Dear Friends,
Our final prayer message from Egypt comes from Ramsis Saleeb. Please join us in prayer for him and his family.
Home to the Great Sphinx, Giza Pyramids, and Valley of the Kings, Egypt has one of the world’s oldest civilizations. Located at the juncture of northeast Africa and southwest Asia, Egypt is the most populous Arab country with nearly 103 million people, half of whom live in urban centers along the Nile. Though it was once a prominent Christian center, Egypt has long been a Muslim-majority nation following its Islamization in the 7th century. Today, Islam is the state religion and 90% of Egyptians are Muslims (mostly Sunni). 10% are Christians and nine in ten Egyptian Christians belong to the Coptic Orthodox Church.
Ramsis is pursuing a PhD in Theology at Heidelberg University in Germany. His research focuses on the theologies of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Athanasius of Alexandria and their implications for Christians working toward greater justice and liberation in society. Ramsis seeks to strengthen the Egyptian Church’s prophetic voice to advocate for the poor and oppressed, even as Christians continue to face discrimination, hostility, and sometimes violence.
Prior to his studies, Ramsis served as a pastor in the Presbyterian Church of Egypt (Synod of the Nile). Upon graduation, Ramsis will return to teach at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo, a partner school of the Vital SustainAbility Initiative.
Ramsis shares the following message:
Grace and peace!
Thank you so much for sharing with me the prayer requests of the SL community from different regions all over the world. In addition, thank you very much for sharing my joys, challenges, and concerns.
I thank God for keeping me safe and healthy, despite the pandemic. I also thank God for the opportunity to pursue my studies at Heidelberg University and for the support of ScholarLeaders International.
Nowadays, my prayers involve the following:
(1) I pray that God will lead my steps as I continue my studies.
(2) I pray that God will guide me to proclaim His Name and His Word in the city of Heidelberg during my stay here.
(3) I am worried about my family (my mother and my brother’s family) back in Egypt as the number of coronavirus infections increases. Please pray for them.
(4) I pray for the Presbyterian Church in Egypt, as the leaders are taking some steps toward reformations in the church.
I appreciate your concern and prayers. May God continue to bless you all!
In Christ,
Ramsis Saleeb