BB Egypt

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2007, The Voice of the Martyrs
The Voice of the Martyrs Bold Believers in Egypt 3
Egypt Facts 4
Egypt Puzzle Clues 5
Egypt Crossword Puzzle 16

Bold Believers Stories & Activities
Story 1: Mark and the Quran 20
Activity: The Quran and the Bible
Story 2: The Christian and the Imams 24
Activity: Learn About Arabic
Story 3: Samir at School - A Skit 28
Activity: Seega, an Egyptian Game
Story 4: Leila: An Egyptian Kid of Courage 32
Activity: Comparing Christianity and the Religion of the Pharaohs
Story 5: Students Teach the Principal 37
Activity: Make a Sheet of Papyrus
Story 6: A Time is Coming - A One-Act Play 40
Activity: Pray for Egypt
Story 7: Samia and Sabah 46
Activity: Make a Timeline
Story 8: Sandys Story 49
Activity: Make Some Egyptian Food
Story 9: No Longer Afraid 51
Activity: Making Mummies

Answer Key 55
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Bold Believers in Egypt The Voice of the Martyrs 4
EGYPT FACTS
Capital: Cairo

Population: More than 75 million

Area: Larger than Texas and smaller
than Alaska

Main language: Arabic

Religion: More than 85% Muslim

Persecution: Islam, the religion of Muslims, is the official religion of Egypt. Christianity
is allowed, but Christians do not have an easy time practicing their faith. Christians are
often treated unfairly by teachers, police officers, and employers.

Churches must have a license from the government. But officials are often very slow to
give out licenses. A church in Maadi, Egypt, called The Evangelical Church, has been
unable to get a license for 50 years. The government has closed down some churches
that are not licensed. (Source: U.S. State Department)

Churches must also ask government
permission to make repairs on their church.
At least one church fell down while the
congregation waited many months for
permission to fix it.

Muslims who leave their religion to follow
J esus suffer serious persecution. They are
often rejected by their
families and persecuted by
Muslims. But Christians are
encouraged to become
Muslims. Some Christian
girls are kidnapped and
forced to marry Muslims
and follow their religion.
Cairo and the Nile River
Above: A mosque in Cairo

Right: An Egyptian church
EGYPT PUZZLE CLUES
Read these Puzzle Clues, then solve the crossword puzzle following the clues.

Egypts Ups and Downs
Usually the top of something is its upper part, and
the bottom is the lower part. Thats not the way it
is with Egypt.

The Nile is the longest river in Egypt. More than
4,000 miles long, it is also the longest river in the
world. Upper Egypt and the upper Nile are in the
south of Egypt. Lower Egypt and the lower Nile are
in the north.

The delta of the
Nile is in Lower
Egypt by the
Mediterranean
Sea. More than
90 percent of
Egypts people
live near the river
or its delta. The rest of Egypt is a desert.

Boats sailing on the Nile
Delta = Deposits of
mud and sand at the
mouth of a river. A delta
is usually shaped like a
triangle. It is called a delta
because a letter in the
Greek alphabet shaped
like a triangle is called
delta. Greek delta =
A satellite image of
Egypts delta
Crocodiles sleeping on the
bank of the Nile
Egypt on the Map
The main part of Egypt is shaped a little like the state of Missouri. In area, it is more
than half the size of Alaska. Egypts closest neighbors are Libya, Sudan, and Israel.

The triangular piece of land to the east of Egypt
is the Sinai Peninsula. The peninsula is part of
Egypt. Egypt is on the continent of Africa. But the
Sinai Peninsula is usually considered part of Asia.
The Suez Canal west of the peninsula connects
the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea.

Egypts Flag
The Egyptian flag has three wide stripes. The top
stripe is red, the middle one is white, and the bottom
one is black. The gold eagle in the middle is said to
be a symbol of Saladin. Saladin was a Muslim warrior
of the 12
th
century. Look in a history or reference
book to find out about Saladins role in the battles
called the Crusades.

Draw and color an Egyptian flag. Hang it up as a
reminder to pray for the people of Egypt.

Time Difference
At 6:00 a.m. U.S. Central Standard Time, it is 2:00 p.m. in Egypt.
EGYPT PUZZLE CLUES
River Nile
Delta
Suez
Canal
Sinai
Peninsula
Satellite image of the Sinai Peninsula
Egypt Animal Facts
Egypt is a home for a variety of interesting animals.

A woman crossing the border between Egypt
and Gaza looked strangely fat, according to
the police guard. A policewoman looked under the
womans robe and found three baby crocodiles! The
policewoman screamed. Other guards removed the
crocodiles, which were tied to the womans waist.
The crocodiles were returned to Egypt. The woman
was probably hoping to sell the animals in Gaza.
EGYPT PUZZLE CLUES

Sand cats live in the desert. God has given them paws with fur on the
bottom. Their furry paws protect them from the hot desert sand.

An ibex is a kind of goat. It has large horns that curve backward.

Rock hyraxes are somewhat like guinea pigs. They may be the
small, wise animals called conies in some translations of the Bible.
(See Proverbs 30:26.)

Camels are used for transportation in parts of Egypt. Donkey carts are
common as well.

Fennecs are large-eared desert foxes.

Several kinds of snakes live in Egypt, including cobras. The Egyptian
cobra, also called an asp, was depicted on the crown of pharaohs in
ancient Egypt.
What Does Pharaoh Mean?
News reports in the U.S. sometimes say, The White House said. Of
course, the White House in Washington, D.C. does not talk. The
reports really mean a government official in the White House said.

In ancient Egypt, per-aa meant the great house. Per-aa was used
to mean the kings royal court or the government, just as the White
House is used to mean government officials.

Later per-aa was used to refer to the king himself. Over many years,
the word changed until it became the word that we use today to talk
about ancient Egyptian rulers: pharaoh.

Pyramids
More than 80 large stone pyramids still stand in Egypt. They were built hundreds of
years before Christ was born.

Ancient Egyptian rulers had false ideas about
life after death. They believed they would
enjoy living in the pyramids after they died.
They filled the pyramids with fine
possessions.

The three pyramids at Giza are the largest.
The biggest of the three is the pyramid of
Cheops (or Khufu), also called the Great
Pyramid. It is said that the stones from the
Great Pyramid could form a 10-foot high wall
from New York to California.

EGYPT PUZZLE CLUES
COLORING PAGE

C
o
l
o
r
i
n
g

p
a
g
e

b
y

N
a
o
m
i

S
.

The Lighthouse of Alexandria
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World were:
the Hanging Gardens of Babylon
the statue of Zeus at Olympus
the temple of Artemis at Ephesus
the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
the Colossus of Rhodes
the Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt
the Lighthouse of Alexandria, Egypt

The Great Pyramid is the only wonder still standing.

The Lighthouse of Alexandria was built before the time
when J esus was on earth. It was located on the island of Pharos near Alexandria.

A mirror at the top reflected sunlight during the day. At night, a fire was lit. These
signals guided sailors in the Mediterranean Sea.

The lighthouse was destroyed by earthquakes before Columbus discovered America.
In the 1990s, explorers found remains of the lighthouse at the bottom of the harbor
by Alexandria.

Papyrus and Paper
Ancient Egyptians wrote on papyrus, which is somewhat like paper. The word paper
came from the word papyrus.

But paper and papyrus are not made in the same way. Paper can be made from the
pulp of wood, rags, and grasses. The pulp is soaked first. Then it can be placed on a
wire mesh screen to make thin sheets of matted fiber.

Papyrus, on the other hand, is made from strips cut from the stalk of the papyrus plant.
The strips are pounded, soaked in water, overlapped, pressed, and dried.

