File photo: Egyptian church
Egypt (MNN) ― Egypt's church is facing more challenges in its struggle to stay alive and relevant. Aside from the rise in social and legal discrimination against Christians in general, there is another threat that faces believers: the future.
Book of Hope's Chad Causey says their research revealed "a growing cultural gap, a growing sense of being misunderstood by the leaders among the youth and then saying they wanted to be part of the church. They really wanted to connect with it, but they felt like the church, increasingly, just didn't understand them."
With the younger generations exposed to a wider world via emerging media, electronic entertainment and the internet, that gap seems to be widening. What's more, the church has not kept pace. Book of Hope's research showed a strong disconnect between the two worlds.
Causey says bridging the gap means being ready to face change. "We're going to have to empower them like we never have before. We're going to have to give them a real chance to minister and to be leaders within the body of Christ."
In order for the church to be credible to their young people, the leaders concluded, they had to give them a chance to be actively involved in the cultivation of their faith. They also noted that they lost further ground by not including the ideas and contributions of the youth.
Book of Hope's responsibility for the next step is weighty because "Book of Hope's job is to figure out what we can do to create Scripture portions that help them deliver the message that there are times and places in history when God raises up young people to really lead in a special way in His church and in His kingdom."
Stories like Daniel, Joseph, and Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego create archetypes for young people to model. The youth of the Bible stories paved the way in a brave new world, notes Causey, adding, "In the same way that Daniel became a leader of the Hebrews during the exile in Babylon, young people can become leaders for the church of Egypt in the area of the Internet, in the area of emerging media because they can rise up; they‘re going to be the people that understand it the best. And they can carry with them the values of the church in Egypt and express it in new ways."
Plans are being laid for creating a new Scripture portion that will highlight some of the Old and New Testament stories, along with the story of Jesus. These will showcase the message of the legitimacy and imperative of youth, in certain times and places, rising up into positions of leadership and contributing their gifts for the sake of the people of God. Says Causey, "Egypt is at such a time and place, right now."
