03/02/2021 Washington D.C. (International Christian Concern) – Since Hope House launched in 2017, hundreds of Egyptian Christian children have benefited from its programming. One of the recent beneficiaries is seven-year-old Mina Iskharoun. His life and family experiences are quintessential examples of why Hope House began and what goals it seeks to fulfill. Persecution of Christians in Egypt is a centuries-old occurrence and though the level of persecution can at times be subtle, the effects trickle down from generation to generation. Present-day Mina may see these effects of persecution and even deem them as tradition.

Mina is the youngest of five children, born to two Christian parents. He loves going to Sunday school and worship at church. But Mina needs some help understanding what a servant’s heart means. He says, “I don’t do any duties at my house. I am a man! So I don’t have to sweep and clean the floor or do the laundry.”

His father is the only breadwinner for the family but has struggled with securing consistent income, especially since the coronavirus pandemic began. Mina’s health has also been affected by the family’s lack of income. Inconsistent medical care and poor nutrition cause him to say, “I feel so warm. I don’t like to eat food, and I don’t need to go #2 for three days at a time.”

Christians are already at an economic disadvantage with lower quality education, fewer job opportunities, and higher unemployment rates. The persecution mindset and attitude towards Christians are that they are lesser. The persecution mindset says “don’t bother trying to break this cycle, it won’t work”. It perpetuates dropping out of schooling, pushing into certain job fields, and defines Christianity by what limitations that person now holds. With a lower socio-economic status, Christian families are often marked by medical and nutritional issues as well.