(Find instructions for making papyrus in the activity after the story, The Students Teach
the Principal.)

EGYPT PUZZLE CLUES
Replica of
the Lighthouse
of Alexandria
The Rosetta Stone
The Rosetta Stone was discovered in 1798 at a place in Egypt called
Rosetta. The stone contained writing in three languages,
all saying the same thing. A language expert who knew
Greek was able to figure out what the Egyptian
hieroglyphics on the stone said.

Hieroglyphics is a kind of picture writing used by
ancient Egyptians. After someone discovered
their meaning, other ancient hieroglyphic
writings could be decoded. As a result, we
now can better understand what Egypt was
like in earlier times. We now know more
about the culture of Egypt during the time
of Bible characters like J oseph and Moses.

Egypt in the Bible
The Bible first talks about Egypt in Genesis 12:10. The verse says Abram
(Abraham) went to Egypt during a famine.

J osephs brothers sold him as a slave, and his new owners took him to Egypt
(Genesis 37). He was faithful to God and to his employers. He later became an
important government official.

The children of Israel settled in Goshen, possibly the same as the land of
Ramses in Genesis 47:11. Goshen was an area in the Nile River delta.

The Book of Exodus tells the story of how God delivered the Israelites from
bondage in Egypt. Many years later, Mary and J oseph took the baby J esus to
Egypt to protect Him from Herod (Matthew 2).

EGYPT PUZZLE CLUES
Jean-Franois
Champollion The Rosetta Stone and two
of its translators
Thomas
Young
Different Kinds of Churches
After J esus rose from the dead, Christians were all part of one Christian Church. Early
Christians were persecuted by the government and by unbelievers. Many were driven
out of their homes and towns. Acts 8:4 says, Those who were scattered went
everywhere preaching the Word.

The persecuted Christians started churches in their new hometowns. But still they were
part of one main Church.

For hundreds of years, the Eastern church and the Roman (or Western) church were
two parts of the same Christian Church. New customs and traditions began in the
churches. Then in 1054, the Eastern and Roman churches broke apart. The Eastern
church became the Orthodox church, and the Roman church became the Catholic
church.

(Later, believers who did not like some of the Catholic customs broke away from the
Catholic church. They were called Protestants. Some Protestant churches today are
Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, and other groups that are not Catholic or Orthodox.)

The Coptic Church
Today many countries have their own branch of the Orthodox church. For example,
there is a Russian Orthodox church, a Romanian Orthodox church, etc. The Orthodox
church in Egypt is called the Coptic church. A Copt is a member of the Egyptian
Orthodox Church.

Egypt also has Protestant and Catholic churches. But most of Egyptian Christians are
Coptic Orthodox.

Christian missionaries have worked in Egypt to spread the gospel. The missionaries say
many Orthodox Copts believe they are going to heaven just because they were born
Copts. But other Copts are studying the Bible. They are learning about salvation
through faith in J esus.

Some kinds of Muslims in Egypt want to give all people who are called Christian a
hard time. The Muslims do not care whether the Christians understand the Bible
or not.
EGYPT PUZZLE CLUES
Garbage Dump Church
Many very poor people live at a garbage dump in
Cairo near Mokattam Mountain. Many of them
are Christian.

A Christian leader decided to build a church for
the garbage-dump Christians. He used dynamite
to blast rock from Mokattam Mountain to make
space for the church. He was careful to make the
blasts during a Muslim celebration. The Muslims
were shooting off cannons during their
celebration. Muslims in the area thought the
blasts were made by the cannons, so they did
not complain.

The blasted rock was cleared
away. An open-air cave church
was built in the opening. Today
thousands of believers join
together in the cave church to
praise God.

EGYPT PUZZLE CLUES
Garbage city
The Cave Church
Dome within the Cave Church
Why Should We Pray for Egypt?
More people live in Egypt than in any other Arab country. Other countries pay attention
to what happens in Egypt. So Christians around the world pray that Muslims in Egypt
will come to Christ. They pray that Egyptian Christians will remain strong in their faith.

Pastor Youssef is a pastor from Egypt. He talks about why it is important to pray for
Egypt. Pastor Youssef is encouraged by verses 19 through 22 in Isaiah 19. The verses
say that Egypt will know J esus as Lord and Savior. Through prayer, we can be part of
bringing this to pass, Pastor Youssef says. The first time, J ohn the Baptist prepared the
way for J esus. We must now prepare for Him again.

A Favorite Egyptian Food
Ful (pronounced fool) is sometimes called the national dish of Egypt.
Ful is often eaten for breakfast, but Egyptians eat it for other meals, too.

Ful is a stew made from fava beans. Many Egyptians buy ful from vendors
who sell it from small carts in the street. The vendor scoops the ful into a
bowl with a ladle. The customer may use pieces of flat bread to eat the ful
instead of silverware.

EGYPT PUZZLE CLUES
Isaiah 19:19-22
In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar
to the LORD at its border. And it will be for a sign and for a witness to the LORD of
hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the LORD because of the oppressors, and
He will send them a Savior and a Mighty One, and He will deliver them. Then the LORD
will be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the LORD in that day, and will make
sacrifice and offering; yes, they will make a vow to the LORD and perform it. And the
LORD will strike Egypt, He will strike and heal it; they will return to the LORD, and He
will be entreated by them and heal them.
Coffee Shops
Men in Arab countries often gather in coffee or tea shops.
They enjoy refreshments and discuss current events. In Egypt,
some play a game like backgammon called shish bish.

By tradition, only men go to the coffee shops. But women are
now welcome in some shops. A coffee shop for women only
has opened in Cairo, Egypt.

Clothing and Muslims
Many Egyptians dress in the
same kinds of clothes worn in
America. Others wear more
traditional clothing.

Traditional clothing for men includes a
floor-length, long-sleeved robe called a
galabia [juh-LAH-bee-uh]. Men may
also wear a turban or skullcap. A skullcap
is a close fitting cap without a brim.

In recent years, more women have started dressing in traditional
clothing. Some believe they are better Muslims if they cover their
heads or wear long robes or gowns. Many wear scarves over
their hair, and some wear a niqab. A niqab covers all of the
face except the eyes.

The government does not encourage women to cover their
faces. Government leaders want Egyptians to be Muslims.
But many leaders want citizens to be moderate Muslims
instead of extreme Muslims. They are afraid extreme
Muslims might be violent. They think women who cover
their faces are more likely to come from families of
extreme Muslims.

Moderate = reasonable, not extreme
EGYPT PUZZLE CLUES
Arab can refer to the
people of the Arabian
Peninsula before
modern times. (The
Arabian Peninsula is the
place where the country
Saudi Arabia is located.)
It can also refer to the
descendants of those
people. In addition,
Arab can mean
someone whose native
language is Arabic.
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
Read Puzzle Clues on the previous pages. Use the clues and
a Bible to help you solve the puzzle below.

Across
1. A sand cats ___ has fur on the bottom.
4. Thousands worship in a garbage ___ church in Cairo.
8. Some ___ bread to eat ful instead of silverware.
9. The Orthodox church in Egypt is called the ___ church.
11. The Red Sea and Israel ___ east of Egypt; another word for untruth.
12. Egypt is in North Africa. What is the abbreviation for North Africa?
13. Ancient Egyptians wrote on ___.
15. Men in Arab countries often gather in coffee ___ tea shops.
16. 2 Timothy 3:12 (NKJ V) says, ___ who desire to live godly in Christ J esus will
suffer persecution.
18. Men play ___ bish in Egyptian coffee houses.
22. Per-___ meant great house in ancient Egypt.
23. The longest river in the world is the ___ River.
24. The Nile ___ fertile soil to a mostly-desert country; opposite of subtracts.
26. The Lighthouse of Alexandria was on the island of Pharos. Another word for
island is ___; rhymes with Nile.
27. The Nile is more than 4,000 ___ long.
29. Psalm 68 says Egypt will worship the Lord. What is the abbreviation for
Psalms?
30. Libya, Sudan, and Israel are ___ Egypt; opposite of far.

