ETSC November 2020 update Dr. Atef Gendy.png

A message from Dr. Atef Gendy, ETSC President

Students Entrust Their Hope and Dreams to ETSC

I continue to be amazed and grateful at the growth of the ETSC student body, as 509 students have enrolled in nine different degree and certificate programs. This year will have a different feel about it, however, as we will not have the pleasure of face to face interaction with students. Once more classes continue to be taught through our online distance learning platform for the fall term. Candidly, I will miss seeing them walking across campus and meeting them in chapel, as well as teaching some of them in class. Nevertheless, I give thanks for their willingness to invest in themselves and their preparation for ministry. Perhaps no greater compliment can be paid to us as a seminary than that these young men and women are entrusting their training to our leadership.

We received applications from 257 young men and women, of whom we accepted 148 for the fall term. The online platform has enabled students to enroll from virtually every part of Egypt and most of the Middle Eastern countries, including the Arabian Peninsula. Reading through the applications, I was moved by the vision that led each applicant to join the seminary as well as the sacrifices most of them have to make to study at ETSC. Some come from regions where Christianity faces constant threats, so becoming a pastor or Christian leader may place them in a risky situation. As one of the new students said, “I want to guide those who came from ignorance, intolerance, and thought intimidation.” Another described the impact of civil war in his country, which forced him to leave home. He said, “Although civil war caused me to leave my village and to live as a stranger in a new place, it has helped me to develop my ability to face challenges and to adapt to working with people with different backgrounds.”

One described the painful impact of losing a friend. While she grieved the loss of her friend, her grief became an experience for growth and maturity. She said, “The situation pushed me to look for supportive ways to help those who are suffering from depression.” Most new students are already involved in ministry and usually play a leadership role in their churches. Another student recognized that after 14 years of ministry, he needed more training, “I realized that I need some training to face the challenges that are beyond my capability.” Similarly, an applicant found himself facing tough questions, both personally and from others. He wrote, “I have met skeptics and atheists who are struggling with questions about God, the Bible, and suffering in human life. I have had my own questions about the meaning and purpose of life.” As he has grappled with these issues, he sees the seminary as the place for him to find answers for himself and his friends. Another applicant has a different target audience. She writes, “My vision is to reach children without parents. I love kids so much, and God has called me to help children grow up to be successful men and women in the future.”

I must confess that my eyes moisten a bit as I read about their hopes and dreams to serve God. I pray that we can be worthy of their trust. I recall the Apostle Paul’s prayer for the church at Philippi, “May He who began a good work in you carry it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” It is a privilege to engage in the good work of preparing these students to live out God’s call for their lives. Please pray that we will be successful.

Atef Gendy
President
Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo

ETSC Announces Leadership Succession Plan

After twenty years of stalwart leadership, Dr. Atef Gendy announced his intention to retire as president of ETSC at the end of the 2019-2020 school year. After several discussions, the Board of Directors decided to consider Dr. Gendy’s request as part of a larger leadership succession plan.

The board elected Dr. Hani Hanna as president of the seminary as of August 1st, 2021. The board asked
Dr. Gendy to extend his service for one more year until the return of Dr. Hanna who is currently taking a sabbatical in Edinburgh, Scotland, for writing projects. Dr. Hanna has served as Vice-President for Academic Affairs since 2014 and continues to serve as Associate Professor of Systematic Theology. Additionally, the board named Dr. Darren Kennedy to fill the role of Vice-President for Academic Affairs and Dr. Tharwat Wahba as Vice-President for Church Relations and Training, replacing Dr. Samuel Rozfy who has faithfully served in this position for 10 years.

The Board of Directors expresses its deep appreciation to Dr. Gendy, under whose leadership ETSC has become the largest seminary in the Middle East. He has accepted the role of the Director of the Center for Middle Eastern Christianity, which he will also lead during the coming year. The board solicits the prayers of its partners as the school year begins during a pandemic, especially for these men who have accepted these challenging roles.

Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo - November Update