World Mission study tour deepens ties with future Egyptian Leaders

Egyptian Pastor says “we are all one family”

by Kathy Melvin | Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE–After 18 days of travel, hundreds of miles and dozens of experiences, six Egyptian Presbyterian leaders left the U.S. with a new understanding, appreciation and sense of solidarity with what they refer to as “the mother church.”

The Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Egypt was planted by Presbyterian missionaries in 1854 and is the largest protestant denomination in the Middle East. Presbyterian World Mission has maintained a close relationship with leaders of the Synod of the Nile, but with an already underserved Christian population and the potential for church expansion created by the 18-day revolution, World Mission is also looking to the future.

The young Egyptian leaders spent four days at the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary with mission co-worker Steve Gorman. Here they are touring campus. Photo by Kathy Melvin.

More than two years ago, mission co-worker Steve Gorman and former coordinator of the area office for the Middle East, Amgad Beblawi and Rev. Refat Fathy, secretary-general of the Synod of the Nile, created a plan to begin strengthening ties with the next generation of leaders in the Middle East.

In September, the leaders, all in their 30s, who had never been to the United States, began a journey that took them from Egypt to Louisville to Pittsburgh on an in-depth study tour to broaden their understanding of the Presbyterian Church USA. They traveled for over two weeks visiting seminaries and congregations in several cities. In both Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, they were hosted in homes by church families, in rural communities, as well as larger cities, so they could dialogue with U.S. Presbyterians on a deeper level.

Basim Adly, from Assuit, said everyone was excited about the opportunity to learn. “We are children of this church. Through American missionaries we became Christians. We are all one family.”

With Steve and Cinda Gorman as their guides, the pastors’ first stop was Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and the national PC(USA) offices. Each expressed a desire to learn more about the church and its polity, but also the way church and government interact in the U.S. They were also eager to talk to their U.S. Presbyterian brothers and sisters about what is happening in Egypt today, which they feel isn’t necessarily reflected in western media.

After leaving Louisville, the group stopped for a brief tour at Hanover College, then continued on to Cincinnati to visit the National Underground Railroad/Freedom Center. The next stop was Pittsburgh for a tour of Westminster College and the New Wilmington Missionary Conference brick patio with displays that honor hundreds of missionaries, many serving in Egypt. At Sandy Lake Presbyterian Church, they feasted on a good, old-fashioned, Midwestern potluck and the warm hospitality of a rural church. At Pittsburgh Seminary they attended classes, led worship services and toured with the seminary’s student guides.

In Philadelphia they made stops at both rural and inner city churches and were treated to famous Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches. They also visited the Presbyterian Historical Society and the inner city ministries of Broad Street and Arch Street Presbyterian Church. They gained insights into the urban poor and dialogued about how the church and society care for people in practical ways.

Rafik Thabit, from Assuit said, “We deal with many issues, including poverty and joblessness, but we try to treat people as a whole, not just spiritually.”

Christians are a minority in Egypt. “It’s difficult to be a Christian, but not impossible,” said Basim Adly. “We are not persecuted, but we are discriminated against.”

Egyptian Christians are also underserved. Studies by the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo show that more than 70 percent of Egyptian Christians do not have access to a church. For legal, cultural and security reasons, a worshipping community in Egypt cannot function outside a church building. With the unprecedented openness to the church in society that resulted from the 2011 revolution, the Egyptian government has given land to the EPCE to build 14 new church buildings and simplified the process to obtain building permits. There is also a critical need for more pastors to lead new congregations. To learn more about the funding for these projects, you can make a gift to growing the church in Egypt online or by mail at: PC(USA), P.O. Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700. Note on your check: Grow the Church in Egypt, e052179-1.

The group was eager to learn more about the American elections and the two candidates for President. They also delved into American history and visited the National Constitution Museum, Constitution Hall and the Liberty Bell.

When they return home, the group will be writing stories for the Presbytery newsletter and making presentations about their visit to churches throughout Egypt. Emil Anwer, from the El Qalabea/El Delta region and Heidi Gamal of Cairo, will be writing reports on their experiences for the Synod. Amgad Sarif will speak in his church in Olia Presbytery in Soha. Rafik Thabit, from Assuit and Adly, will share their stories with Christians in the Upper (Southern) region of Egypt. Adly also wants to write a book.

Shortly after his return, Zaki Amgad Samir of Cairo will travel to Basra, Iraq with his family and his faith, to pastor a church there.

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