Down
1. Unlike papyrus, paper is made from the ___ of wood.
2. The Sinai Peninsula is usually considered part of the continent of ___.
3. J oseph began to ___ when he was reunited with his brothers in Egypt
(Genesis 45:2).
4. Matthew 7:12 says, Whatever you want men to do to you, ___ also to them.
5. Upper Egypt is really down on the map; lower Egypt is ___.
6. Poor garbage collectors live near Mokattam Mountain. What is the abbreviation
for mountain.
7. Saul tried to ___ David to the wall (1 Samuel 19:10, NKJ V).
9. Some people in Egypt travel by donkey ___.
An abbreviation
is a short form of a
word or group of words.
The abbreviation for
Street is St. The
abbreviation for United
States is U.S.
10. The capital of Egypt is ___.
14. ___ was a Muslim warrior of the 12
th
century.
17. Ful is served to customers with a ___.
18. Another word for cut is ___; rhymes with clip.
19. Cobras and other snakes live in Egypt. What sound do snakes make?
20. In Egypt, J osephs father became ___ (Genesis 48:1); another word for sick.
21. God said to the Israelites in Egypt, When I ___ the blood, I will pass over
youandstrike the land of Egypt (Exodus 12:13).
24. At 6:00 __.__. U.S. Central Standard Time, it is 2:00 p.m. in Egypt.
25. The Red ___ is east of Egypt.
28. The abbreviation for junior is jr. What is the abbreviation for senior?
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10
11 12
13 14
15
16 17
18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25
26 27 28
29 30
Bold Believer
Stories & Activities
Remember the prisoners as if chained with themthose who are
mistreatedsince you yourselves are in the body also.
Hebrews 13:3
Mark was a 5-year-old boy in Egypt. He tells how he learned to
memorize the Quran, the Muslim holy book.

My uncle read the first verses of the last chapter of the
Quran. Then he asked me to repeat it back to him. I did
so, then he corrected my pronunciation of the classical
Arabic and told me to repeat it again. I did so. We did
this many times until I had memorized the verse perfectly.

Most mornings I would go with my father and uncle to
the morning prayers at the mosque. [A mosque is a
building where Muslims worship.] They started around
3:30 a.m. and finished around 4:30 a.m. After the
prayers, my father and uncle usually went home to sleep two more hours before
getting up for work. I usually stayed at the mosque with my copy of the Quran.

For seven years my uncle worked with me, verse by verse, chapter by chapter. The
year I turned 12, I completed memorizing the Quran. People treated me like a holy
person because I carried the holy book in my mind.

Mark and the Quran
Story 1
About 1,000 years ago, a man named Muhammad said he received messages from an
angel. Muhammads followers later wrote down the messages. Still later they were
collected in a book called the Quran.

Muhammads teachings became the basis of a religion called Islam. People who believe
the teachings of Islam are called Muslims.

Muslims worship Allah, who they believe created the universe. They do good deeds to
please Allah. Muslims hope Allah will forgive their bad deeds and let them into Paradise
when they die. But they cant be sure their good deeds are enough to please Allah, or
that he will forgive their bad deeds.

(Christians believe that no one can do enough good deeds to earn their
way to heaven. We are saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus
Christ. His death on the cross for the sins of the world means that our sins
are forgiven. See Ephesians 2:8,9, John 3:16, and 1 John 1:9.)
An Egyptian boy
Many Questions
Mark grew up to become an imam at a mosque. He
also taught at the famous Al-Azhar University in Cairo.
Muslims all over the world look up to the teachers at
Al-Azhar. The teachers give them guidance about how
to live their lives as proper Muslims.

But Mark was confused.

He was told to teach that Islam is a religion of peace.
But Muslim terrorists were bombing churches and
killing Christians.

He read verses in the Quran about love, peace, and
forgiveness. He also read verses about attacking people
who are not Muslims.

What is the Truth?
Mark knew that Muslim experts had
answers to his questions. He was an
expert himself. But he did not
understand why Allah, who was said
to be the creator of the universe,
would change his mind so much.

Marks confusion led him to seek the
truth in the Bible. He became a
Christian and was persecuted by
Muslims for leaving Islam. Often the
authorities were on the side of those
who were persecuting him.

One day the police put him in a prison cell with a big dog. The guards expected the dog
to attack him. Mark prayed for protection. The dog sat quietly at his side. The guards
were astonished! God continued to be with Mark through many other difficult situations.

Today Mark teaches Christians and Muslims about the truths he learned from the Bible.

(Sources include: Paraphrased excerpts from the book J esus and Muhammad by Mark Gabriel, Charisma House, 2004)

Al-Azhar University
The Quran contains 114
chapters, or suras. There
are 117 chapters in the first
five books of the Bibles
New Testament: Matthew,
Mark, Luke, John, and Acts.

The suras vary in length
from three to 286 verses.
The entire Quran contains
about 6,200 to 6,300
verses. The first 10 books
of the New Testament
have a few more than
6,200 verses.
Activity: The Quran and the Bible

A number of people in the Bible are also mentioned in the Quran.

Some of the people in both the Quran and the Bible are:
Moses, Pharaoh, Adam, Mary, J esus, Abraham, J onah,
Noah, David, Solomon, J ob, and Ishmael.

Historians believe that Muhammad heard Bible stories
from Christians and J ews. They believe those stories
were later included in the Quran. But the stories
must have been changed at some point in their
re-telling. Accounts in the Quran do not agree with
the facts in the Bible.

In fact, the Quran does not agree with the Bible
about many Bible characters and stories. For example,
Chapter 19, Verse 28 of the Quran talks about Mary, the
mother of J esus. But it says she is the sister of Aaron.
Is the Quran confusing Mary with Miriam (Exodus 15:20)? Some people think so. The
stories of Solomon in the Bible and in the Quran are not the same either.
Of course, the main difference between the Quran and the
Bible is in their purpose and teachings. The Bible tells the
story of Gods unfolding relationship with people and how
people can be close to him.

The Quran says many times that Muhammads job was to
be a warner. He warned people of the misery and
judgment that would come to them if they did not believe
what he revealed. He also told those who believed the
revelations that they would be rewarded.
The Word of God
in Arabic

True or False

Read the story Mark and the Quran, and the information above about The Quran
and the Bible. Then put a T in the blank before the true statements below and an
F in the blank before the false statements. Answers are in the Answer Key.

___1. People who believe the teachings of Islam are called Muslims.

___2. Muslims worship Allah.

___3. A man named Buddha started Islam.

___4. The Bible tells how people can be close to God.

___5. Muslims know just how many good deeds they must do to get
into paradise.

___6. Mary and J esus are not mentioned in the Quran.

___7. The main difference between the Bible and the Quran is in their
purpose and teachings.

___8. Muhammad warned people of misery and judgment.

___9. The stories of Solomon in the Bible and in the Quran are exactly
the same.

___10. The Quran has more verses than the Bible.
Story 2
I mam = a Muslim religious leader

Outnumbered
One day an Egyptian Christian met two imams. The imams worked at a large mosque.

The Christian said to the imams, I have some questions about Islam and would like to
know more. The imams were delighted. Maybe they thought the Christian wanted to
become a Muslim. But he did not.

