The Egypt Draft Constitution and Religious Freedoms

We are slowly coming to the end of the tumultuous year of 2013 in Egypt, a year in which a hotly debated new Constitution was signed; a year in which a polarizing President Morsi was forcibly removed from office and ends with him in prison facing a variety of charges; a year in which the people of Egypt once again mobilized into mass demonstrations, the largest in world history, and led to the removal of Morsi; a year in which other demonstrators took over a whole community and were later rooted out by security forces despite pleas to leave peacefully; a year that is ending with as much tension as it began.

As we come to the end of this year, the Egyptian people will again have another public referendum on a new Constitution on January 14 and 15.  There is a lot that can happen between now and then as controversial events and potential clashes seem to be constant; for example:

• seemingly daily clashes between pro-MB (Muslim Brotherhood) demonstrators and security forces after the MB was labeled a "terrorist organization" on Christmas day.  Dozens have been injured while hundreds have been arrested in the continuing saga between the interim government and the upset supporters of the previous President, previous Constitution, and previously strong MB.  Last night, four Al Jazeera reporters were arrested in Cairo--allegedly for meeting (interviewing?) members of the Muslim Brotherhood and reporting "false" news that could damage national security.

• Yesterday, we also had our third bombing in less than a week on the Egypt mainland (separate from the Sinai peninsula where ongoing trouble exists between military and militant groups).  

• The new year celebrations may bring their own set of intense demonstrations; there is some fear that the Coptic (Orthodox) Christmas celebrations January 6-7 will see sectarian violence as some MB supporters blame the Copts for "their role" in the removal of Morsi.  The next trial date for high-profile MB officers and ousted President Morsi (January 8) will surely bring a lot of demonstrations--all before the date of the referendum on the new draft Constitution.

And in addition to the above events/possibilities, the days of the referendum themselves are expected to have clashes as boycotters of the draft and referendum may attempt to discourage or intimidate those who may want to vote.

If there is enough peace between now and January 14/15, and enough citizens are allowed to cast their vote, there is still a question as to if the draft will pass into law.  Former Presidential candidate Amr Moussa, who (by many accounts) led a balanced and diplomatic process of the panel of 50 in the creation of this draft, defends the Constitution they created; yet there are still many who are critical of the draft.

image found via Google image search - link to this 2012 AP story, which
includes 20 more wonderful pics of Coptic Christians in Egypt.

Of the many debates that waged during the panel of 50's process, we were most intrigued by the possibilities of greater religious freedom in Egypt.  In the days following the forced removal of protestors in the Rabaa area mosque last summer, dozens of churches, Christians homes and businesses were attacked, leading to all sorts of structural loss;  yet, the renovation or new construction of church buildings in Egypt is restricted by law, a contentious subject on the matter of religious freedom here.  The panel of 50 debated the lifting of restrictions on construction/renovation of church buildings in light of this summer's events, prompting this story that the restriction would be lifted.

The next day, the discussion proceeded from freedom of construction to freedom of belief, leading to this story that indicated that there would be freedom of belief among the "celestial" or "Abrahamic" religions (Judaism, Islam, Christianity).

Both of these stories prompted a lot of curious hope among Christians and Shia Muslims (who have not enjoyed the freedoms of practice like their Sunni Muslim counterparts), but also a lot concern and additional criticism among those outside of these three religious groups.  For example, atheists and Baha'is were left out of the protection and discussions - on the same day that the story ran of the discussion of freedom of religion, this story ran of an investigation into the creation of an atheist Facebook page from Egypt - a quick reading of the comments section on this story will reveal that there are several who do not subscribe to any religion and who question their "right" not to believe.  Baha'is are among the smallest religious minorities in Egypt and have had a long history of controversies with the government, including most recently, children of Baha'is families were refused to attend public schools.

So when the draft Constitution was passed by the panel of 50 and presented to the interim President Adly Mansour, we wondered what on the "freedom of religion" actually made it into the draft and will be a part of the upcoming referendum.

In our brief perusals of articles on the draft, we cannot find much difference on the issues of religious freedom.  This article form Ahram Online lists some comparisons, and places some of the text from the new 2013 draft beside the text of the previous 2012 Constitution side-by-side.  On the left, you read the text in the 2013 draft, and you can compare with the 2012 text on the right.  On the matter of religious freedom, this screenshot shows their comparison:

As you can see, there doesn't seem to be that great a difference between the two; however, there is an additional amendment in the 2013 draft as you can see from this screenshot:

So, the responsibility of the lifting restrictions on the renovation and construction of church buildings will be left to the first session of the new Parliament.  The last Parliament was dominated by Islamist political parties like the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom & Justice Party and the Salafi's Nour Party--but the new 2013 draft Constitution prohibits the formation of political parties based on religious groups, as seen by this screenshot

But won't these parties begin to form new parties that don't have the religious affiliation, but are essentially constituted by the same members and of the same ideals--so, is a new party name and description going to change the outcome of the new Parliament's membership?  Will there be an "Islamist" dominated Parliament without the "Islamist" references--and, if so, will such a Parliament follow through with the intent of Article 235?

These will be questions that we will be following if we see progress up to and after January 14/15 into this new year.


Thank you for your continuing interest, thoughts and prayers for Egypt.

Let There Be Peace On...Egypt

We hope that you had a wonderful Christmas with your family and friends.  We were blessed by wonderful celebrations and time with our children here in Cairo, but the mood these past few days has been pretty somber.

On Monday, a police station in the Nile Delta community of Mansoura was targeted with a series of bomb blasts--2 of 3 detonating and resulting in at least 14 dead.  Funerals were held on Tuesday, which of course was Western Christmas Eve.

Though Islamist militants who had been attacking in the Sinai region claimed credit for the bombing, the government focused their attention on the Muslim Brotherhood (MB), marking them as a "terrorist organization" on Wednesday (Christmas day).

Today, December 26 is Boxing Day in some parts of the world intending to mark the continued giving of boxed gifts and special sales, but here in Cairo, another bomb blast--smaller in destructive impact fortunately.  But, the larger impact came in the announcement that MB members and those leading their protests would be arrested and sentenced according to this new terrorist label, and many began to be arrested.

