Egypt #6 - Connections - A Beautiful Tapestry of God's Work in Egypt
Connections - A beautiful tapestry of God’s work in Egypt
By Rachel Segars
Westminster Presbyterian Church, Spartanburg, SC
Today we visited ETSC (the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo). What an incredibly full day of connections! We met with President Hani Hanna followed by a meeting with a group of seven professors (including the first and second female professors at the Seminary) facilitated by the Academic Dean, Darren Kennedy. We then attended chapel, enjoying worship and a powerful word from Marilyn Borst reminding us to tell the stories of the faithful heroes whom we meet. We next gathered for a delicious meal where we were able to chat informally with members of the faculty and a few students. After lunch, we toured the Center for Middle Eastern Christianity and then met with and heard the testimonies of 3 students, ending the day hearing from Sharif Salah, the Director of the Center for Church and Society. This Center studies the demographics and cultural indicators in Egypt to help determine where a new church might need to be planted. It also guides congregations in helping to discern what ministries are needed to best serve their specific community.
It was a glorious whirlwind! Spending the day at the seminary helped fill in more pieces of the tapestry of the Presbyterian ministry in Egypt! The churches, the Synod of the Nile, and the ETSC all beautifully work together to make a vibrant tapestry. And the connection of these three elements is not a passive connection! They all work together in this seemingly seamless effort to advance the kingdom of God in Egypt.
ETSC exists for the church, and this is not just a statement but the passionate call of all those we met at the seminary. They exist to equip and train not only the pastors but the lay pastors, the elders, and the men and women who lead the ministries of the individual churches. As President Hanna said, “We help the Church and help students to observe where God is working in the world and try to join Him, not the other way around.” And they are not afraid of change or growth. They embraced online instruction 5 years before it was needed during Covid quarantines so that instruction during the pandemic could continue. They have moved from having zero women attend the programs to women making up 35% of the student body. The student body itself has increased from 80 to 510 and they are spread through the country thanks to online classes.
The seminary believes in a practical hands-on approach to ministry in which well-developed internships happen in conjunction with academic instruction. The curriculum is designed so that the student has an intellectual, spiritual, and character transformation. They are missional in their approach so that the Church can be missional. The seminary exists for the Church but not for the sake of the Church, but so that Church can exist for Christ!
Every single person we met was extremely impressive and I wish I had enough time to tell all their stories. But collectively their individual stories are reflected in the stories of the churches we have visited and together all these stories tell of how these faithful Presbyterians are hearing and responding to the call of God. There is an overriding awareness of how God is at work in individual lives to prepare them for a greater work in their common call to shape the leaders of the church. And an awareness that God is moving in this part of the world, and they want to be part of that movement.
