Egypt has lifted the ban on Muslims working as paid labourers in building Christian Church in the country. The act was initially referred to as taboo.
The pronouncement now opens window of opportunity for Muslims to work in the construction of the 44 churches currently ongoing across Egypt. They can also join the work on 16 historic Coptic churches now being restored.
According to an official of the Uncharted Ministries, Tom Doyle, “This is a big step. This is the government saying, ‘We are giving our okay for this.’ And that’s another good sign. So we are thankful for that. And we pray that there will be better relations between Muslims and Christians. Because we know as Muslims become exposed to the Gospel and see the joy of the Lord and believers, it’s attractive to them. They want to know more.”
He also said the development is good news for the future of Christian-Muslim relations. “Saudi Arabia is the heart of Arab Islam. But Egypt is the brains of Arab Islam. Their Al-Azhar University is the place where clerics go to get trained to be the most respected theologians in the religion of Islam all throughout the Arab Middle East.”
Doyle says this openness is not just religious, but political. “Egypt is wanting to open up. The nations of the world realize that they need each other. To just push Sharia law and close countries from outside contact, from other groups, from other religions, it’s just not feasible anymore.”
He hoped that Christians would take advantage of the development in that part of the world for greater collaboration and gospel witness.
“We’re going to see greater progress for the Gospel in Egypt because of some of these things opening up,” Doyle said.
