An anxious time for the Middle East

“There is no doubt at all that it is a very anxious time for Christian communities,” said Dr. Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, in a recent interview with BBC News. “There have been extremist atrocities already, especially in Egypt.”

Dr. Williams continued, expressing concern that the vacuum left by the end of autocratic regimes in the Middle East was being filled by extremists. He remains optimistic, hoping the political upheavals will eventually bring greater democracy to the region. But for the short term, he fears for the Christian community, as he believes assailants are using the recent chaos to attack minorities.

For example, he claimed there were more Christians killed and churches burned in Egypt than have been reported. He argued life is unsustainable for believers in northern Iraq, while pointing out that in Syria tensions are nearly at breaking point.

Please keep our brothers and sisters in the Middle East in your prayers during this anxious time.

• Ask the Lord to bless and encourage the Church in the Middle East.
• Pray for peace and stability in these countries.
• Pray believers will be a Christ-like example to their neighbours, even when persecuted.
• Ask God to grant wisdom to the authorities and leaders of these areas.

You can read the full BBC article here.