Egypt #7 - All Good Things Must Come to an End
ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END
By Marilyn Borst
Associate Director for Partnership Development
Our last day here!
Friday is a busy day around most Presbyterian churches in Egypt with Sunday Schools often rockin’ the sanctuary on what is a day off from school and work in this part of the world. And indeed, the church in 10th Ramadan City was no exception!
The church began gathering in the home of an elder as this new “satellite city” was rising up from the sands. Now, just a few decades later, its imposing presence is a beacon to the community of Christ’s presence. We joined with the little ones for singing and sat with the middle schoolers as the lesson focused on the transition into teen years and all the physical and emotional changes (boys and girls were separated for this). Coffee and snacks with the elders brought us up to speed on the ministries and big dreams of this vibrant congregation. With their pastor, Rev. Isaac Estafanous away at Fuller Seminary for graduate work, a “freshly minted” pastor has stepped in to lead: Rev. Michel Mesho Nagy. But Mesho’s main focus is upon planting a church FROM this church in another area of town. We visited that empty piece of land, scooped up handfuls of sand, and lifted them to God, dedicating this now-empty site for fulsome Kingdom purposes, soon to take form!
With only a few hours to spare before heading to the airport on our return home, our group divided for two last church visits: Rachel, Jeff, and Karen returned to their sister church in Shoubra, for a final time of food and fellowship. And Steve, Brady, and I went to El Obbour City – one of 16 of the new satellite cities which surround greater Cairo. I first saw this church 6 years ago when it was only a concrete shell and the congregation was meeting off-site. With large parts of the building now finished out, we drove up as the sun was setting, bathing this new worship and ministry center in a rosy glow. Rev. Gohar Azmy and his elders welcomed us as family, and although we could not stay long, we caught a glimpse of the congregation’s vision to serve their community in Christ’s name, with dreams for a small community service center next door, and plans for a church plant, across town, well underway. We lingered long enough to join in singing which is a prelude to the Friday evening worship time – a beautiful ending to our wonderful time in Egypt!
Grateful to our Presbyterian partners-who-are-family in Egypt with whom we spent such rich time: the Synod of the Nile and the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo. And I am especially grateful for the small but Spirit-filled team who powered through the challenges of travel in a post-pandemic world to share the road with me: Karen Whitmire Copley, Rachel Segars, Jeff Randall, Braden Clark (Brady), and Steve Burgess. They brought a lot of joy, flexibility, good humor, and enthusiasm to each long day and I would gladly accompany them out into the world again!
