Arab, Egyptian in United Kingdom

Introduction / History

Ancient Egypt was one of the world's great civilizations. Dynasties of pharaohs ruled Egypt from 3200 B.C. to 341 B.C. Egypt fell to the Persian Arab Muslim conquest in 640 A.D. Arabs, who introduced Islam and the Arabic language to Egypt in the seventh century, ruled for the next six centuries. Ottoman Turks conquered the country in 1517.
After the completion of the Suez Canal in 1869, Egypt became an important transportation hub, but fell heavily into debt. To protect its investments, Britain seized control of Egypt from 1882 until 1914. They granted full sovereignty to Egypt after World War II.
Egyptians either did not migrate or were prevented from migrating by their government for many years. As a result of the 1967 Six-Day War, Egypt had to make changes. The war brought economic hardships to their country. Egyptians were ready to migrate to other countries for work.
Most of them have migrated to wealthy Arab Gulf countries where they do not face a language barrier. Secondly, they go either to prosperous English speaking countries or Europe. One of the European countries is the UK.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Though there are some common laborers among the Egyptians in the UK, they are most likely to be medical doctors, authors, college professors, or businessmen. Others are in the arts and professional sports.
In the near future, there is a good chance that Egyptians from poorer communities are likely to arrive in the UK and other European nations.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Islam became the state religion of Egypt in 1980. The majority of Egyptian Arabs are either Shafi, Maliki or Hanafi Sunni Muslim. Most Egyptians in the United Kingdom are Sunni Muslim, but there is a large Coptic Christian minority.
Copts brought Christianity to Egypt very early, where it remained for 1,000 years as the primary religion. Even today, the great majority of the Christian population are members of the Coptic Church. Evangelical Christians are a small percentage.

What Are Their Needs?

Those who follow Christ must have love and boldness to be a witness to other Egyptians. With a growing missionary vision, the Egyptian Church has the potential to reach both fellow Egyptians and Arabic speaking people groups in other countries for Christ. The Church is limited by lack of training opportunities, experience and funds. If additional resources are provided, church planters are willing to go.

Prayer Points

Pray that Egyptian Christ followers would become a mighty missionary movement for the Lord in the UK.
Pray for Egyptian Arabs to have spiritual hunger and a discernment that will lead them to the cross and the empty grave.
Pray for Egyptian Arab Christians to put their faith in the Risen Christ rather any religious institution.

Text Source:   Joshua Project