Egypt (MNN) — In Egypt, Christian widows often face religious and gender-based oppression. Widowhood is marked by black clothing, social isolation, and limited opportunities to work or provide for one’s family.
Uncharted Ministries sought to encourage these believers by equipping them with a new skill and reminding them they have a purpose.
The ministry purchased several sewing machines and hired a local Christian seamstress to offer a six-day-long sewing class as encouragement and practical help to twelve women.
Erik Ouimette with Uncharted says the ministry hopes to honor the women, giving them a new skill and a reason to be in the public square again, engaging with civic life. The ministry wants the widows to know that they are worthy of investment and valuable.
They originally intended the event to be a ministry for Christian women. However, the on-the-ground team in Egypt turned it into an opportunity for evangelism.
They wondered, “We’ve got enough sewing machines here, and the room is large enough. What if we bring in six Christian widows and six Muslim widows? What would happen?”
Muslims and Christians in the country are not supposed to gather for events like this, so the biggest concern going into class was that security might shut it down.
The event was successful, however, and the favor with security that was prayed for was granted. The class was a rare example of how Christians and Muslims could interact.
Ouimette says, “I’ve never seen more women, more integrated, sitting side by side at a sewing machine. One of them was running the elastic on a band of a pair of pants, and the other one was sitting there running the machine through. You would never know that one was a Christian and one was a Muslim. You would never know as the children in the room were playing, which kids were of which religion.”
Going forward, this ministry hopes to do more classes.
“No one held up women in a culture that did not more than Jesus did. That was the heart of our Lord and Savior, and that continues to be one of the big differentiating pieces between how Christians interact with women in Egypt and how the Muslim culture does.”
Please pray for the ministry that it will continue to find favor with security.
Pray for the widows in Egypt that they will be blessed by the ministry, encouraging believers and reaching unbelievers with the love of Jesus. Pray for the resources to do this good work.
Header Photo is a representative stock image by J Williams on Unsplash