The imams told the Christian they would talk to him at the mosque the following day.
The next day, the Christian went to the mosque. He was surprised to see 12 people
there to meet him! The imams had brought 10 of their
students, or disciples.

The Christian did not expect to see so many Muslims.
He was outnumbered. Dear God, he prayed. What
do I do now?

Loving Others
He sat down on the carpet with the Muslims. He spoke
to one of the imams in a loving way, calling him a kind
name in Arabic.

You cannot call me that! said the irritated imam.

The Christian answered, But my holy book, the Bible, commands me to love you.
J esus said we should even love our enemies.

I cannot do the same to you, replied the imam. The Quran tells me to hate you and
to oppose the infidels. [An infidel is an unbeliever. Some Muslims call Christians
infidels because Christians do not believe the teachings of Islam.]

The imams disciples were watching and listening closely. One of them asked the imam,
Why is it wrong to love our fellow man?

Muslim man
The Christian and the Imams
The imam stood in anger. He tried to speak, but he choked up and stopped. He whirled
around and left the room.

The disciples gathered around the Christian and asked many questions. They wanted
to know more about this Power that helps people love their enemies.

Facing Giants
J oshua and Caleb trusted Gods promises. Their story is told in Chapters 13 and 14 of
the Book of Numbers in the Bible. The two men and 10 of their friends went to explore
the land that God had promised to give the people of Israel. The 10 returned home
with many reasons why it would be too hard to follow Gods instructions. They had
even seen giants in the land!

The Egyptian Christian could have given many reasons why it is a bad idea to talk to
Muslims. The imam might have insulted him. A mosque might not be a safe place for
Christians to visit. Facing 12 Muslims could have made him nervous.

But the Christian trusted that God would be with him. (See Deuteronomy 31:8 and
J oshua 1:8.) As a result, 12 Muslims learned more about the teachings of the Bible.

Be Prepared
The Christian was prepared to talk about his faith. The Bible tells Christians to, Always
be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the
hope that you have (1 Peter 3:15, NIV). J oshua and Caleb were prepared to take
control of the land God had promised them.

Children and youth can be prepared. It is wise to have a trusted mature Christian to
mentor and guide you if you plan to discuss your faith with a non-Christian. And a child
or youth should have an adult present when talking to people they do not know well.

Prayer is another way to be prepared. Many Christians talk to Muslims about J esus,
but not enough of them talk to J esus about Muslims, said a Christian worker who
shares his faith with Muslims. Even if you are not often able to talk to a non-Christian
about J esus, you can pray that they will hear the gospel and decide to follow Him.

To Think About
Read Numbers 13 and 14. Who or what are some of
the giants Christians face today?
Jesus Saves
Praise the Lord
Activity: Learn About Arabic

Arabic and the Quran
Arabic is the official language of Egypt. Muslims believe that Arabic is the language
of Allah.

The majority of Muslims around the world do not speak Arabic as their first language.
But it is customary for all Muslims to say their daily prayers in Arabic.

Muslims believe that the true meaning of the Quran can be fully learned only in Arabic.
Qurans are printed in many languages. But Muslims who memorize the Quran usually
memorize it in Arabic, even if they do not understand it.

Arabic Script
Unlike English, Arabic is written from right
to left. Here are two sentences in Arabic.
Can you copy them?

How to Say It
Praise the Lord in Arabic is pronounced: MAHG-duh lah rahp.
J esus saves is pronounced: yah-SOO-uh yoo-KHAH-liss.
(Pronunciations are approximate.)
Types of Arabic
Read a passage from the King James Version of the Bible. Is that the same
kind of English you use when talking to your friends? There are different
kinds of Arabic, just as there are different kinds of English.
Classical Arabic is the language of the Quran.
Modern Standard Arabic is taught in schools.
Different forms of Arabic are spoken in homes and among friends. Iraqi
Arabic is spoken in Iraq, people in Morocco speak Moroccan Arabic,
Egyptians speak Egyptian Arabic, and so on.
Egyptian Arabic has several forms also. Cairene Arabic, named after Cairo,
is the most well-known.
More Arabic Words to Learn

*Pronunciations are approximate.

The following page is taken from a Bible story book written in Arabic. Can you tell
what Bible story the page is telling?
English How to Say It in Arabic*
yes nahm
no lah
J esus loves you. Yah-SOO-ah yoh HEH-back
Do you know J esus? Hahl-tah-reef yah-soo-uh
My name is ____. IS-mih ____.
Thank you
SHOO-krahn
Characters:
Samir [sah-MEER], a male elementary school student. Later
he becomes Narrator.
Teacher
Other students

Samir and other students are sitting at desks in a classroom. The teacher is at the
front of the class.

Teacher: Samir?

Samir: Yes, maam?

Teacher: Are you a Christian?

Samir: Yes, maam.

(The other students snicker.)

Teacher: (to class) Are any of the rest of you Christians?

Other students: No way, not me, no, etc.

Teacher: Were all Muslims, right?

Other students: Thats right, yeah, definitely, etc.

Teacher: Well, Samir, do you believe that J esus is the Son of God?

Samir: Yes, I do.

(Other students laugh, giggle, make disapproving noises, etc.)

Teacher: (Walks to Samirs desk holding a Quran. She talks as she walks.) But J esus
walked on earth. (stops by Samirs desk) So how can He be the Son of God? Does God
Story 3
Samir at School - A Skit
walk on earth? Does God eat? Does He sleep in a bed? (holds up the Quran) Our holy
book, the Quran, says that J esus ate food. It also says J esus was a prophet and not
the Son of God. Why dont you understand that?

Other students and Teacher freeze. Samir, now the Narrator, gets up from his desk and
walks to center stage to talk to the audience.

Narrator: Hi, Im [real name]. Things like that dont really happen at my school in
America. But it did really happen to Samir, a kindergarten student in Egypt, where
most people are Muslims. Samir felt alone when the students and teachers made fun
of him.

Philippians 2:6-11 tells about how J esus came to earth as a man. But Samir did not
know how to explain that to his teacher and friends.

Samir is now an adult. But children in Egypt are still teased for being Christians and
pressured to give up their faith. Today Samir publishes a magazine for Christian
children to help them learn how to stand up for their beliefs. We can ask God to help
the Christian children in Egypt stay strong for J esus.
Activity: Seega, an Egyptian Game

Egyptian children enjoy soccer and
other games that are played by
children around the world today.
Egyptians have also played board
games for thousands of years.

Two traditional Egyptian board
games are called seega (SEE-guh)
and senet (SEHN-uht). Many versions
of these games exist. In one form a
seega, two players play with 25
game pieces. The board consists of
25 squares.

Use the instructions below to try another kind of seega.

1. Draw or photocopy the board shown on the next page. Put a penny in each
square marked with a P, and a nickel in the squares marked with N. (Other
kinds of markers can be used.) One player moves the pennies, and another
moves the nickels.

2. Decide who will go first. If you play more than one game, take turns
going first.

3. Players take turns moving their markers. During a turn, they can move a
marker either one or two spaces. Moves can be vertical, horizontal, or
diagonal. If a marker is moved two spaces, it must be two spaces in the same
direction. For example, a player cannot move a marker one space vertically,
then a second space horizontally.

4. Players cannot jump over their own marker or the other players markers.

5. The object of the game is to get three markers in a vertical, horizontal, or
diagonal row. Whoever does so first wins. The winning markers cannot be in
the same row in which they started the game.
Egyptian kids play table tennis and other games
enjoyed around the world today.

Seega
P N
P N
P N
Leila was the oldest of four sisters in a family in Egypt. Her father
was a very strict Muslim. He went to the mosque to pray five times every day.

Leilas mother was a Muslim, too. But she was not as strict in following Muslim customs.