Anger fills social networking posts, criticism and fear are also floating around.  As anger swells amidst recent violent activity, concern for upcoming events and uncertainty for the future grows, as well.

On January 8, ousted-President Morsi makes his return to the courtroom.  His disdain of the court, refusing to follow rules, to allow the judge to speak, or to allow the proceedings to even really commence led to this delay.  If he continues his outburst, he may find more time in contempt; though if he continues in defiance, he may fuel others outside of prison to be equally defiant.

The public referendum on the new proposed Constitution is set for less than a week after that--but with protests planned, arrests being made, and concern over additional attacks, we're not sure what we'll find in the middle of January.

Police stations here in our part of town appear to be on a heightened level of alert.  We have much to read to try to understand all the nuances and implications of the current "terror" designation, the attacks, the changes in the proposed constitution, and the other factors affecting the Egyptian peace and stability.

As we approach the New Year, there are the same prayer needs and issues, though new levels of discord may create new problems.

Pray for peace, especially between Muslims and Christians; pray against the political conflict being waged between churches and mosques.

Pray for wise leadership.  Pray for future leadership to arise that can be visionary, inspiring, and able to lead a fractured country toward wholeness.

Pray for the upcoming referendum and trial dates.

#PrayForEgypt

Thank you for your continuing interest, prayers, and encouragement.  

Caught in the Middle

Hey - we're back - not that we left, we have just been silent on the blog for so many weeks it may seem like we disappeared.  But there were many things happening at once, and we needed to take a brief break from the constant blogging, so it just worked out that way.

The following are several little musings, not connected to one another, but connected to the theme of "caught in the middle".    Some may interest you, others may not, but it's a part of what we are seeing, thinking, and experiencing at this stage of our service in the Middle East.

Guilt or Inspiration: First World and Third World Problems
Living in Egypt, as it is in several countries and communities around the world, is a constant collision of the "first world" and the "third world"; that is, the contrast of those who live with modern, developed conveniences as opposed to those who are struggling to attain the necessities of life.

A popular "hash tag" (the # in front of a phrase that may accompany a post in social networking like Twitter or Facebook) in the past year or two has been #firstworldproblems.  Often these are intended to be funny, ironic little statements of just how spoiled those of us who have modern conveniences have become--but if you flip that context and read it from face value, it can make us seem really shallow as we consider the plight of millions, even billions, on the planet.

One of the new charities seeking to bring clean water to different third world communities has taken some of these hash-tags and given them to be read by people in a developing country--the stark contrast of their situation with the words coming out of their mouths is compelling on some level.  Perhaps you've seen this link to this story on Facebook, but if not, here's the video...


I think this is an effective campaign to help people consider the things they complain about, but does it border on inciting guilt?  I'm seriously asking because we don't like using guilt as a means to prompt people to give or change.  I think we have to be careful when our messages and our causes lead us to try to make people feel guilty; I would much rather seek to inspire people to something greater rather than make them feel bad for who they are--and that can be a fine line or confusing difference, but it's one that I think we must wrestle with in our ever-critical and skeptical world.

On the flip side, I was really impressed recently while watching a presentation by Scott Harrison, founder and CEO of Charity: Water (check out one of the best non-profit websites you will ever seen).  Scott, by his own admission, was a self-obsessed partier and promoter who became convicted of the lack of clean water by billions all over the world.  He created this charity to help eradicate the problem, and the multitude of problems that stem from a lack of clean water, and he came back to faith in Christ along the way.  He tells his story of how his life changed, and how hundreds from celebrities to ordinary children are changing the lives of millions by  creatively contributing to provide clean drinking water to communities around the world.  In his whole presentation, there was one inspiring story after another of ordinary people doing something extraordinary--no shame, just stories.  I began with a high level of skepticism and ended with a great deal of respect and conviction that there is hope and I could be a part of the solution.

What are your thoughts on guilt or inspiration as motivation?


Cold in the Middle East: Don't They Know It's Christmas Time At All?
The last week has produced a seriously strange weather pattern in the Middle East.  There was snow in parts of Cairo for the first time in 112 years!  Snow blanketed other parts of the Middle East as well as temperatures dropped to unusual lows and thick cloud cover kept the high temperatures from getting high at all.

Here in our part of Cairo, closer to the Nile and not near the elevation of the eastern plateau that saw

Fake picture circulating on Facebook - as friend
Byron Skaggs explains, "Yes, there was a dusting of snow
on the east side of Cairo up on the desert plateau.
Yes, it is astounding! Yes, according to reports,
it has been over a 100 years since
Cairo has experienced snow. 
The Giza Plateau did not get snow.
If you look at the photo closely
and understand the layout of the pyramid area,
the shadows indicate this is a sunset photo.
Snow would not still be on the pyramids
after a full day - no matter how overcast."

the snow, we experienced a little hail, but no white stuff--however, we experienced quite a bit of wet stuff: rain!  Now winter rain is not anything to be alarmed about in most parts of the world, but this is Cairo, and Cairo experiences an average rain fall between .5 and .75 inch PER YEAR (depending on your source).  When it "rains" it is usually what we in the States would call a "drizzle", and that would happen a few times per year, and usually last a few minutes.  What we experienced in the last week was not the normal--it was actual rain fall, and it was sustained beyond hours into more than a day.

Again, that might not seem like a big deal to your part of the world, but here in Cairo, the result was a mess.  Roofs are not necessarily tested for being leak proof when you only get drizzle, and when you usually have the sun reappearing and drying things up quickly; we heard of multiple people experiencing leaks on upper floors of apartment buildings.  There are not well-developed drainage systems throughout Cairo, and even if there were, there is so much trash, dust, and debris along roadways that any such systems become easily clogged--the result was flooded roadways.  This is problematic in itself because you can no longer see the poorly maintained roads--the deep pot holes that can cause extreme damage to your vehicle if you hit them.  The flooding streets led to flooding lower level businesses and apartments, as well as basement level garages of apartment buildings--and because of all the debris and trash on the roads and sidewalks, water was not the only thing filling these lower levels.

The cold and cloud cover has not helped for the water to dry up, and so even where the water is receding, the muddy mess that has been created makes it difficult for the millions of people who walk to work, school, shopping, or etc.

