It is with a heart filled with sadness we write to inform you of another attack on a church this Christmas season.

Today an armed gunman opened fired on a Christian owned store and a Coptic church before he was arrested by Egyptian authorities near Cairo this morning. 11 are dead, including one brave officer who gave his life protecting others from this deadly assault.

Sadly, for Christian minorities around the world, the celebration of Christmas has become the season of attacks as governments fail to protect the freedom of Christians to assemble and worship.

OFWI is working with partners on the ground in Egypt. They are helping injured victims, supporting families who have lost loved ones, and gathering information for an investigation given the abysmal track record of protecting Coptic Christians and prosecuting perpetrators of such horrendous attacks.

Donations received will go to our partners on the ground as needs are determined and gaps in support identified.

Please give if you can and pray for the victims and their families.

God bless you and your family this Christian season.

You can read media coverage of the attack:

Reuters - https://www.reuters.com/article/us-egypt-security/gunman-kills-11-in-attacks-on-coptic-church-christian-owned-shop-in-egypt

BBC - http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-42511813