Muslims believe that older children and adults should fast from sunrise to sunset during
Ramadan. Ramadan is a month on the Muslim calendar. Leila told about her experience
during the time of fasting:

When I was 7 years old, my dad encouraged me to fast the whole month of Ramadan.
Then he told me one of the sayings of Muhammad, Teach them till the age of 7, and
beat them till the age of 10. I managed to fast the whole month.

Leila was taught that Christians were not good enough to be her friends. But at school
she met a kind Christian girl named Marcella. Leila said:

Our simple, lovely friendship grew. One day Marcella was looking for something in her
bag. She put all her books on the table. I picked up her Bible. As I scanned the pages,
my eyes fell on these words: J esus of Nazareth went around doing good. I asked
Marcella who J esus was. It was the first time I had heard His name.

Marcella politely answered Leilas question. Leilas curiosity about J esus grew.

I asked my father to get me a Bible, and I told him why. You can never imagine what
happened! A tremendous outburst of anger erupted at our home. My father made my
face black and blue. I cried, regretting what I had done, and repented. However,
before long, the same desire came back.

Leila tried to ask questions at school about Muhammads teachings. The teacher
slapped her.

She tried harder to follow Muslim practices to please her father. But she felt that her
Muslim prayers did not bring her answers, help, or hope. She began to read the
Quran, the Muslim holy book. She found no answers. She said it increased her doubts
and worries.

Story 4
Leila: An Egyptian Kid of Courage
I decided to read the Bible that I might find the truth. In the Bible, I learned more
about J esus, the name I had heard long ago. I said to J esus, You are my God and
Savior. You are everything to me. He took away all the heavy loads that burdened
my back.

Leila began a new life in Christ. She faced many more struggles and persecutions. But
now she faces them with a new friend, J esus, by her side.

For the first time in my life, I feel that I am a real person and really loved, said Leila.

(Into the Den of Infidels is a book that tells about Muslims in Egypt who faced great obstacles in their
search for the truth about J esus. The story above is from the book. It has been edited.)
Left: An Egyptian girl

Below: A family in Egypt
Muslim and Christian Beliefs About Prayer and Fasting
Activity: Comparing Christianity and the
Religion of the Pharaohs
Religions in Egypt
Ancient Egyptians believed in many false gods. After J esus died and rose again, the
people in Egypt learned about salvation through faith in Christ.

Many people believe that Mark brought the gospel to Egypt. Mark was the follower of
J esus who wrote the Book of Mark in the Bible. One traditional story says that Mark
died for his faith in Egypt. The story says he was killed after he spoke out against the
worship of idols.

Beginning in the 7
th
century A.D., Muslim warriors brought the Arabic language and the
religion of Islam to Egypt. Little by little, Egypt changed from mostly Christian to
mostly Muslim, and it remains mostly Muslim today.

The chart on the following page shows how Christianity is different from the ancient
religion it replaced in Egypt.

Muslim Beliefs Christian Beliefs

Muslims believe they should
pray five times a day at certain
times. They pray facing the
city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia,
where the Muslim prophet,
Muhammad, was born. Muslims
recite the same phrases and
Quran passages in all their
daily prayers. They may pray
in their own words in additional
prayers.
J esus taught His followers to think
of God and talk to God as their
heavenly Father. The Bible says
Christians should not pray in public
for the purpose of showing off,
and they should not use extra
unnecessary words in their prayers.
(See Matthew 6.)

Muslims believe it is
good to fast from
sunrise to sunset during
Ramadan, a month on the
Muslim calendar.
J esus said that God rewards those
who fast if they do so in secret and
not to get praise from others
(Matthew 6:16-18).
P
r
a
y
e
r

F
a
s
t
i
n
g


No single book was holy. The Egyptian
Book of the Dead was a collection of
spells and magic that supposedly
helped the dead deal with the
afterlife.
Christians believe the Holy Bible
is the word of God (2 Timothy
3:16).

Many archaeologists believe rulers had
the pyramids built to serve as their
tombs. The rulers believed they could
enjoy material possessions after
death. Their bodies were preserved as
mummies. They believed preserving
them would help their soul survive
properly.
In heaven believers enjoy
unbroken fellowship with God
for eternity. (See Romans 6:23,
2 Corinthians 5:8, and
1 Thessalonians 5:10.)

Egyptians believed they would be
judged after their death for deeds
done on earth. According to one
belief, if the dead persons heart was
heavy with evil deeds and weighed
more than a feather, he would not
have a good afterlife.
Doing good deeds is not enough
for salvation. (See Ephesians
2:8, 9.) Salvation is by the grace
of God through faith in J esus
Christ.
Ancient Egyptian Religion Christianity

Ancient Egyptians worshipped many
gods, though not all were worshipped
in the same area or time period. One
ancient king is said to have
worshipped only one god, but it was
not the God of the Bible.
Christians believe in one God
(Deuteronomy 6:4).

The ancient religion died out little by
little as Christianity spread in Egypt.
Some non-Christians outside of Egypt
have taken an interest in Egyptian
gods. A number of New Age followers
in the U.S., for example, now pray to
Isis, an Egyptian goddess.
More than 2 billion people in
the world today call themselves
Christians.
G
o
d

F
o
l
l
o
w
e
r
s

H
o
l
y

B
o
o
k
s

A
f
t
e
r
l
i
f
e

S
a
l
v
a
t
i
o
n

Hieroglyphic Code
Read about the Rosetta Stone and the hieroglyphics used by the ancient Egyptians in
the Puzzle Clues section. Each hieroglyphic symbol below stands for the letter beside
it. (This is not based on an actual Egyptian hieroglyphic alphabet.) To solve the coded
sentence, write the letter each symbol stands for above the symbol. The answer is in
the Answer Key.

Sentence to Decode

. I saiah 37:16
A D E F G H I K L

M N O R S T U V Y
Sometimes Khalid went to Sunday school because his Christian friends
invited him. He also heard Christian radio programs from time to time.
But Khalid was a Muslim boy in Egypt, and he did not think about leaving
his religion.

Khalid went to college after he graduated from high school. At his college, he noticed a
group of kind students who helped and cared for each other. Khalid was curious. Why
are they such close friends? Why do they have so much love for others? he wondered.

He tried to ask the students some
questions. But they were afraid of him.

Learning from the Students
After he finished college, Khalid became
the principal of a public school. Both
Muslim and Christian students attended
the school.

One day two Christian girls
came to him with a problem.
Their science teacher was
teaching Islam to the class
instead of science.

Khalid said to the teacher, If
you want to be an imam, go be
an imam. But dont teach Islam
here. We are a public school, and
we must respect other faiths.

The teacher stopped teaching Islam. The girls came to thank Khalid.

Khalid noticed that the girls were loving and caring like the students at his college had
been. I knew there was something about them that was different, he said.

Story 5
Students Teach the Principal
Egyptian
students
Khalid asked the girls about their faith. They were bolder than the Christian college
students. They shared notes with him about the message on a Christian radio program.
Khalid found the notes easy to understand. He came to believe in J esus as his savior.

Persecution
A year later, Khalid was baptized. After a while, he left his principals job and became a
soldier in the Egyptian army. Then he started a small Bible study group in his unit.

The military leaders did not want soldiers to learn about the Bible. They sent a spy to
join Khalids group and to pretend he was interested in the Bible. As a result of the
spys work, soon Khalid was sent to prison.

The guards treated Khalid roughly, and other inmates beat him up. They hurt him so
badly that he had to go to a prison hospital. Then he was released!

Khalid was surprised. He had expected to be shot by a firing squad. But God had other
plans for his life.