All of this mud and drab has made things all the more gloomy here in Cairo--and it is Christmas time.     You're not gonna get a "white Christmas" in Cairo, and even though there are two Christmas dates celebrated (the western 25th of December and the eastern/orthodox January 7), you have to be reminded that it's Christmas in normal years.  A part from small sections of stores attempting to provide a few Christmas ornaments, you don't see any Christmas displays, you don't hear any Christmas music, and there are not even any "happy holidays" references around.  Unless you attend a church service celebrating the season, there are little to no external markers of Christmas.  We hear the complaints of the over-commercialization of Christmas from friends in the States, but we can attest that the opposite experience is even more sad.

We have our tree and decorations up in the house; and we're trying to play Christmas music a lot--otherwise, it's just easy to forget that it's Christmas around here.

And back to the first world/third world problems, we're caught in the middle here, too.  We have been cold and complaining of cold, but we also see the homeless man walking our streets with no shoes looking for a place to stay warm; we see the smoke filling the air as people light fires to help provide heat for the cold evenings; we complain about the layers we have to put on even in the house, while we know there are refugee families who have to huddle together in their makeshift shelters and hold tight through the night; we wonder what we can get as stocking stuffers for the kids while we know there are families struggling to feed their children nearby.

Colder than the air and darker than the night are people without hope.  O that the people in this region knew the Christmas hope and declaration, "Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10-11)

There is no more appropriate carol than Edmund H. Sears' It Came Upon a Midnight Clear for such a place:

It came upon the midnight clear,

That glorious song of old,

From angels bending near the earth,

To touch their harps of gold;

“Peace on the earth, good will to men,

From Heaven’s all gracious King.”

The world in solemn stillness lay,

To hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come

With peaceful wings unfurled,

And still their heavenly music floats

O’er all the weary world;

Above its sad and lowly plains,

They bend on hovering wing,

And ever over its Babel sounds

The blessèd angels sing.

Yet with the woes of sin and strife

The world has suffered long;

Beneath the angel strain have rolled

Two thousand years of wrong;

And man, at war with man, hears not

The love-song which they bring;

O hush the noise, ye men of strife

And hear the angels sing.

And ye, beneath life’s crushing load,

Whose forms are bending low,

Who toil along the climbing way

With painful steps and slow,

Look now! for glad and golden hours

Come swiftly on the wing.

O rest beside the weary road,

And hear the angels sing!

For lo! the days are hastening on,

By prophet-bards foretold,

When with the ever circling years

Comes round the age of gold;

When peace shall over all the earth

Its ancient splendors fling,

And the whole world send back the song

Which now the angels sing.

#BeBold or Belligerent: the struggle between Maintenance and Mission

Here is where I will lose several of you because this may not relate to very many of our readers.  We serve churches in the Middle East and Europe and have been aligned with the Church of God throughout our ministry "career".  I grew up in this small corner of Christendom, and many of my relatives served or worshipped in the same.  Keli's family worshipped in various church backgrounds, and several of them joined us in the church we pastored in Alabama.  

The ChoG began as a "reformation movement" in the late 1800's; seeking to put an emphasis on holy living as a part of the stream that produced several Wesleyan Holiness churches at the time, but also, what at the time was a unique emphasis on unity of all Christians as opposed to membership of a particular group such as Methodists, Baptists, Lutherans, or whatever.  This "Kingdom" value emphasized a lack of belonging to one narrow group and instead that we as believers belong to one Church, God's Church.  Now this Kingdom theology is hardly anything unique as many Christians and groups have a greater deal of openness in working with and worshipping with one another despite theological differences.  At it's founding, there was a sense that the second coming was at hand and that this reformation to bring all Christians under one banner was a part of the Church's preparation--there was not an emphasis on buildings or organization because those things would pass away--the emphasis was on the message: come out from denominationalism, come together as one, and be holy, prepared for the return of Christ.

100+ years later, we have the buildings, the institutions, and the organization of the "movement" that was not ever intended.  There is a great degree of autonomy in that each church has it's own unique culture and traditions, and there is very little forced association or connection to one another or the whole.  The early days were full of passion and innovation to get the message out, and people traveled the globe to prepare the Church; but over time, passion has given way to programs, innovation to standardization, and mission to maintenance of traditions.  Most agree that there does not appear to be any sense of movement together in any direction.

One of our friends, a mentor really, has moved from being the pastor of the congregation where we were married to the newly appointed "general director" of the ChoG.  Jim Lyon is a gifted communicator, creative, and is passionate that the Church matter in a world of need.  He has been making decisions and setting the foundation for things to be different and along a couple of new themes, #BeBold (the theme for the upcoming annual convention of the church), and #JesusIsTheSubject (intending to move us from a multitude of foci to a singular focus).  

And, as you might expect, there has been an outpouring of praise and criticism, excitement and apprehension.  Some have gone beyond skepticism to belligerence, which has been appalling to read and witness.

How long will we waver between two opinions?  How long will we be caught in the middle between mission or maintenance?

We say that we need vision and leadership, and then we complain when we have the presentation and the plan.  

Look, I am a friend and have been blessed by Jim--but I am no bandwagon groupie.

the logo ChoG is currently "experimenting"
with in new publications.  I find most of the complaints
against all the announced changes and ideas to be
complaints along the themes of losing something that
has been deemed sacred, untouchable.  There are fears
expressed that the ChoG cannot survive such changes.
Such complaints remind me of one of my favorite quotes,
"If survival has become our supreme goal,
we have lost our way.  The church is not called to
survive history, but to serve humanity."
~ Erwin McManus
Let's stop complaining about what we will lose and
start figuring out how we can better serve a lost world.

• I love Anderson--it's my birthplace, my alma mater, and the only home I've really known through a lifetime of moves--but I love the Kingdom more.  I'm not excited about going to Oklahoma City, and I hope we can find better locations, but I'm not going as a tourist wherever we host the convention.

• I'm not a big fan of the new "experimental logo" (nor completely a fan of the old flames), but I dislike languishing with no real identity more.  I am a fan of creativity, believing it to be the fingerprint of God upon our souls, and I hope that we can eventually find a good representation  as we continue to experiment not just with logos but with identity.

