 7, laid out as the Constitution of Christ. In these past months there have been public events to promote citizenship and discourage sectarianism in Egypt. Small packages of literature from all backgrounds are distributed by these groups in hopes of encouraging understanding and unity. The Sermon on the Mount has been included in many such efforts. The next selection coming out this fall in time for the parliamentary elections is called "Citizenship," based on Paul's experiences and our responsibility according to Romans 13:7.
rEvolution rEsponsE 2011
Giza today, at the foot of the pyramids
Ramez AtallahGeneral Director
Dear Friends,
Who could have imagined the momentous changes that have come about in this region in such a short period and on such a large scale? While the 25th of January Revolution celebrated a beautiful and unprecedented national unity, it has led to a time of extended upheaval. Fear and apprehensions about the future have intensified with the breakdown of security, continued economic difficulties, and sectarian strife.
The Revolution in Egypt was inspired by a revolt against corruption and injustice, yet true liberation can only be achieved when people's hearts are changed by the Holy Spirit. We cannot fail to seize this opportunity to share the relevance of God's Word in a way that resonates with this yearning for greater freedom, justice and equality.
The Bible Society vision is to flood Egypt with God's Word. Through free distribution of creative and relevant Scripture materials, along with a massive public media campaign, including electronic and social media, we are communicating basic Biblical truth, and providing easy access to the Scriptures.
We have been able to continue with our regular activities and distributions this year, and we feel that there is much more to do. By the grace of God, your prayers and generous partnership in our time of need have sustained this organization and done much to effectively ensure the ongoing presence and operation of Bible Work in Egypt.
FlooDing Egypt with
goD's worDthe true treasureThe famous pyramids of Giza are the only remaining wonder of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. In these pyramids and in other tombs throughout the land, pharaohs stored their treasures in anticipation of the afterlife. Yet, in spite of elaborate attempts to hide their untold wealth, the tombs were looted, their treasures taken.
There is an infinitely greater treasure than pharaoh’s gold. It can never be stolen or destroyed, and unlike Pharaoh’s wealth, it shows the true path to heaven.
This treasure is God’s Holy Word: the Bible.
At the base of the Giza pyramids lies the city of Giza, part of the greater Cairo metropolitan area. Although Giza alone has a population of 7 million people, it lacks a bookstore that will extend the Bible Society’s distribution network to the entire area.
But this can change…with your help.
trEasurE in giza!
"I rejoice at Your Word as one who finds great treasure." Psalm 119:162
Contact us at:P.O. Box 5277, 1 Aly Fahmy El Zanaty Street, Heliopolis West, Cairo 11771, Egypt.Tel: 202-2636-1980 E-mail: [email protected] Fax: 202-2636-3979 Website: www.bsoe.org
(receipts for U.S. tax deductible donations)
Thank you,
Protestor waves her Bible in the demonstrations, pictured by major newspaper in Egypt
a Critical timeAs you may know from the news, the future of Egypt hangs in the balance. It is not clear what will replace the regime that was ousted in the January revolution. A truly democratic society is a possible outcome, but only a remote one. The purchase and licensing of property may well become more difficult, especially for an organization like the Bible Society. Authorities rarely interfere with existing establishments, but new licenses can be easily refused. The time to establish a permanent Bible Society bookstore in Giza is now!
If you would like to partner with us to bring the True Treasure to the shadow of the pyramids, you can contribute by credit card through
www.rebuild-egypt.org (tax deductible receipts will be issued for US residents) or contact us at [email protected] so that we can provide you with alternate ways to give from your country.
"…greater riches than the treasures inEgypt." Hebrews 11:26