Reaching Fearful Muslims
Muslims are now afraid to talk to Khalid. They are afraid they will be persecuted if they
talk to an apostate. An apostate is someone who leaves their religion. The Quran
says that apostates from Islam are losers (Quran, Chapter 3, Verse 85).

Khalid understands how Muslims think,
because he used to be one. He knows that
some would like to ask him questions
about J esus.

Today he writes Christian
books for Muslims.
Those who are afraid
to talk to him can read
the books secretly.

Khalid is thankful for
the students who were
brave enough to share
their faith with him.
Satellite dishes
provide Christians
with new ways to
evangelize through
television programs.
Activity: Make a Sheet of Papyrus

Students in Egypt today use computers, paper, and pencils just like other students
around the world. But ancient Egyptians wrote on papyrus. Read about Papyrus and
Paper in the Puzzle clues section. Then follow the instructions below to make a sheet
of papyrus from cucumbers.

1. Peel two cucumbers and slice in thin strips lengthwise. Do not remove the seeds.

2. Microwave the slices for about five minutes or until soft, flipping them over once.

3. On a board, pound the slices with a rolling pin to flatten them. (Pound gently, or
the seeds will come out, leaving holes in the papyrus.)

4. Place half of the slices side by side vertically (with the edges overlapping) on
kitchen towels or other absorbent cloths. Lay the remaining slices side by side
horizontally on top of the vertical slices, overlapping the edges, and forming a
crisscross pattern with the vertical slices.

6. Cover with a cloth and stack heavy books on top to make a press. (If you want to
protect your books from getting too wet, add more cloths or put pieces of
cardboard between the cloth and the books.)

7. At first, change the cloths often as they become soaked. To change the cloths,
gently remove the top cloth. Then lay down a fresh, dry cloth beside the papyrus.
Flip the papyrus and bottom cloth upside down onto the fresh cloth so that the
cloth that was on the bottom is now on top. Replace it with a dry cloth. Put the
heavy books back on top.

8. After awhile the cloths will not have to be changed as often. The papyrus may be
dry and ready to use in 30 to 36 hours.

9. Write a Bible verse on the papyrus with a pencil.
Story 6
A Time is Coming
A One-Act Play Based on a True Story

Characters:
Narrator
Amar, an Egyptian young man
Mark, a Christian young man
Father
Mother
Young man with sword or dagger
Woman relative
Four or five other young men with swords or daggers
Several more men and women relatives

Narrator: In some Muslim countries, it is dangerous for a Muslim to decide to follow
J esus. New believers may lose their jobs and property. They may even be kicked out
of their own families. Sometimes Christian churches are afraid to baptize them or
accept them as members. Many decide to be secret Christians and keep their faith
to themselves.

This play is based on a true story about an Egyptian Muslim who became a Christian.
As the play begins, the Egyptian, Amar (pronounced ah-MAHR) is studying the Bible
with a Christian friend.

Scene One
(Amar and Mark sit together looking at a Bible.)

Amar: Look at this, Mark! In J ohn 16, J esus says, A time is coming when anyone who
kills you will think he is offering a service to God. They will do such things because
they have not known the Father or Me.

Mark: Thats what J esus told His disciples before He was crucified. Do you think that
time might be coming for us?

Amar: Maybe. My relatives took away my money and passport when I told them I was
a Christian. Then they locked me in my room. After that a Muslim from the mosque
decided I was possessed. He tortured me to try to get the demons out of me. A
friend helped me go into hiding in a safe place, but I may soon be found. Im not sure
I wasnt followed here today. I could be killed at any time!

Mark: Im really sorry, Amar. The pastor told me you had been persecuted, but I had
no idea you had been through all that. Im glad you came here today. Hopefully no one
will be suspicious of us getting together. Ive enjoyed helping you learn more about
J esus in our Bible studies the past few weeks.

Amar: And I thank you for your
guidance. But now I have another
problem that I would like you to
pray about.

Mark: Sure, Amar. What is the problem?

Amar: A cousin who cares about me
told me that my father is very sick. Id
like to visit him. I havent been able to
talk to him since I became a Christian
and went into hiding. I love my father,
and I want to explain to him why I am
a Christian. Id also like to give him the
chance to hear the truth about J esus.

Mark: No problem is too big for God. Lets pray that youll be able to share your faith
with your father in safety.

(Mark and Amar bow their heads in prayer)

Scene Two
(Father is propped in a sitting position in bed. Relatives are sitting in the room. Others
help Father, preparing a tray of food beside him, bringing him water, etc. Mother is
standing at the head of the bed.)

Young man with sword or dagger at his side: (enters) Sir, I hate to disturb you
with unfortunate news, but Amar is here and wants to see you. J ust give me the word,
Egyptian boys
Uncle, and we will take care of him for good. Then he would not bring you any more
shame as a Christian.

Father: (somewhat weakly) Amar? No, nosend him in. (beckons with his hand)

(Amar enters. Others with swords or daggers follow him inside and stand guard at the
door. People in the room scatter to
the corners and leave a pathway for
Amar to his fathers bed. They are
tense and ready for action.)

Amar: (nods politely to Father)
Father. (nods to Mother) Mother.

(Mother nods slightly
toward Amar.)

Woman relative: (loudly) How
dare you come here and upset your
father after what youve done! These
men (gestures toward them) would
be doing Allah a favor to kill you
right now!

Relatives: (all talking at once, except Mother, who remains silent) Yes! Shame!
Disgraceful! (etc., etc.)

(Father holds up his hand for silence; the group calms down.)

Young man with sword or dagger:
(steps forward) Shall we kill him now, Uncle?

Father: (gestures him away) Son, I have heard that you have become a Christian. I
have also heard that threats, torture, and persecution have not changed your mind
about following J esus. As angry as your relatives are today, I am sure that if you
declared your allegiance to Allah and returned to Islam now, they would forgive you
and accept you back into the family. Would you do that, Amar?

Amar: No, Father. I will not deny that J esus is my Savior and Lord of my life.

A family in Egypt
Relatives: (some shake their fists, men draw their weapons, everyone talks at once)
Away with him! Get him! (etc., etc.)

Father: (again raises his hand for silence) I did not think you would deny J esus, my
son. (to the relatives) Listen everyone! My son is a better man than I am. I will tell
you now that I, too, am a Christian. (relatives gasp, some cover their mouths, others
shake their heads) I was baptized more than 40 years ago and even attended Bible
school for awhile. (to Amar) I have always prayed for you, Son. My prayers have been
answered. (looks to heaven) Thank You, J esus! (to Amar) God bless you, my son. Go
in peace. Quickly!

Amar: (joyfully clasps his fathers hands in his) Thank you, Father, thank you. (runs
out past the astonished relatives who are guarding the door)

Scene Three
(Mother is standing alone in an empty, dimly-lit area, looking around anxiously. She
has a passport and money bag in hand.)

(Amar enters quickly, breathlessly.)

Mother: (rushing to him and hugging him) Amar! You came! Im so glad you got
my message!

Amar: Mother, its so good to see you. But I was followed here and they will soon
catch up with me, so I cant stay long. Why did you send for me?

Mother: Amar, Im sorry to have to tell you the news like this. But after you visited
our home last week, your father died.

Amar: Im sorry, Mother. But Im happy that Father is in heaven with J esus.

Mother: (smiles) Here is the passport and money that your cousins took from you.
Please use them to leave Egypt. You are not safe here. (hands him the passport
and pouch)

Amar: (takes the items and puts them in his pocket) Thank you, Mother! Ive already
made arrangements to live with a family in another country. I was just waiting to get
my passport replaced. But now I can leave right away! Thank you!