• I don't know a fraction of Jim's hopes or vision--I wonder where we, as "employees" of the Church, will end up as there will be new direction for Global ministries as well.  But I trust Jim and I believe that he can lead us to be more effective as a group rather than just continue to leave us to our own devices which have only led to greater splintering through the decades.  I am eager to see and hear more about this vision and direction for the church, because I know that Jim wants to lead the ChoG to matter, and not just maintain; to make a difference and not just continue to whine for something different.

When I was in my ordination process, my mentoring pastor actually left the ChoG for a different stream of the Christian church.  It was a strange event and the ordination committee wondered about it's affect on me.  As I mentioned, I had grown up in the ChoG, and they knew that history, but they asked me this question, "Would you ever consider leaving the Church of God?"  I remember my answer quite clearly; I said, "I love the Church of God.  I believe in the founding and core emphases upon salvation by Grace, a holy life, and the unity of God's church.  I find these things prominently in the Scriptures and I am committed to them even if I do not fully agree with every other theological detail that may be attributed to the movement.  But I love God more; and if I ever find that the Church of God is drifting from these cores then you will find me further away from the Church of God."

I do not think that Jim is leading the Church of God away from these cores; rather, I think he is helping the ChoG to understand and express these core truths for the world today.  What will the movement look like in promoting grace where a majority of the world thinks of Christians as judgmental?  What will the movement look like when holiness is not just what we stand against but what we stand for?  What will the movement look like when we are willing to set aside our autonomy for the greater good of the world around us?

What will the movement look like on mission rather than just seeking to maintain?

We're so thankful to not only to be serving where we are, but to be serving under the leadership and alongside of the team of Three Worlds.  We are constantly seeking to be bold, to be on mission, to be engaging our region with compassion and cooperation; we believe that we are a part of something special that is a model for how international ministry should work now and in the future.  As a result, exciting things are happening within and through ChoG congregations in Europe and Middle East.  If you didn't see our recent video update about our staff meeting last month, here it is and you can see and hear a little more from the people we're honored to serve alongside.

3W Staff Meeting Rome from Three Worlds on Vimeo.

Yet Another Egypt Tragedy

Last Night...
...a wedding ceremony was supposed to lead to a festive reception, but as the bride and groom exited the church to the shouts and cheers of family, tragedy unfolded.  The shouts of joy and cheers were replaced by shouts of terror and tears as family and friends took cover while gunfire ripped through the crowd.  The result, four dead and many more injured as a gunmen fired into the crowd and fled the scene during the chaos.

While various political groups and religious leaders condemned the attack, others have taken to Twitter to share opinions, and reports from the wounded or from the funeral ceremony today.   Many tweets like this were visible this morning as people began the day...

         

And this reporter gave moment by moment tweets of the funeral before going to the hospital to visit with families of the wounded...

           

What's Going On?

Though the various demonstrations have grown smaller and the events of Egypt are not a top story in western media over the past month or two, there is still a lot of unrest, it is just showing up differently.  Demonstrations are no longer in mass at one location--and because of the continued curfew on Fridays set at 7pm, there are now multiple location demonstrations usually occurring on Sundays and Tuesdays.

The Pro-Morsi, the former President ousted in the first week of July, continues to receive the support of his Muslim Brotherhood and their political arm, the Freedom & Justice Party.  Various other "Islamist" parties and groups have created a National Coalition to Support Legitimacy.  These groups continue to protest, march and hold various types of demonstrations calling for the reinstatement of the suspended Constitution and the Presidency to Mohamed Morsi.  There are some big dates coming up that are expected to see a lot of passionate demonstration from this group:

• 22 October: The Brotherhood begins appeal of recent court decisions outlawing their NGO status and freezing their assets.

• 29 October: Trials of several high-profile MB leaders are planned to start.

• 4 November: The controversial trial of former President Mohamed Morsi is planned to begin at the North Cairo Criminal Court.

• 22 November: Marks the 100-day anniversary of the dispersal of pro-Morsi gatherings at Rabaa al-Adaweya mosque, which became violent and led to hundreds of deaths.

Meanwhile, the interim and acting government led by interim President Mansour (former head justice of the Supreme Constitutional Court), and backed by the Armed Forces under the leadership of General Sissi, continue to lead the country in decision making to reconstitute a new government.  That begins with a new Constitution, election and security law making, allowing the justice system and courts to operate, and trying to maintain security in torn country.  The Constitution commission is nearing completion of their work, there are new election and demonstration laws pending, the military continues to provide support to the Ministry of Interior while police forces find themselves subject to sporadic attacks, and the justice system has issued the most controversial steps in ruling against the constitutionality of the Muslim Brotherhood.  This latest development is still in an appeal process, but the assets are frozen and the interim government is already talking about routing all their assets and funds into the general fund of Egypt.

Because the interim government seems to be marching forward and not only ignoring the continual appeal of the demonstrators, but possibly also outlawing the leading Islamist group, some militant factions are beginning to take a more violent approach.  There have been two different RPG (rocket propelled grenade) attacks in Cairo -- one at a police station, and one at the satellite installation in Maadi.  There have been multiple bombs found along the Metro public transit line, as well as at other locations of importance--fortunately, these have been found and disarmed, or found and not working.  This is in addition to continued attacks in the Sinai at police check points and other interests.  These more radical groups are unpredictable for the moment, and apparently not yet that effective--but it only takes one "effective" attack to add to a tragedy-riddled country.

The Effects of Uncertainty...

...are beginning to take a toll on the Egyptian society.  A U.N. study released in September marked Egypt at 130 out of 156 in terms of "Happiness."  This excellent article presents the case for such a study, whether "happiness" can be measured collectively versus an individual emotion, etc.  

Though I agree that happiness is an individual emotion, and a largely fleeting one at that, the effects of society upon individuals can affect whether or not a person is or can attain happiness.  In the current environment in Egypt, over the past 3 years, two Presidents have been deposed, the economy has fallen dramatically, joblessness has risen, foreign investment and tourism have declined, confidence in politics wanes, demonstrations and unrest are weekly occurrences, thousands have died with countless sustaining injury, trust and distrust in military and police has risen and fallen like a yo-yo, and the and the perception of justice is not high.  How would you think such a place would affect your happiness?!?

