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(Some of the Bible Society staff on a Zoom call)
July 1, 2020

Dear friends,

The importance of our ongoing Bookshop ministry

I cannot express how encouraged and blessed I am after attending a Zoom meeting with our bookshop managers. The Sales department has been most impacted during this pandemic. The churches are closed, there are no large events and few chances for sales. I expected a depressing report full of problems.  Much to my surprise, I was amazed as the bookshop salesmen shared enthusiastically from all parts of the country, how each one felt the Lord leading them. They shared how our open bookshops are making a difference in the streets, and for the churches.  As most church bookshops have been closed, the Bible Society bookshops are the only place to get a Bible in many, many cities. Our staff also make home deliveries to those afraid to leave their homes during this pandemic.  Many on the Zoom call shared how encouraged the customers are with our many new digital resources, including online Bible competitions.

Staying Connected

The team has worked faithfully to remain connected with our network of customers through WhatsApp and other means, sending encouraging messages and news and links to all the free digital productions and competitions we’ve been making available in the last three months.  Through one of our bookshops in the Delta, where there are very few Christians, one priest has 1900 people in several WhatsApp groups who are receiving our Daily Bible Readings and using this for their daily Bible study together.

Renovations and Expansion

We are so thankful that during this time we were able to complete the renovations of three bookshops we had been working on for some time.  There had been various challenges to the work, but by the grace of God, we were able to overcome all of the problems, and these bookshops are ready to be opened shortly. We are especially thanking the Lord for our newest bookshop in the city of Hurghada, a key international resort on the Red Sea coast, with a large population of Egyptian Christians living and working there.  It is one of our most beautiful and spacious bookshops, the façade and logo strikingly attractive and noticeable by day and by night, promoting the Scriptures right in the center of the city.

Potential for Local Fund-raising

Despite the decrease in sales and loss of income during this challenging time, the news I heard this week lifted me up and encouraged me greatly, and I am very optimistic and confident.  Along with our Bookshop network and our rapid expansion into the digital media world, we have also made huge breakthroughs for potentially expanding our local donor base.  For the first time in history we now have electronic donations available in Egypt!  Along with debit/credit card transactions, we are especially excited about using “Fawry,” a system used by millions of people in Egypt who do not do internet banking, to make cash payments at collection points in more than 151,000 locations covering every urban area and remote villages.

Prayer and Partnership

Please pray with us for the Lord’s protection of each salesman (and their families) as they are each day exposed to the danger of contracting Covid-19.  Of course we take all the necessary precautions, but it’s the Lord's blessing and protection on which we depend.Thank you for your partnership as we continue to work towards establishing a new and solid foundation for the future of the Bible Society of Egypt.

 

Sincerely,

Ramez Atallah
General Director
The Bible Society of Egypt

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