Mother: Go now, Amar. Hurry! God bless you!

Amar: (hugs Mother one last time, starts to leave, then turns back) Mother, one last
thing. Are you a secret Christian, too?

Mother: Amar, you must go quickly. I dont want to lose two loved ones in one week!

Amar: According to tradition, when I asked you if you are a Christian, you should
have answered, Thank Allah I am a Muslim. But you didnt. (pauses and both smile;
Amar starts to leave again) I may not see you again on earth, Mother, but Ill be
praying for you.

Mother: And I for you, Son. (follows Amar to the side of the stage and waves to him
as he exits, then slowly returns to center stage and looks to heaven) Please protect
him, J esus!

(Based on a true story in Open Doors Newsbrief. Used with permission.)

Activity: Pray for Egypt

Use the 30 prayer squares on the
following page to help you pray
for Egypt. You may want to
photocopy the page, cut out the
squares, and glue or tape them
on a calendar. Ask friends or
family members to join with you
in person or on the phone to pray
regularly for the people of Egypt.
Pray the
leaders of
Egypt will
rule well and
come to
know J esus.
Pray
Christian
tourists in
Egypt will
be good
witnesses
for Christ.
Pray
Egyptian
Muslim
children will
learn about
J esus love for
them.
Thank God for
Christians who
help people in
garbage dumps
and poor
neighborhoods.
Pray
Christian
Web sites will
reach more
Egyptian
Muslims.
Muslims who
become
Christians are
rejected by
their families.
Pray for them.
Pray
more Muslim
families will
follow J esus
together.
Christians
live in
a garbage
dump in
Cairo. Pray
they will
have hope.
Other Muslim
countries look
to Egypt for
guidance. Pray
Christians will
guide them to
J esus.
Pray Christian
leaders will
encourage
Egyptians to read
the Bible.
Ask God to
comfort
Christian
children who
are teased
at school.
Ask God to
change the
hearts of
officials who
will not allow
the building of
new churches.
Some Muslims
urge Christians
to follow
Islam. Ask God
to strengthen
the Christians.
Pray that
Muslims who
memorize the
Quran will
discover truths
in the Bible.
Pray
Muslim school
teachers will
treat Christian
students fairly.
Christian girls
in Egypt have
been kidnapped
by Muslims.
Pray for them.
Ask God to
bless the work
of Christian
missionaries
in Egypt.
Pray terrorists
in Egypt will
trust in J esus
and repent of
violence.
Pray for
healing for
those who
have been
hurt by
persecution.
Pray
more imams
(Muslim
leaders) will
understand
Gods love.
Cairo has
thousands of
millionaires.
Pray they will
discover the
riches of faith
in Christ.
Pray
Egyptian
Christian
youth will
find godly
people to
marry.
Some
Muslims learn
about J esus at
Christian
bookstores.
Pray more will.
Pray
Egyptian
Muslims
in other
countries will
find Christian
friends.
Some New
Agers still
worship false
gods of ancient
Egypt. Pray
they will find
the truth.
Pray the faith
of persecuted
Christians will
bring their
persecutors to
Christ.
Pray
Christian
radio and TV
programs will
reach more
Egyptians.
Pray poor
Egyptian
Christian
children will
have their daily
needs met.
Pray
government
officials will
treat Christians
fairly.
Ask God to
help Egyptian
Christians
forgive their
persecutors.
Prayer Calendar
Samia and Sabah lived in the same neighborhood in Egypt. Both were
15-year-old Christian girls. Most of the people in their neighborhood
were radical Muslims who did not like Christians.

Samias Situation
Samias family was very poor, and her father was too ill to work. She had to work as a
garbage sorter to help support her seven brothers and sisters. Garbage sorters
separate the plastic, glass, and paper items from other peoples trash into piles.
Anything good enough to save is later sold.

Samia was the only girl on her crew of sorters. She was also the only Christian. The
boys who worked with her constantly made fun of her.

Sabahs Situation
Sabah also came from a poor family. Sometimes Muslim neighbors beat up her father
because he was a Christian. He was afraid to
report the beatings to the police. Christians in
Egypt are often not treated fairly by officials.
Sometimes they are the ones put in jail if they
report a crime!

Christian Girls in Egypt
Many Christians in Egypt are poor. Sometimes
Muslims promise teenage Christian girls money if
they convert to Islam. Muslim boys even offer to
marry Christian girls if the Christians leave their
family and their faith.

After they leave their families,
the girls often get homesick.
But many are ashamed to go
back home. In addition, they
often find out that the promises
made by the Muslim boys are
not true.

Story 7
Samia and Sabah
Some radical Muslims go to great lengths to force Christians to follow Islam instead
of Christ. Most Muslims in Egypt would never think of kidnapping anyone. But some
extreme Muslims kidnap Christian girls and try to make them become Muslims.

Samia and Sabahs Struggles
Samias and Sabahs families were not interested in becoming Muslims. So the Muslims
in the neighborhood wanted them to leave.

The Muslims thought of ways to make life hard for the Christians. Once they broke
a drain pipe in Samias apartment. The pipe took water from the toilet out of the
apartment. After the Muslims broke the pipe, all the dirty water ran into the apartment.
The whole family had to walk, sleep, and live in sewage, said a Christian friend of
the family.

The Muslim landlady figured out a way to bother Sabahs family as well. She refused to
accept any rent money from them. Then she reported them to the police for not paying
the rent!

Encouraging Each Other
Struggling Christians in Egypt encourage each other to stay strong in their faith even
when they are unpopular and unwanted. For example, Samias friends helped her find a
job in a daycare center where other Christians worked so she would not have to sort
garbage anymore.

Pray Egyptian Christians will have peace with their Muslim neighbors when it is possible.
Ask God to comfort and strengthen them when their neighbors give them no peace.

To Think About
Do you know Christians who are going through a hard time?
If so, can you think of ways to be an encouragement to them?

Activity: Make a Timeline

Photocopy this page, then cut out the eight boxes below. Most of the boxes show
events that are mentioned in this book. Glue the boxes in order on a long strip of paper
to make a timeline. Some dates are provided to help you. The correct order of the
boxes is shown in the Answer Key.
1
2
Jesus died and rose again.
3
The Rosetta Stone was
discovered. (1798)
4
Muslim warriors brought
Arabic and Islam to Egypt.
(7
th
century)
5
The pyramids were built.
6
Jesus was born.
7 8
Remains of the Lighthouse
of Alexandria were
discovered. (1990s)
Early Christians took the
gospel to Egypt.
Mary and Joseph took
Jesus to Egypt.
The Voice of the Martyrs helps Christians in Egypt who share the
Good News of J esus with those around them. Here is the story of one person who
found new joy and hope through J esus.

My name is Sandy and I am 19 years old. When I was 7 years old, I started working
in a workshop that makes clothes.

I live with my mom and dad. I have a brother and sister, but they are married and
have children, so they dont live with us.

My dad is not a Christian. He has a job in a bakery, but he doesnt go to work every
day. He hates to work. He makes me give him every penny I earn on my job.

Once I broke my finger. My father refused to let me go to the doctor. My finger is
still deformed.

One day, I happened to go to a Christian house church that was meeting in my area.
I loved the worship time! That day, I gave my life to the Lord. I started to feel alive for
the first time in my life.

The leaders at the church counseled me. A lot of my pain was healed. I was able to
forgive my father for being mean to me.

My father is still just as cruel as hes always been. He doesnt care about anything
or anybody. But that doesnt bother me as much as our Muslim neighbors who are
trying to make him a Muslim. They promise that they will give him a lot of money if
he will follow Islam. My hope is that the Lord will change my father and he will follow
J esus instead.

