For centuries, the church in Egypt has struggled in a very hostile environment where the Christian minority has struggled to maintain its identity. There are many stories of its courage and resilience in the face of the majority religion and discriminatory laws. Recently an email from two brothers from Egypt was received in Chad.  They said that they were coming to pray blessing on this poor and troubled land.  They asked if there was a guest house where they could stay.

When we met R and N, we were immediately attracted by their humble open spirits and thankful attitudes.  They told us an interesting story.  Their little group of Christians in Cairo had been shown by the Lord that they could be the “finger of God to bring the kingdom of God to others with a touch of blessing.” (Luke 11:20)  They had started by organising overland journeys across North Africa just to meet people along the way and to pray for them.  This has lead to other prayer missions throughout the Middle East.  Now two families from their fellowship had actually moved to other countries to live and to work and to be a witness.

In 2004, they met their first Chadian.  He had come to Cairo to study on a Christian radio course that they were also been involved in setting up.  They were impressed with the young man who had come so far from an unknown country to them.  Later they met a Sudanese man who had been to Chad and had a great burden for reaching the many unreached people there.  So after much prayer and planning, they went to the Chadian Embassy to ask for a tourist visa.  They were met with scepticism and some hostility and seeming insurmountable obstacles.  At first they felt very angry and expressed their frustration to the consular official.  Later they went back to the Embassy to apologise and said they were sorry for their bad attitude and they would seek to meet all the requirements that were being asked of them.  Their humble attitude so impressed the official that a visa was soon obtained.

Arriving in Chad, they had no plan except to be a blessing and to pray.  They went to have their passports stamped by security (as is needed for all first time visitors) and to obtain a travel pass.  They were met by corrupt officials who took money from them and hassled them. This did not put them off and after eventually obtaining the needed pass and completing a small journey within Chad; they went back to the astonished security officials to thank them and to present them with calendars as gifts.  (The calendars had well chosen verses in Arabic.) 

They were able to meet their young Chadian friend who had studied in Cairo and it was such an encouragement to him.  He was able to interview them for a radio programme and entertain them in his home.  They also met the Sudanese man who had returned to Chad and doors opened for them to meet with missionaries and pastors as well as Chadians in the street who were astonished to meet two “Arab” speakers wanting to greet and bless them in Isa’s name.

“Chad is a poor country and because of all the wars and troubles, everyone has a very low self esteem.  This is a wonderful country just to tell people that they are special; that God loves them and has a hope for them in Christ.  They are so amazed to hear this good news and very open to receive our small gifts and prayers,” R and N told us at the end of their visit.

Praise the Lord that in this generation God is raising up a witness from all people to all people to extend his kingdom and to be his finger of blessing.