There is not only the question of the effects on Egyptians now, but as this continues to play out for the next few years, what might that do a person, a generation, a national psyche?

We have also been partnering with churches in Lebanon, a country with its own share of a troubled history and divided population--though things continue to be much more stable there now, we are getting a greater sense of the effects of what a divided nation did to a generation who were children and grew up in the aftermath of discord.  We've been getting to know dozens of these over the past year, and we're noticing an inability to plan ahead, to have vision, to think about creating a foundation in the present for something more in the future--there is a resignation to uncertainty.  

Two examples from some "driven" young men that I met in Lebanon.  I met a young man who is studying and volunteering in his particular trade to grow in experience.  I asked him about what the next few years of school looked like, if he would go beyond volunteering to an internship, are there other hurdles in the process of becoming licensed, etc.  He began by saying, "ideally..." and listed some things, and then said, "but this is Lebanon, and I can't be sure what will happen next week--all of this could be put on hold or for nothing."

I asked another young man (who is busy in school for a master's degree, full-time work and various volunteer opportunities) what he was planning to do as far as a career--where was all of this activity leading?  He said (paraphrasing), "I don't know--I mean, I hope it leads somewhere, but I'm just taking it day to day for now.  I want to do something like this in the future, but I'm not sure where this is heading."

This isn't just a Middle Eastern experience--I think there is a sense of aimlessness and uncertainty among 18-35 year olds the world over--but I do think its effects are exacerbated here.  

And each tragedy, each bomb, each demonstration that leads to violence or abrupt change--all of it creates a frighteningly different worldview -- one that is not looking to go beyond and get better in the future, but a worldview that is much narrower, looking to just get by today.

"where there is no vision, the people perish" (KJV)

"where there is no prophetic vision, the people cast off restraint" (NIV)

"if people can't see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves" (The MESSAGE)

~ Proverbs 29:18

--------------

Thank you for your continued interest, prayers and encouragement.

#PrayforEgypt

#PrayforLebanon

#PrayforSyria

#PrayforYouth

#3W

To and From Beirut

I flew back to Beirut last weekend, and now I am moments from boarding a plane back to Cairo.  I was just here a few weeks ago, so what was I doing back.

This brief trip represents a win-win-win situation.

During my last trip, I joined the Heart for Lebanon team in their annual staff retreat and participated in their efforts to develop a strategic plan.  This, as any organization will tell you, is a massive undertaking that requires a lot of collaboration and a lot of time just to come up with a rough plan.  Then, additional hours also have to be undertaken to comb through notes, clarifying statements, and preparing a finished product.  This work has begun through the efforts of senior leadership and one of the Lebanese Executive Board who directed the efforts on the retreat.  H4L asked me to come back and contribute over a few days to help prepare a finished product that could be shared with Lebanon and US Board of Directors for approval.  This invitation to come work with them for a couple of days was one "win" as it benefits an organization with whom we partner and see great Kingdom work.

When H4L asked if I would be willing to come back so quickly for this intensive project, I shared that I would need to be given equal opportunity to work with churches and leaders because that's a major component to our involvement in Lebanon.  H4L agreed to give me that opportunity--a second "win."  So I began the trip with Shukri and Kathia who help to direct the Ana Terzo ministry with a team of great young adults.  It was hoped that we could begin a regular training with these leaders for their own development and growth, as well as to encourage them in the development and growth of this vibrant, young adult ministry.  I was also to have several fellowship opportunities with a few leaders on an informal basis; one of these was Isa.  Isa is a great young leader who not only contributes to the Ana Terzo ministry and Youth for Christ, but he also plans and directs the Lebanese Church of God teen camp.  The teen camp saw 30 participants and Isa has a realistic estimate that the camp will grow to 50 next year.  Isa demonstrated tremendous leadership skill in selecting a team, creatively planning with that teen, creating a web-registration page, and leading a quality program.  Isa is one of four talented siblings who are Church of God PK's (pastor's kids) involved in ministries in Lebanon.  It was a joy to spend time encouraging Isa this week.

I will also spoke to the Ana Terzo weekly meeting on Saturday evening, which was followed by a fellowship meal with them, too.  The group included several that I knew from the camps, as well as friends they brought to meet me, including two Americans--a young woman from Texas who actually teaches English in Kuwait but who was visiting Beirut to use her "vacation" to serve in the literacy program with H4L; and another young woman who is involved in post-graduate studies in Beirut.   The conversations with all of these young adults is always deep and beneficial for all.

In addition to the Ana Terzo group, I was invited to preach again at the Sioufi Church of God on Sunday morning as their Pastor Bassem was away this weekend for seminary.  I spoke to the congregation about Pastor Appreciation, which is a theme embraced by many North American churches in the month of October, but which is not consistently practiced here.  I was so happy that it was received well by the congregation and I hope that it will lead to some practical encouragement and support for Pastor Bassem's family and their ministry.

By Sunday evening, I was be at the disposal of Heart for Lebanon, working diligently alongside some passionate and gifted Kingdom servants.  H4L paid for the airfare that brought me back for this special assignment--which is the third "win" because it alleviates cost upon our ministry budget which is largely supported by North American churches. 

During my time with H4L, I was able to share with and encourage their staff, which is an opportunity that I deeply enjoy.

So, now as I prepare to return to Cairo, we have a newly completed strategic plan for H4L, a church encouraged to strategically appreciate their pastor, and some young adults equipped to further their ministry plan.  

Now its is time to focus on the family a bit, but also to get back to the weekly CCF Kids ministry and CCF Sunday night worship.  I'll also start preparing for an upcoming Skype message to Alabama area young adults as they gather for a Night of Worship in Birmingham on November 2.  

There's a lot of good things happening -- thanks for your continued interest, support and prayers that help make it all possible!!! 

From Holiday to Holiday

Last weekend's 6th of October holiday went pretty much as expected: celebrations mixed with violence.  The day in honor of the Armed Forces got the mixed response as those in favor of the military's actions in July to remove President Mohamed Morsi were filling Tahrir Square and other places where the military was applauded as they put on aerial shows with fighter jets and helicopters.  Meanwhile, the security forces in Egypt were busy keeping routes to Tahrir and other meeting places secure, preventing pro-Morsi/anti-military marches from reaching those meeting points in order to prevent chaotic and violent confrontations that could erupt between the two groups of competing ideals.  The security forces (largely police) fired tear gas volleys, and even small caliber ammunition fire as these demonstration marches attempted to converge on various points throughout Egypt -- as a result, 53 people died and many more were injured, and many were arrested for either acting or attempting to incite violence.

