Summary
Egypt's crisis goes much deeper than the recent political chaos. With the leader of the Supreme Constitutional Court taking over the presidency at the behest of the military, the new government will likely represent a coalition of interests facing many of the same challenges that brought about Mohammed Morsi's downfall. Egypt's population has grown well beyond the means of the state to support its needs, and even a strong state will struggle to ensure sufficient supplies of basic staples, particularly fuel and wheat.
Analysis
Underlying the question of what political structure will emerge from this week's crisis, the fundamental fact is that Egypt is running out of money. Dwindling foreign reserves point to a negative balance of payments that is sapping central bank resources. At the same time, Egypt's reliance on foreign supplies of fuel and wheat is only growing. Egyptian petroleum production peaked in 1996 and the country first became a net importer in 2007. Government fuel subsidies are an enormous burden on state finances and, throughout the past year, failures to pay suppliers and a shortage of foreign exchange available to importers have caused supply shortfalls and price spikes throughout the country…
The second major challenge stems from Egypt's extreme vulnerability to international food markets. Though dire warnings of food shortages have been frequent in the media, they have not yet appeared with any significant frequency within Egypt. However, this is not to say that they will not eventually appear. Bread is a staple of the Egyptian diet, and Egypt relies on imports for more than half of its wheat consumption. Although farmland within Egypt is increasingly dedicated to growing wheat, there is simply not enough arable land for Egypt to feed its population.
In fact, although Egypt is a vast country geographically, most of it is uninhabitable desert. Population growth is accelerating in Egypt's densely packed urban centers, threatening to worsen these underlying challenges. Population growth in 2012 hit its highest levels since 1991, reaching 32 births per 1,000 people and bringing the country's population to 84 million, according to initial government estimates. This represents an increase of 50 percent from 1990, when the population was just 56 million. Egypt's fertility rate is currently 2.9 children per woman and is expected to remain above the replacement ratio of 2.1 for at least the next two decades. As a result, the United Nations projects the Egyptian population to exceed 100 million by 2030. This means that Egypt will have a growing pool of young people of working age in the coming decades, creating substantial challenges for the Egyptian state to provide them with economic opportunities, or at the least sufficient basic goods…
In any case, mounting demographic and economic pressures mean that the job of managing Egypt's economic challenges will become incrementally more difficult with each passing year and for each faction that occupies the presidential palace.”
Excerpted from Stratfor.com
Please pray with our Egyptian brother and sisters for the raising up of some modern day Josephs who will have God’s wisdom and help to bring deliverance in the desperate economic and political problems the nation faces.
India: An Afghan Church grows in Delhi
In a South Delhi neighbourhood, the sound of a man reciting Dari, a Farsi dialect spoken in Afghanistan, over a loudspeaker attached to a modest two-story building rose over the din of vegetable hawkers. The building was a church run by Afghan refugees who had converted to Christianity. The man was a young Afghan priest reading the Bible before a Sunday service in its basement. The number of Afghani coverts to Christianity increased as the US presence in Afghanistan increased after the fall of the Taliban. Today in Delhi between 200 - 250 Afghan converts from Islam to Christianity who fled persecution from authorities and Taliban have found refuge in Delhi. 2009 saw the highest number of Christians flee Afghanistan. A Delhi pastor said that 40 Afghan Christians have come to India so far in 2013. Most Afghan Christian converts have chosen India because of its proximity and their familiarity with the country.'
Praise: God for the Evangelical church in Delhi, may they touch the lives of the thousands of Muslim and Sikh Afghan refugees who have also settled in India since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. (Mk.16:15)
More: http://www.salem-news.com/articles/july282013/afghan-church.php
India: An Afghan Church grows in Delhi
In a South Delhi neighbourhood, the sound of a man reciting Dari, a Farsi dialect spoken in Afghanistan, over a loudspeaker attached to a modest two-story building rose over the din of vegetable hawkers. The building was a church run by Afghan refugees who had converted to Christianity. The man was a young Afghan priest reading the Bible before a Sunday service in its basement. The number of Afghani coverts to Christianity increased as the US presence in Afghanistan increased after the fall of the Taliban. Today in Delhi between 200 - 250 Afghan converts from Islam to Christianity who fled persecution from authorities and Taliban have found refuge in Delhi. 2009 saw the highest number of Christians flee Afghanistan. A Delhi pastor said that 40 Afghan Christians have come to India so far in 2013. Most Afghan Christian converts have chosen India because of its proximity and their familiarity with the country.'
Praise: God for the Evangelical church in Delhi, may they touch the lives of the thousands of Muslim and Sikh Afghan refugees who have also settled in India since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. (Mk.16:15)
More: http://www.salem-news.com/articles/july282013/afghan-church.php
Peru: Economic and now spiritual revival
The poor country of Peru has been experiencing an economic revival that has tripled their economy in the last decade. However, the economic front is not the only place where revival and growth is being experienced. According to a Charisma News report, there is also a rapidly-increasing spiritual revival encompassing the South American country. Peru has seen the number of born-again Christians rise ‘dramatically,’ says the Charisma News report. The Evangelical population reportedly grew from ‘single digits to 12.5 percent in 2007.’ This year's tally of Evangelical Christians in Peru is estimated around 17 percent, but could be as high as 20 percent or higher.
