January 25, 2011

As Egyptians gather today in Cairo's Tahrir Square to mark the first anniversary of the revolution that toppled the government of Hosni Mubarak, the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) is holding up the example of a Christian congregation that transformed its church into a field hospital to treat wounded Muslim and Christian protestors.

"People with medical expertise made themselves available and the church gave ‘hospital' space and refuge to Christians and Muslims alike," says the General Secretary of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC), Setri Nyomi.

The Jasr El Dobara church, located one block from Tahrir Square, became a gathering place in January 2011 for protestors who were wounded and tired, earning the congregation the nickname "Church of the Revolution."

"This is a model of the supportive and united community protestors were hoping to create in their country. Today, one year on, it still stands as an example of cooperation between communities of faith," Nyomi states.

"Those serving at the make-shift clinic and refuge made the words of Jesus ‘Come to me all you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest' come alive," Nyomi adds.

During talks with the Evangelical Church of Egypt, Nyomi heard of concerns about tension between some Muslim and Christian groups that has led to violence, including destruction of worship spaces.

"Members of the church continue to pray for a nation which values all its citizens no matter what their religion. It is their hope that as Egypt maps its democratic life going forward, it will be characterised by respect for all the religious communities and freedom to live and contribute to the new Egypt," Nyomi reports.

In praising efforts of the Evangelical Church to participate in rebuilding the country, Nyomi says: "It is my hope that the emerging political leaders will value freedom of religion and will work hard at creating space for all Egyptians to participate fully in building a new Egypt in which the welfare of all is paramount."

WCRC was created in June 2010 through a merger of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC). Its 230 member churches representing 80 million Christians are active worldwide in initiatives supporting economic, climate and gender justice, mission, and cooperation among Christians of different traditions.

World Communion of Reformed Churches