There were also reports through Twitter on Sunday of journalists trying to cover the events of the clashes between marchers and security forces, either being arrested by security forces or beaten by the crowds--or both.  I've posted a sample of some of those tweets here.   I've read reports in other countries in which someone who was being beaten was actually taken into custody for their own protection, treated, and released--I'm sure there's also some questioning that takes place, but I'm sure anyone would prefer to be answering an interrogation rather than being beaten by a mob.

This pic appears in the linked news article describing
the video posted by the group who claim
responsibility for the attack (photo: AP)

The Monday after, October 7, saw attempted strategic attacks from militant groups.  Eight army officers were killed in two separate attacks further east near the Sinai canal and Sinai where ongoing attacks have been the norm; but the unexpected came with two RPGs (rocket-propelled grenade) fired at a large satellite dish in Maadi, the district south of Cairo where we live.  The large compound in Maadi hosts dozens of satellite dishes of various sizes which serve a variety of purposes from television to communications.  The militant group claiming responsibility posted a video on YouTube - you can see the video and read the description of its content at this news link - though a large black spot is visible on the dish (see picture here from the linked article), we have seen reported elsewhere that the hole created in the dish is only 25 centimeters!  This gives you an indication of how large and stout these enormous dishes are.

Though damage was caused, there was little to no disruption in the ability of the dish to perform its services; however, the unsettling fact remains that RPGs were used in Maadi.  This is not the first such attack in Cairo, as a police station was targeted in August.  There have been an ongoing discovery and disarmament of bombs throughout Cairo, most disturbingly along the Metro public transportation system--the military and police have been able to discover these and safely remove these without incident to this point.  Some in the Twittersphere have poorly joked that such failed explosive devices are actually a benefit of Egypt's recently reported poor education system.  The increased incidence of explosive devices and use of RPGs in Cairo is not being viewed as a laughing matter by the military and Ministry of Interior, and they have increased security at checkpoints on route to the international airport, and are considering increased measures at key tourist sites among other areas.

The weekly demonstrations have decreased in numbers, but are actually increasing in frequency.  It used to be that everyone could expect a demonstration after Friday prayers, but the curfew that began in July enabled the security forces to keep people from mass gatherings.  When the curfew was relaxed (after 11:00 pm each night, except for Fridays where it remains 7:00 pm), demonstrators simply changed their weekly protests to new days.  Sundays have become the new weekly day of protest, which has led to renewed interruption of our Sunday evening worship; but then, Tuesdays were also added as a day of protest.  Why Tuesdays?  Some think that it is because the January 25, 2011 Revolution was a Tuesday--and the demonstrators have been stating that their views are consistent with and the same fight as the original revolution that toppled Mubarak.

So, we've come through another eventful Sunday, and actually a rather quiet Tuesday compared to Monday's events.  So, what's next?

Eid is next, which means we're actually all in store for a break from the chaos and calamity of the past several weekends.  Last year, I wrote on the blog about this annual remembrance, feast and celebration of the Muslim's interpretation of Abraham being tested to sacrifice his son.  This is a unique and festive time in the Middle East and, as I said, we can all use the break from what has been happening, so it comes at a good time.

Thank you for your continuing interest and prayers.  We remain safe and continue to find joy in each day's service to this region.  We have now lived here more than 21 months and we look forward to many more, Lord willing, and with your help and encouragement.  

6th October

An old holiday becomes a new day of division

Egyptian Armed Forces crossed back into the
Sinai Peninsula on October 6, 1973.
(image found in Google image search) 

In 1973, Egyptian Armed Forces in a joint operation with the Syrian military, moved against Israeli positions that resulted from the Six-Day War in 1967 - this joint operation began on the 6th of October, which was also Yom Kippur and so the war that lasted until 25 October is also referred to as the Yom Kippur War.  (Side note: The tensions and land disputes that resulted from these two conflicts, as well as all that preceded and followed the events, would eventually culminate in the Camp David Peace Accords.)

The 1973 war began with the armed forces of Egypt crossing back into the Sinai Peninsula and was a day of great pride and respect for the military.  So the holiday of 6th of October is more in appreciation of the military, and is sometimes called "Armed Forces Day".

And that brief, and probably far too simplistic for accuracy, history of October 6, 1973 is what leads us to today - for though this day will lead many to enjoy a holiday, many in Egypt are also still quite angry at the military for their role in the events that have transpired in Egypt since June 30, especially the forced removal of ousted President Mohammed Morsi and the installation of the now interim government.  Further, the interim government, ministry of interior who oversees the police and security forces, and the military under the command of General Sisi are blamed by these same pro-Morsi groups for the ongoing arrests, "persecution", and dispersal of Muslim Brotherhood events.

So a day to honor the Armed Forces has also become a day to demonstrate against them.

Meanwhile, those who were a part of the largest political demonstration in history on June 30, organized by the Tamarod (Rebel) campaign, have a renewed sense of gratitude and appreciation of the Armed Forces--a renewal that was necessary after the brief leadership of the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces (SCAF) after the January 25, 2011 revolution.  That transitional period was an all-time low in the public's opinion of the military, but now, though it's a divided opinion, the military is in a much more favorable position.

The interim president has urged those who support the Armed Forces to take to the streets in affirmation.

And so the clash potential is high today, particularly around Tahrir Square where both groups are planning to meet and likely converge in more than just a war of words and ideals.

As a result, we're home again tonight rather than attempting to get beyond Tahrir for worship--the CCF decided that the risk of passing through potential demonstrators on their way into or away from worship could be difficult, if not dangerous.  So, the interruptions for our regular gatherings continue - 11 weeks off, 3 weeks on, 1 week off since June 30 :(.  The Metro lines are expected to see delays as people also use the stations as demonstration points, as well as the means that some will take to get to downtown gatherings; the US Embassy warned against the use of the Metro lines as they have been a target for potential violence in the last couple months.

