Weekly devotion: Seek the welfare of your city

Arkan Cultural Centre, Egypt

Two young women at the Art Without Walls exhibition at the Arkan Cultural Centre

The current economic turmoil on Egypt is having a big impact on Egyptian youth. Many businesses closed down as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and some 15.6% of young people aged 15-24 were unemployed in 2023.

Young people in Egypt are desperately searching for job opportunities to help them build futures for themselves. With the pandemic ushering in the greater use of online communication, many are keen to improve their technical and electronic communication skills.

Episcocare’s Arkan Cultural Centre in downtown Alexandria, based at St Mark’s Pro-Cathedral, is responding to these challenges by running courses to teach 300 Christian and Muslim youths these important skills. The courses are designed to improve their chances in a difficult job market. By working together, youths from different faith backgrounds will have the opportunity to build friendships and cultural understanding, promoting cohesion in the wider community.

Bible reading

‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. . . . But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.’

Jeremiah 29:4-5, 7

Thought

This short excerpt from Jeremiah reminds us to seek the good of others. Our life circumstances haven’t fallen into place by accident - as Psalm 139 reminds us, ‘all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.’ As Christians, we can rejoice in the knowledge that God has placed us exactly where he wants us - and that our purpose is to love him and love other people.

Ask yourself: Think about where God has put you - not just physically, but what skills and resources he has given you, and the interests and desires he has laid on your heart. How can you use these things to seek the welfare of others?

Prayer

Gracious God,

We lift before you the city of Alexandria in Egypt. We thank you for the active, servant-hearted Christian community there and we pray that you would bless their efforts to seek the welfare of all of those around them. We especially pray for unity between those from different faith backgrounds.

We pray for the young people in Egypt - many of whom are well-educated yet struggle to find meaningful employment. May the project at the Arkan Centre open new job opportunities for the youth and may this cause a ripple effect - throughout the city, throughout the country.

In our own lives, help us to be open-hearted and do what we can seek the welfare of others.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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