Two English churches are funding Bible ministry on the streets of Egypt.

All Saints in Branksome Park, Poole, and St Mary with St Matthew in Cheltenham, are filling the financial gap for a Bible bookshop in the city of Minya, 150 miles south of Cairo.

‘Through their annual pledges, the shop can stay in the marketplace, on the street, near to those who need it,’ said Ramez Atallah, General Secretary of the Bible Society of Egypt.

Minya’s bookshop is at the heart of a provincial capital – sandwiched between clothing and jewellery shops, a bakery and ice-cream parlours.

With its inviting posters and products, the store is a focal point for seekers asking about the Bible, and for the 80 per cent of nominal Christians who don’t attend church.

The Society admits that, commercially, its 11 shops should be shut down. Income from sales and fundraising is simply not enough to cover running expenses.

But from a spiritual view, these outlets are the backbone of Bible ministry, making God’s Word available, understandable and affordable to all.

The Minya mission partnership was initiated by Bible Society’s Touch a Nation programme, enabling churches to support specific areas of work.

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