Despite the upheaval and insecurity over the past several years in Egypt, Bible Society of Egypt (BSE) reports that its mission to make Scripture available to Christians has been expanding significantly thanks to God’s grace in supplying its ministry needs.

With support from American Bible Society, BSE’s outreach to children and bookshop restoration projects have added to the successful Scripture engagement efforts.

The Friendly Lion

BSE’s Kingo Festivals feature the “Friendly Lion,” who demonstrates the relevance of Biblical values for children. Last fall, churches and Christian properties suffered a wave of violent attacks. Afterward, a Kingo Festival was held in a village where four Christians were killed. The biblical focus of the Kingo Festival was the story of Joseph and his brothers.

One young girl said: “I saw my church burned and my Sunday-School class room, that I decorated with my friends, destroyed. But I learned how to forgive from Joseph, who forgave even after all his suffering and did not take his chance to revenge when he had it.”

Repaired Bookshops

Among the many Christian places destroyed in the violent demonstrations late last summer were BSE’s bookshops in Assiut & Minia. Today, one of the shops is back in business and the other, as well as a new bookshop in a crowded suburb of Cairo, will open soon.

BSE notes that while bookshops in the West are closing and shifting to online distribution, the physical presence of bookshops is significant to Bible work in Egypt because most consumers chose only to make cash purchases in person.

Because these bookshops are service centers placing the Word of God in the public arena available to everyone, each bookshop opens up new opportunities for reaching people who would otherwise not have access to Scripture products.

BSE asks for prayer as it works to provide God’s Word and respond to the complex needs of Egyptian Christians during this time of great transition.