My church friends found me a better job as a babysitter. They helped me sign up for
classes to learn to read. Im doing very well in the classes. I praise God for that and
give Him all the credit. He is the one who found me. He looked for me and picked me
up from where I was. I love Him very much.

My circumstances at home have not changed. Everything is still the same. But Im
happy, because Im the one who has changed. Please pray for my dad that he will
accept the Lord and wont listen to our Muslim neighbors.
Story 8
Sandys Story
Activity: Make Some Egyptian Food
Basbusa: An Egyptian
Dessert

Mix 1 cups cream of wheat, cup
flour, cup sugar, and tsp.
baking powder. Add cup cooking
oil and cup milk. Pour into a
greased 1-quart rectangular
baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for
about 30 minutes. Remove from oven
and cut into squares or diamonds.
Bake for 10 more minutes. While the
basbusa is baking, combine 1 cup
sugar, 1 cup water, and cup lemon
juice to make syrup. Bring to a boil.
Remove from heat and add 1 tsp.
honey. Remove the basbusa
from the oven again, pour the
syrup over it, and serve.
Egyptian Rice Pudding

Simmer 1 cup white rice in 2 cups water
over medium heat for about 15 minutes.
Add 2 cups milk and cup sugar, and stir
continuously over medium heat 10 to 15
minutes or until the rice is done and the
mixture is thick. Spoon into serving bowls.
Sprinkle with cinnamon if desired.
Serve warm or cool.
Egyptian Golash

Cook and stir 1 pound ground beef and cup chopped onion over medium heat until the
meat is browned and the onion is tender. Drain. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Beat 1 egg and combine with 1 cup milk. Using cup melted butter, cover the bottom of a
large cookie sheet that has sides.

Place a large sheet of fillo (available at many large supermarkets) on the butter. Spray the
fillo with cooking spray. Add another sheet of fillo on top and spray it.

Spread of the meat mixture on the sheets of fillo. Repeat the entire layering process
three more times. Add two final sprayed sheets of fillo on top. Carefully cut
the golash into pieces that are the size and shape you want. Pour the milk
and egg mixture over the top. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes.
Anna was very tired of Ahmed. When Anna left for school in
the morning, Ahmed was waiting for her
by the house. When school got out, there
he was, standing outside the school. He
was everywhere!

Ahmed, a Muslim boy, hoped to marry Anna
in a few years, after they graduated from
high school. Annas parents were Christian.
Only about 15% of the people in Egypt
believe in J esus. Egyptian Christians
sometimes feel they cannot stand up to
Muslims, because the Muslims might
make life very hard for them. Anna was
afraid to say, Go away, Ahmed. I will
never marry you.

The Youth Group
Annas parents had taught her about
J esus. But Anna did not know J esus as
her Lord and Savior. After her troubles
with Ahmed started, she began to think
more about Gods will for her life.

Anna found out about a Christian girls youth group. She visited the group, and learned
that some of the girls had been persecuted for their belief in Christ. The group helped
them stand strong in their faith.

After worship, the older girls talked to visitors and younger girls. Anna listened to the
girls and decided to give her life to Christ.

Anna was different after she began to follow Christ. She was no longer afraid of
Ahmed. She told him politely that she could not marry him because she had become a
Christian. Ahmed tried to change her mind, but Anna boldly stood her ground. Her
fellowship with the girls in the youth group helped give her courage.
Story 9
No Longer Afraid
Above: An Egyptian girl
about Annas age

Left: An Egyptian youth
1
You Never Know Whos Watching
Ahmeds Muslim friends knew about Anna and Ahmed. One
of his friends, a girl named Neema, had a brother who
belonged to a Muslim terrorist group. Neemas cousin was
a leader among the Muslims in Neemas village. Would
Neema report Anna to her brother and cousin for standing
up to Ahmed?

Actually, Neema was amazed at the changes she noticed
in Anna. She saw that Anna treated other people kindly.
She admired the way Anna stood up to Ahmed without
being rude.

Neema asked Anna what had happened to her. Anna explained that she was now
living for J esus. She told Neema how she, too, could have new life in Christ.

After awhile, Neema understood that J esus loved her and died for her sins. She
became a Christian. But for now, her faith is a secret. She believes her Muslim
relatives will harm her if they find out about it. They might also harm Anna.

Anna continues to learn more about J esus with her Christian friends. She passes
on what she learns to Neema in secret. Anna and Neema pray that Ahmed, Neemas
relatives, and other Egyptian Muslims will come to understand the truth about
J esus, too.

Activity: Making Mummies

Egyptian rulers had their bodies preserved as mummies. Their religion taught them that
preserving the bodies would help their soul survive properly. (See the chart after Story
#4 that compares the religion of ancient Egypt with biblical truth.)

Part of the process of making a mummy included removing the moisture from the
persons body. You can mummify an apple by removing the moisture from it. Peel an
apple and slice it into quarters. Put one of the quarters in a plastic bowl or cup. Pour
to cup of salt on topenough to cover the apple piece. Set the bowl or cup away
from direct sunlight for a week. Then check the apple and brush off the salt. (Dont
wash it or the apple will have moisture in it again.) Your apple is mummified!
A terrorist is
someone who uses
threats, violence,
or scaring people
to try to force
governments or
others to do what
the terrorist wants.
Most Muslims in
Egypt are not
terrorists.
2
Variations
Set aside another apple piece without covering it with salt. Check the difference
in the apples after a week.
Weigh the salt-covered apple at the beginning and end of the week to see how
much weight it lost when the moisture was removed.

Follow the instructions on a box of oven-bake clay about how to use
the clay. Make a mummy body, arms, and head covering out of the
clay separately. The back of the mummys body can be flat.

Connect the arms and head covering to the body. Smooth the
parts together at the connecting parts. Cross the arms.

Bake and let cool. Paint the top side of the mummy with
white or off-white washable acrylic paint. Use two
coats and let the paint dry between coats. Use
additional colors to decorate the mummy. A very
thin brush (such as a liquid eyeliner brush) will be
helpful in painting thin lines.

Variation
Actual mummies in ancient Egypt were wrapped in strips
of linen. Cut gauze bandages into strips about inches
wide. Put a thick layer of water-based craft glue on an
unpainted baked mummy figure. Begin wrapping the
mummy horizontally with a gauze strip, pressing the
gauze down gently. Add more glue as you continue to
wrap until the mummy is covered in two layers of gauze.
Tuck the end of the last strip under previously glued gauze.
Cover the mummy with another coat of glue to glue down any
loose strands of gauze. Let dry before painting. More paint will be
required to paint the taped mummy than one that has not been covered with gauze.

Note: Mummies and their coffins were often decorated with symbols of Egypts false
religion. How can you decorate yours in a way that is not a reminder of false gods?

(See more about the false religion of the ancient Egyptians under Pyramids in the
Egypt Puzzle Clues section and under Comparing Christianity and the Religion of the
Pharoahs activity after Story #4.)
Coloring Page

C
o
l
o
r
i
n
g

p
a
g
e

b
y

N
a
o
m
i

S
.

1. T 6. T
2. T 7. T
3. F 8. T
4. T 9. F
5. F 10. T
ANSWER KEY

Egypt Crossword Puzzle

The Quran and the Bible

Hieroglyphic Code
You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth.

Make a Timeline
The correct order is: 5, 6, 1, 2, 7, 4, 3, 8.
P A W D U M P
U S E C O P T I C
L I E A N A
P A P Y R U S I
T A O R
A L L O
S H I S H A A
N I L E A D D S
I S L E M I L E S
P S N E A R

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Kids of Courage is a division of The Voice of the Martyrs, Inc.

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