Praise: God for this wonderful news and for the growth of His people. (Ps.85:6)
More: http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=12157
Peru: Economic and now spiritual revival
The poor country of Peru has been experiencing an economic revival that has tripled their economy in the last decade. However, the economic front is not the only place where revival and growth is being experienced. According to a Charisma News report, there is also a rapidly-increasing spiritual revival encompassing the South American country. Peru has seen the number of born-again Christians rise ‘dramatically,’ says the Charisma News report. The Evangelical population reportedly grew from ‘single digits to 12.5 percent in 2007.’ This year's tally of Evangelical Christians in Peru is estimated around 17 percent, but could be as high as 20 percent or higher.
Praise: God for this wonderful news and for the growth of His people. (Ps.85:6)
More: http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=12157
UK 'losing fight' against internet crime, warn MPs
The UK must do more to stop online fraud and deter state-sponsored cyber-espionage or risk losing the fight against e-crime, MPs have warned. The Home Affairs Select Committee said much low-level internet-based financial crime was falling into a ‘black hole’ and was not reported to the police. The MPs said more officers should be trained in digital crime detection and e-crime experts protected from cuts. The Home Office said the authorities must ‘keep pace’ with criminals. Publishing its first report on the subject, the cross-party committee said e-crime took various forms, did not recognise national borders and could be committed ‘at almost any time or in any place’. It called for a dedicated cyber-espionage team to respond to attacks, many of which are believed to be backed by foreign governments because they are so sophisticated. A quarter of the gangs, many of which are based in eastern Europe and Russia, use the internet as their principal means of deception.
Pray: that the authorities will find successful ways of fighting cyber crime. (Ps.118:25)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-23495121
'Lads' mags' given cover-up deadline by Co-operative
The Co-operative has given so-called lads' mags six weeks to cover up their front pages with sealed ‘modesty bags’ or be taken off sale in its stores. The 4,000-outlet retailer said it was responding to concerns by its members, customers and colleagues about images of scantily-clad women on covers. Titles such as Front, Loaded, Nuts and Zoo have been given a deadline of 9 September by the Co-op. An industry body said the titles showed the ‘diverse interests of young men’. The Co-op, which is owned and run by its more than seven million members, introduced opaque screens for lads' magazines on some shelves earlier this month. Steve Murrells, retail chief executive for the Co-operative Group, said: ‘As a community-based retailer, we have listened to the concerns of our customers and members, many of whom say they object to their children being able to see overt sexual images in our stores.’
Pray: for the success of this initiative and pray that other retailers will also take up the cause. (Ps.118:25)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23486027
Bishop opens drug rehabilitation service
A new centre to rehabilitate drug addicts in mid-Wales has been officially opened by the Bishop of Swansea and Brecon. The Rt Rev John Davies marked the opening of the Kaleidoscope Centre in Llandrindod Wells with a call for greater understanding of addicts' needs. Bishop Davies said it was too easy to stigmatise people with drug or alcohol addictions
and to blame them for their situation; and that while there may be a small number of people who find themselves in addiction out of choice, there were many more who turn to substance abuse out of despair or because of a failure to cope with the pressures of their lives. The Kaleidoscope ministry began in a Baptist Church in Kingston-upon-Thames in south-east England in the 1960s. It now runs a number of centres across England and Wales. It is a major substance misuse service in South Wales, providing support to people with drug and alcohol problems.
Pray: that the Kaleidoscope ministry in Llandrindod Wells and other centres will bring relief and freedom to those who are addicted. (2Cor.3:17)
More: http://www.anglicannews.org/news/2013/07/bishop-opens-drug-rehabilitation-service.aspx
Greece: Christians detained for distributing New Testaments
57 believers were arrested last Sunday for distributing the New Testament to homes in Northern Greece. Greek Orthodox Priests are opposing 400 volunteers from 25 countries from gathering near Philippi in a Bible distribution project. Few Greeks own a copy of the New Testament. If they do - it’s in older Greek that most would not understand. The Bible is viewed as only being understood and interpreted by the priest, theologians or academics. This modern translation approved by the Greek State Church is being distributed by Hellenic Ministries and contains endorsements from 4 patriarchs of the Orthodox Church from around the world. Objectors condemned Hellenic Ministries as a cult despite there being no attempt to divert from the teachings of the Bible or of the early church fathers which are so dear to the Greek Orthodox Church. Some priests have instructed their parishioners to burn the copies of the scriptures that have been given to them by volunteers.
Pray: for an end to antagonism between believers and for God to envelop the Greek Church in transformation. (Jn.17:22) See also item 3 in World section
Greece: Christians detained for distributing New Testaments
57 believers were arrested last Sunday for distributing the New Testament to homes in Northern Greece. Greek Orthodox Priests are opposing 400 volunteers from 25 countries from gathering near Philippi in a Bible distribution project. Few Greeks own a copy of the New Testament. If they do - it’s in older Greek that most would not understand. The Bible is viewed as only being understood and interpreted by the priest, theologians or academics. This modern translation approved by the Greek State Church is being distributed by Hellenic Ministries and contains endorsements from 4 patriarchs of the Orthodox Church from around the world. Objectors condemned Hellenic Ministries as a cult despite there being no attempt to divert from the teachings of the Bible or of the early church fathers which are so dear to the Greek Orthodox Church. Some priests have instructed their parishioners to burn the copies of the scriptures that have been given to them by volunteers.
Pray: for an end to antagonism between believers and for God to envelop the Greek Church in transformation. (Jn.17:22) See also item 3 in World section