As you enjoy your Sunday, pray for the peace of Egypt today as we wait and wonder what ripple effects will spring from today's events.

Thank you for your continued interest, prayers, and support...

Young Leaders in Middle East

We have been blessed by the opportunities to pour into young leaders throughout our years of ministry--some were older than us when we began.  We have been awed as some have gone on to do amazing things for the Kingdom, passing on to other young leaders the wisdom and traits that were invested in us by our families and mentors.

Part of the 3W paradigm is to identify, invest in, and give opportunities to young leaders.  This is one of the things that so excited us about the prospect of joining the 3W team.  We have been so excited by the young leaders we have been meeting and with whom we have been developing relationships.  It is exciting to think what God will be doing in and through these young lives in the next 10 to 20 years!

You're always surrounded by young leaders at
Ana Terzo

I wrote briefly about some of the great group of leaders I got to see and grow closer to in Lebanon last month when I wrote about the Ana Terzo Camp and their trip to the Syrian Refugee camp.  After the Ana Terzo camp, as a board member for the NGO Heart for Lebanon, I got to be surrounded by another phenomenal group of multi-international  (young & old) leaders who work together to help meet needs in Lebanon.  One of those great individuals is my friend Chris; Chris and I met at last year's Ana Terzo and became better acquainted in last year's H4L staff retreat.  Chris did me the favor of an interview last year, and we wanted to do a follow up video with him...

In addition to the camp and H4L retreat, we also have an exciting group of young leaders in Egypt.  Last week, as a part of the practical section of a 16-session Church of God course, I was asked to teach the "Preaching the Bible" session.  This is a 16 hour intensive that we did over 3.5 days--through interpretation.  An exhausting but rewarding effort by all.  

Pastor Ishak, center with Ken, has quite a group of
young leaders in Asuit.

More than half of the participants were less than 30 years old, most of them still in or about to begin college.  I met several of these in a similar "Church of God History" course last January--this is what led to the invitation to invite Donald, John & Christine along to Ana Terzo this summer.  Those three were among the students last week, so it gave us quite an opportunity to reminisce about our time in Lebanon and to tell the others.

The largest group of young adults were not from the Alexandria area this time, but from Asuit--they traveled 8 hours by bus (no trains right now) on the last week of their summer break to take this course!

They were a great group--some want to go to Lebanon, others were more excited about our planned visit to The Upper Egypt churches.  We have long planned to visit these churches, but have faced conflicts in other pastors schedules, or security issues.  

We are so thankful for the favor and grace we have experienced in meeting and connecting with so many young leaders so quickly in the Middle East.  Please pray for our wisdom in working to encourage their faith and the use of their gifts in their churches and communities.  

Thank you for your continuing interest, prayers and support--none of this would be possible through us without your faithful participation!  Together, God is and will be praised!

Syrian Refugee Camp

For more than two years, refugees have been spilling out of Syria to escape the conflict there.  Millions have fled to neighboring countries like Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon, while those with means have spread out through the region.  For a country like Lebanon, their infrastructures have been challenged by the needs of camps that are really like tent cities--hundreds of families living in make-shift dwellings and dependent upon the charity of others, whether government, UN, NGO/FBO, churches, and any individual who is willing.

The plight of a refugee is really hard to imagine.  I've worked with homeless individuals and ministries in the USA throughout our lifetime, and though there are some similarities, there are unique differences.  It's really hard for any one living in a stable western nation today to imagine waking up one day and realize that if your family is going to have a chance at safety you got to move now.  Exchanging the known for the unknown, comfort for chaos.  

Refugees each faced a moment like this.  Then, they take whatever they can carry, crossing the nearest border with hope of sanctuary.  And if they are allowed to find sanctuary, they have to build a tent in a designated spot, and fill their days with waiting, longing for news, and hoping against hope to return to the rubble of a place you once called home to start over with nothing.

Your neighbors are equally desperate or worse.  Life in these makeshift communities can degenerate into the worst-case-scenario of "reality"-tv's Survivor.  There is either potential help or hurt from each neighbor and trust can become as equally scarce a commodity.  

As we pulled into the camp, we were amazed by the number
of makeshift dwellings.  The children began running
towards the trucks as soon as we turned down the road.

Imagine raising one, two, three or more children in such an environment.  The post-traumatic stress of their departure may pale in comparison to the traumatic stress of each day in the camps.

Despite this above effort, I can't even properly put into words all this must entail--the gravity of each decision, the weight of each emotion, the despair of each day that brings more heartache than hope.

One of my privileged ministry opportunities is to serve on the US Board of Directors for Heart for Lebanon, an independent, faith-based NGO, that began 7 years ago in response to serving the needs of Iraqi refugees in Lebanon and community development.  The initiatives have grown and so have the staff, preparing them with knowledge, experience and greater compassion to serve the current crisis in addition to those whom they were serving before.  Working in a limited capacity alongside such willing, compassionate, dedicated and sacrificial servants is a humbling joy.  I've seen their reports and learned of their efforts over the past year, but I had not seen their work up close.  Keli spent a week shadowing one of their former employees in January and witnessed the service and care to Iraqi refugees.  

A trip to a refugee camp

driving down the mountain into the Bekaa

In August, the Ana Terzo camp leadership team decided to partner with H4L on their annual service project.  We left the quiet and safe confines of Theopolis camp, and drove into the heart of the Bekaa Valley where many refugee camps are located in this rich agricultural area.  We went to a H4L warehouse where we loaded up a large truck with bottles of oil, shampoo, and prepacked bags of food for the distribution.  Then we loaded back up and followed the truck to the camp.

The camp group had spent some time preparing how they would serve; they divided in three groups based on how they would serve.  There was the food distribution team--the muscle--mostly young guys who could help move bags of goods.  There was the first aid team, the small group, who would assist a doctor in cleaning and applying bandages to simple wounds (more extensive and specialized care is offered by a variety of medical NGO and UN teams).  And there was a group, mostly females, willing to work with the children and keep them occupied with activities to show them some positive attention while keeping them separated from the food distribution trucks where they may get hurt or add confusion among the people lining up. 

I watched some of the children activity planning; after listening to a few of their ideas, I encouraged them to think simpler and bigger: to plan activities that they could do simply with limited materials with 50 or more kids.  They made adjustments, but were sure their plan could work.  

