Listening and Learning in Egypt
Today was rich in encounters with our Christian siblings in Egypt. We spent the first half of the day visiting the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services (CEOSS). Founded in 1950, CEOSS has become a powerful force for good in Egypt. CEOSS’s Vice President, Mr. Momtaz Beshay, met with us and educated our group on how the organization orchestrates a multipronged approach to addressing poverty, especially among women, children, and the disabled. Various directors shared their work in areas ranging from development to microfinance to agriculture to intercultural dialogue.
Recently, CEOSS participated in writing and proposing legislation against hate speech that is now being considered by the Egyptian parliament. Of particular interest to our group was their 80/800 initiative that seeks to revitalize impoverished churches in several regions of Egypt. The presentation highlighted the critical role that physical church buildings can play in communal wellbeing and the struggles for Christian community when such buildings languish. By supporting both repair of physical structures and empowerment of local communities, they have witnessed the incredible church growth. This work continues to expand as they boldly increase the number of churches with which they collaborate. Listening to the resiliency and success of the various projects was deeply inspiring. After the presentation, students eagerly continued to dialogue with various directors. When one of them found out that there was a bookstore, they asked if we might briefly visit it. Not only did we visit the bookstore, but we also even were given a private tour of the printing press site!
After a leisurely lunch outside, the group arrived at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo (ETSC). While I have had the pleasure of staying overnight here once or twice many years ago, it was a delight to see my colleague, Safwat, share his former home with our group. Alongside the afternoon’s lectures, we had the treat of briefly meeting the family of one of Union’s current Th.M. students. Three ETSC faculty generously spoke with us. Dr. Tharwat Wahba offered a wonderful history of Christianity in Egypt from its origins up to the crucial role that ETSC now plays among Protestant Christians in Egypt. We then heard from the Director of the Center of Middle Eastern Christianity, Dr. Atef Gendy. The Center has been so successful in educating that it now attracts not only Christian students, but Muslim students as well. Our last speaker, Dr. Anne Zaki, shared about the complex realities of women ministering in Egypt. Each talk on its own was rich, but the collective was a powerful witness to the dynamic and contextually engaged work that ETSC facilitates.
Throughout the day, the group was again and again moved and inspired by getting to learn from individuals who, led by their faith, seek to speak into and improve the contexts in which they live.
—Dr. Christine Luckritz Marquis
Associate Professor of Church History
