The Mission

Week 19, 2026

Media and Mission

As of 2018, there are more than 5 billion mobile phone users and over 4 billion who use the internet. Human ingenuity then spreads data further than the internet reaches; desert nomads can watch videos pre-loaded onto their mobile phones, for example. This revolution in communications is a massive boost to the spread of ideas generally, and increasingly to the spread of the gospel.

Communication and networking tools are being used in astonishing ways. For example:

1. For years, isolated Muslims have reported dreaming of a man dressed in dazzling white who speaks to them. Dreams like this have started some Muslims on the path to turning to Christ. These seekers can now be connected via social networking. A project to do this drew over 1000 responses in just one southeast Asian country. When the idea was replicated in the Middle East, the response overwhelmed the available resources.

2. One observer reports that thanks to messaging apps ‘untold numbers of groups are emerging daily that encourage one another in the Word even in places where the gospel cannot legally go. The Persian church is exploding within the borders of Iran thanks in part to … Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) intended to shield online activity from prying government eyes.

• Pray for creativity and wisdom to make the most of every mission opportunity that technology offers us today.

• Pray for the Holy Spirit’s power to work in and through every communication method.

• Pray for integrity in communication. Now more than ever, all of us need to be measured and gracious in what we say; our words can travel anywhere, and the internet never forgets.

• Pray we keep curious, open minds; the internet can close minds by encouraging like-minded people simply to echo each other.

• The need for quietness. The Christian faith has deep wells of contemplative prayer and quietness. Our churches, and our lives, do not need to be full of twittering screens; pray for radical encounters with God beyond the buzz and surface noise of interactive media.

EGYPT

This North African state of 97 million people is the most populous country of the Arab world and the most culturally influential.

A popular uprising during the Arab Spring only led, in the end, to a new dictatorship. Among the priorities of the new leadership, three are worth noting for prayer. The government severely represses all critics. It is trying to revive the economy, though at the moment this is hurting ordinary Egyptians rather than helping them. And it is making efforts to protect Egypt’s Christian community against the mob violence of radical Muslims.

Egypt’s Church is one of the marvels of history. Mostly Coptic Orthodox, it may be 13% of Egypt’s population, and has survived with vigor and spiritual life down through 2000 years. It is by far the largest body of Christians in the Middle East. It has endured long years of persecution. Killings, bombings, arson attacks, and crimes against Orthodox women have spiked in the past couple of decades. Yet acts of forgiveness by Coptic Christians have made a powerful impression.

• Pray that Egypt’s leaders will govern with wisdom, humanity and compassion.

• Pray that the remarkable spiritual renewal within Egypt’s diverse Christian community will spread, deepen, and produce much fruit.

• Pray for our brothers and sisters in Egypt in their many trials.

• People are turning to Christ from Islamic backgrounds in Egypt, while at the same time Christians are being pressured into adopting Islam. Pray that Christ will build his Church and be glorified.

• Egyptian Christians are at the heart of influential Christian media such as satellite TV, social media, print and radio which reach across the Arab world into millions of homes. Pray that Egypt’s Church will lead many fellow-Arabs to follow Jesus.