Welcome to the jungle  

The adults were much slower to begin moving
towards the distribution truck, which has to be parked
strategically pointing out.

When we pulled into the camp, the children started running to the bus.  Shukri, the Camp's leader, quickly directed the kids to run to the only space we had, the first floor of a large building that was being built before the camp sprung up around it.

trying to organize the swelling numbers
was difficult at best

More than 100 kids were screaming and running around the bewildered group who prepared to lead them.  There were another 50+ of older children holding younger toddlers and watching from the edges.  

The group leaders attempted to direct the kids in smaller groups--a good plan, but the kids were too crazy to direct.  They first began by separating girls from boys, which helped.  The girls were much easier to lead and were able to divide again into two groups with 2 of our young volunteers helping each group.  

two of our Egyptian youth attempt to direct the mob of
boys into two lines

while the youngest group of girls were
more cooperative, they were also more timid

The remaining 4 leaders attempted to work with the boys, which had definite "pack" or gang mentality - there were groups of boys that stuck together, bound by a loyalty to look out for one another from the other packs/gangs.  Each pack had a definite leader.  And each group violently protected or sought to take for their own.  This was a disturbing social truth that was on full display when our volunteers attempted to introduce a new, blue, playground ball to use in a game.  The game totally backfired as the groups attacked one another to have the ball--kicking, pushing, punching, and even diving off higher parts of the building to land on others--even the volunteers were being attacked.  Since the ball became a liability to positive activity, I i had to take the ball and hide it.

The boys got dispersed by angry fathers who kept having to step in to break up their fights.  But one by one, representative of the different packs kept asking the volunteers for the ball.  The camp volunteers asked me if we should leave the ball with the camp since we didn't need it--I told them "no".  This surprised some as they thought it would be generous--I corrected them that it would be dangerous: one or more of those boys would be hurt for that ball.

Songs and devotion

Since the planned activities were a bust, and we lost our play space when the angry owner chased all the children out, we moved on to trying to sing for the kids and to have an object lesson.  The girls and younger children came and listened to the volunteers sing "our God is so big" in Arabic and with motions--they learned the song and sang it too.  The older boys sat around the edges antagonizing the girls while a few of us tried to stop their rock throwing and pushing.

The object lesson was supposed to be this: have a volunteer taste an apple and then answer, "is it good and sweet?" Then, dump salt on the bit apple and invite to taste again.  Now, if they dare take a bite, the answer is it is not good or sweet.  The intent of this object lesson was to show that what God had designed and made is good, but when adding worldly things, we don't improve what He has made--in fact, we can ruin it.

This object lesson backfired--here's why...

When the apple was pulled out, it was the ball all over again--now, it was not just the boys eager to get to it, but all the children.  They all wanted a bite, pushing and trampling each other for the chance--the result was the smallest core you have ever seen as Shukri's hand was almost eaten, too.

Then, when the salt was added, the kids still were eager for a bite--and when asked if it was sweet, they all said "yes" with wide-eyes smiles while they chewed.  This second apple core, despite being covered in salty after each bite, was smaller than the first.

By the time this exercise in desperation was complete, it was time to go.  Children wanted pictures with some of the volunteers, they held hands and begged them to stay; following us to our bus, some tried to get on, even pushing me aside at one point.  

Processing the experience

One of our young Egyptians came and sat next to me on the bus.  She was having a hard time processing what was just experienced.  It's not like there's not poverty, street kids, and desperation in Egypt--but this was different.  She wanted to know why the government wasn't doing more.  We talked about this, and then her questions turned on the refugee parents--why aren't they working, why are they still living there, why...  We talked about each question as her youthful idealism was giving way to the harsh realities of a broken world. As she grew quiet, I told her I would keep talking with her any time.  She confessed later that the whole event broke her heart, led her to crying that night, and convinced her that she had to find a way to do something for those like these in her lifetime.

As I moved from her, I went to one with a different experience.  She's a pastor's daughter from the area and one of two who had any experience in the camps.  She actually goes often, serving as an interpreter for various NGO's attempting to provide services for the refugees. She was the only one who looked comfortable, not overwhelmed by the whole day.  She was hugged and greeted by name by adults and children alike.  She talked with and encouraged several like a young Mother Teresa walking through Calcutta.  It really was remarkable.  Having worked with dozens of talented and amazing young leaders, I was impressed--in fact, she may be the most amazing young leader I have ever seen.  I sat beside her on the bus and encouraged her for awhile.  I told her she was "exceptional," because she is--she doesn't go for pay, she doesn't get volunteer credits or awards.  She's just there loving and giving.

I then went to my friend, a H4L staff member on his first Ana Terzo Camp--he is the only other one to have been in the camps before, in fact he's there often.  I asked him for an assessment of how the group did.  He said, based on little understanding, on little time to prepare, they really did well.  Sometimes all you can do is all you can do--this was one of those times.

When we returned, I talked to a young leader who had gotten her teaching degree and is preparing for her first year as a Kindergarten teacher this fall.  She had taken the lead on organizing the kids volunteers.  She was looking downcast so I asked her what she was thinking?  She was upset because she didn't do we'll--I told her she did well simply by not hitting on of those boys herself.  She was upset because her plan didn't work; I told her with such things you just have to lead and give your attention to what's happening not what you had planned.  She was upset because of what she witnessed and was sad--I told her this was good, which led to a curious look back at me.  I told her that you are not supposed to see such sadness, such hurt, such loss and then walk away somehow feeling great or better; those feelings of sadness and even sickness means that she cares and that she has a fraction of the experience of God whose infinite knowledge and care mourns over each life impacted by the effects of humanity's sin.

Just one camp

This limited experience that I share here is from just one camp, on just one day, among a few families--their plight is being experienced day by day, a million times over.  While Syria's conflict has no end in sight, this is only to be exacerbated exponentially across the region.  And even when an end to the conflict comes it will take just as long or longer for all the refugees to go back and attempt to rebuild their lives.

Pray for those who can and are acting for the benefit of these needs; pray for the leaders of the nations where refugees are fleeing. Pray for peace in Syria, peace that will last and provide for religious freedom.  

#PrayforSyrians -wherever they may be