Next Sunday (5 May), the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt will celebrate Easter. Join us in praying for peaceful, safe and joyful celebrations, reflecting on the verse below:

‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.’ (John 14:27)

It is especially important to pray for Christians in Upper Egypt. This region is seeing a rise in mob attacks on churches and Christian homes, with extremists determined to prevent Christians from practising their faith.

For example, on 6 January a temporary church building in Minya Province, Upper Egypt, was destroyed after a local mob set it on fire. It had been built on land belonging to the church, and local Christians had been using it as a place of worship for four months, after receiving no objection from the security services to their request to construct the church.

On 18 December, an extremist mob had attacked a church building site in another village in Minya Province, where workers were digging to lay foundations. The Coptic Orthodox community had recently received a permit from the government to build a church, as they did not have one and had to commute elsewhere to worship.

Even homes that are newly built or under construction are at risk of being attacked, if the perpetrators suspect they may be used for any form of worship.

Tragically, the country’s financial crisis and severe levels of poverty provide fertile ground for extremists to recruit others to their cause.

Please pray:

• For a safe, peaceful and joyful Easter for the Orthodox community as they celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.
• For an end to mob attacks on churches, church building sites and Christian homes and properties.
• That the God of all comfort would be close to Christians who have been attacked in recent months. Some were fearful of going outside following the incidents.
• For wisdom for President Sisi and his government. Pray they would crack down on sectarianism and promote principles of equal citizenship.
• That the Egyptian economy would recover. Ask God to provide for those living in poverty and hinder recruitment by extremist groups.

Find out more about Egypt at: csw.org.uk/egypt

Download a printable copy of this week’s Prayer Diary.