FRONT ROYAL, Virginia — (ANS) Just like us in the U.S., every country is struggling with the COVID pandemic. But in some places it is an excuse to discriminate more against impoverished Christians.
The author of this story, Michael Ireland, is a self-supported media missionary with ANS. Click here to support him as a missionary journalist.
Wendy Wright, President of Christian Freedom International (https://christianfreedom.org) says that for Christians in Egypt – who already face kidnappings, forced conversions, and murder by extremists – the corona virus has led to being denied medical care and jobs.
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“There are reports of Christians in Egypt who test positive for COVID being refused medical treatment at public hospitals. They have been turned away and told to isolate and medicate themselves at home,” said Wright.
In Cairo, Christians collect and sort the garbage to survive. “But in March, the government gave contracts for the best districts to Muslim private garbage collectors. Because of this, many Christian garbage collectors are still out of work,” Wright said.
Christian Freedom International reports Egypt has one of the highest levels of religious restrictions, according to a new Pew Research Center report. https://www.pewforum.org/interactives/restrictions-on-religion-among-the-25-most-populous-countries-2007-2018/?mc_cid=efde4c68ad&mc_eid=1092d98e41
So what can we do to help our Christian brothers and sisters?
“As soon as Egypt shut-down from COVID, Christian Freedom International immediately distributed COVID care packages with food and sanitizers to our sponsored children’s families,” Wright said.
“Then we looked for others in the greatest need in Garbage City. Each month, new families get COVID care packages. This gives a little aid – and lot of encouragement that God sees them, and Christians are stepping up to help.”
“Sarah” is a mother of 3 daughters in Garbage City. During this stressful time, she sends her “thanks”: “My husband was working as a garbage collector. He lost his work last March 2020, and he is out of work right now because the governorate has contracted with a company to collect the garbage instead of my husband and the other Christian garbage collectors.
“We have passed hard circumstances since my husband lost his work. There is no other income for us. We spent the saved money we had.
“My family and I thank CFI so much for helping us at this hard circumstances and providing us with the food package which contain good different kinds of food. We really were in a great need for help at this time.”
“We thank God for His great love to us. God is faithful. I ask CFI to pray for my husband to find another work to meet our physical needs. Thank you again CFI for helping us. May God richly bless you.”
Wright said COVID is exposing the prejudice and persecution that Christians in many countries experience. And it gives us an opportunity to step in during these dire times to help.
If you would like to help Christians like Sarah in places like Egypt, you may log-on to https://christianfreedom.org, or write to them at: PO Box 535, Front Royal VA 22630. For more information, please contact Christian Freedom International Ministry Headquarters (800)323-2273 and info@christianfreedom.org
The author of this story, Michael Ireland, is a self-supported media missionary with ANS. Click here to support him as a missionary journalist.
