Some 800 people celebrated the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ during Easter weekend at the Ramses Sudanese Adventist Church, in the heart of Cairo. “The last time the church auditorium was this full of people was in the ‘60s during a big evangelistic effort,” says Pastor Peter Zarka, president of the church in Egypt. “Since that time there have been between 20 and 70 Egyptians gathering regularly in the building for prayer.”

Last year the Sudanese refugees, whose membership in Egypt has grown rapidly, began worship services in the large Ramses building.

Sudanese church members have planned for an evangelistic effort to reach out to an estimated 1 million Sudanese refugees in and around Cairo, who face many difficulties in Egypt. The Sudanese are from the southern part of the country, which is Christian, while the northern region is Muslim. “Being refugees in a Muslim country, Egypt, they are eager to get together and feel the fellowship and love of the fellow believers and friends,” Zarka told ANN. “Christ brings them into the one family that they miss the most.”

Refugees formed a choir, called “Prince of Peace”, which has recorded a CD and has developed a reputation for “singing beautifully and enthusiastically.”

“We heard them singing several times during this Easter program. They are wonderful people,” says Zarka. 

The Sudanese self-help school, which started last October in the Matarea district, joined voices with a school called “Modern Education for Sudanese (MES)” to form a children’s choir, who sang in English during the service.

Plans are under way to hold another evangelistic effort in June.