Evangelical Theological Seminary - January 2020 Update

ETSC President Dr. Atef Gendy, center, and 2019 graduates

Cairo, Egypt

A message from Dr. Atef Gendy, ETSC President

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. John 1:14

Although the Church in the East formally recognizes Christmas on January 7, I feel blessed to begin my celebration in December with my friends in the West and continue it through January 7. While the traditions surrounding Christmas vary throughout the world, there is a shared belief among us that the coming of Jesus was and is the most significant event in human history. He is indeed full of grace and truth. Whether our celebration resembles that of those lowly, bedraggled shepherds or that of the well-to-do mysterious wise men from the East, matters not. We come together around his manger-crib with hearts overwhelmed with joy and gratitude.

For those of us at ETSC, it is indeed a time for thanksgiving. Not only do we give thanks for the coming of Christ, but we also pause to offer our profound appreciation for God’s work in and among us this past year. Let me express our gratitude for the following blessings:

• We praise God for the growth of the student body. For the first time in its history, the seminary has over 400 students enrolled. I recall that in 2000, we had less than 70 students. Our distance learning programs allow students from around the world to train for ministry and leadership roles. Our faculty has grown as well. We have 16 full-time faculty, of whom 10 hold doctoral degrees.

• Equally important is the contribution of our graduates towards the growth of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Egypt (EPCE), to which ETSC belongs. The EPCE has grown by 30% over the last ten years. Our graduates serve as ordained pastors, evangelists, church planters, elders, youth leaders, etc., filling a variety of leadership roles in the Church. We are grateful to be part of the growth of God’s kingdom in Egypt.

• Finally, we give thanks for all our donors, without whose generosity our work would be impossible. Whether the gifts were for capital improvements, faculty development or scholarships, they provide enormous value for our work.

As I close this greeting, I also want to thank you for your prayers on our behalf. I am fully convinced that this growth is in response to many prayers offered as intercession for us to the throne of the Father. May God also bless you throughout the coming year.

Grace and peace,

Atef Gendy, President

Update from ETSC

In 2012 the seminary conducted a study of Egyptian churches. The study revealed that there were 311 Presbyterian churches, including church plants. Of these, 127 lacked pastors. There was no vision for mission or church planting. After much prayer and spiritual discernment, ETSC partnered with the Synod of the Nile to create a plan for church growth. Through God’s grace, there are now 411 churches and 119 new church planting initiatives. The Synod now has 29 church planters—ETSC graduates. Many observers look with wonder at what God is doing in Egypt. Some have used the term “a moment in time” and others speak of “the days of the harvest.” The church continues to grow in unprecedented ways, and the Evangelical Theological Seminary is very much involved in that growth.

Prayer Note:

Please pray for our seminary as Dr. Atef Gendy plans to step down as president at the end of the year. He has served faithfully for 20 years and is ready to pass the leadership on to someone else. This is both a wonderful time of modeling positive transfer of leadership and a challenging time of transition. We hope for wisdom in this process. Thank you for your prayers!

Note from Outreach:

If you would like to visit Egypt and see the good work God is doing through the seminary, The Outreach Foundation is sponsoring a trip to Egypt from March 5-16, 2020. Please click HERE or contact Carol Dublin at carol@theoutreachfoundation.org for more information.

Read more about the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo HERE.

THE NEED
The Outreach Foundation is seeking gifts totaling $10,000 a month for scholarships and operations, $20,000 for the Center for Middle East Christianity, and $80,000 for capital improvements of a flat that will expand program capabilities. You may make a gift HERE or by sending a check to our office.