Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo - February 2021 Update
Cairo
The Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo (ETSC) trains over 300 students each year to serve the Church in Egypt and beyond. Students serve as pastors, church planters, elders, and teachers in churches across Egypt and the entire region. Ekram Atta graduated from ETSC in 2013, here is his story:
Ekram Atta: God’s Weak Jar
It is said that one of Martin Luther’s teachers would bow to his students before each class because he said he did not know which of his students would rise to prominence. Likewise, no one knows what God will do with the lives of the students who come to the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo.
They come with their aspirations for ministry and the gift matrix given them by God, but who is to say which of them will have the greatest impact on the kingdom of God? More than a decade ago Ekram Atta came to the seminary from a village in South Egypt, bearing a calling born from his own grief and experience of grace following the death of his mother. Seeking comfort for his pain, he discovered the grace that would allow him to strengthen others. Ekram’s ministry began even before he became a student at ETSC. He served as a Sunday School teacher, then became a youth leader and a lay leader. After a year of studies as a layman, he felt God’s calling to become a pastor and applied to the ordination track at ETSC.
Following his graduation in 2013, he went to Moaasasat El-Zakat, a poverty-ridden Cairo suburb. He began by reaching out to the children, especially those with obvious Christian names. Parents noticed and asked questions. He introduced himself, offered to pray with them, and began visiting in their homes. Then in January of 2014, a church of 150 families met for the first time. Ekram looks back in awe, wondering how “God could use a weak jar like me.” The church grew and added a Sunday School and a special service for women. Doctors from other churches came to offer medical care, and the church distributed food to those in the area, without regard for their religion. A Muslim businessman took note and gave money for the church to assist 35 Muslim families. The Synod of the Nile financed the building of a four-story building. As the church raised funds for the building, Ekram recalls the night that a woman removed her wedding ring and placed it in the collection. Despite challenges, the church has continued to grow, as its holistic approach to ministry draws people into its orbit. In addition to a sanctuary, it has a medical clinic, a nursery, and a school that teaches personal hygiene, Arabic and English language, and mathematics.
As the Zakat church grew, Ekram built a strong cadre of leaders, so that in 2020, he was called to the El-Katameya, another Cairo suburb that faces similar issues. He is still working through the challenges posed by the coronavirus, but Zoom is making virtual meetings possible. He looks forward to the time when face to face meetings become feasible. Ekram expressed deep appreciation for his training at ETSC, especially the spiritual formation it offered him, as well as the development of a critical mind. A life-long learner, he recognizes the shifting landscape of a developing country and he acknowledges the need for new tools and approaches to ministry. Not surprisingly, he recently entered the Masters in Leadership and Management program at ETSC even as he continues his work with the congregation.
The Evangelical Theological Seminary is blessed to have graduates like Ekram Atta, who come with their hopes and dreams and leave prepared to build churches and lead the people of God to a brighter future.
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.