Your gifts to the COVID-19 Emergency Appeal are making a difference...in Egypt
With funds that Outreach supporters sent to the COVID-19 Emergency Appeal, we were able to send over $23,000 to support pastors and their families in Egypt, and provide food relief in poor areas.
Our partner church in Egypt, the (Presbyterian) Synod of the Nile reported to us of the challenges facing their country, not only from the COVID-19 pandemic but also from heavy rains and flooding that battered the country in the middle of March 2020, causing loss of life and much damage to properties, especially in the villages.
Our Mission Consultant in Egypt, the Rev. Dr. Tharwat Wahba, wrote recently:
Regarding COVID-19 sequel in Egypt, the numbers are still apparently low, but the economic situation had been affected badly and rapidly. Due to the lockout and curfew, many small businesses had been shattered and many families lost their income due to the loss of jobs.
As a result, we could not close our eyes as a church, so we are taking some initiatives:
Pastoral and Outreach Ministries Council, POMC, along with other Synod of the Nile councils will offer 5000 boxes of dried food for 5000 families in villages and new church development areas. Local churches are trying to help the needy people from Christian or Muslim backgrounds. We are preparing for another initiative to distribute 5000 more boxes to the needy families in new planted churches, Sudanese churches in Egypt, and in village churches. The one box will cost about 6 Dollars. The total need will be $30,000.
Some pastors lost part of their monthly income as they serve in poor and needy areas. POMC is taking part to help in their financial support. These pastors are facing huge challenges in the communities they are serving such as drugs, prejudice, ignorance, and violence. We are eager to help them to continue in their ministry to impact the lives of the people in these communities. This includes more than 30 pastors who are planting new fellowships in new areas. These areas are in villages, slums around big cities or new neighborhoods. The need for this is about $20,000.
In the photo above, you will see the Rev. Mousa Akladous, the pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Meshta, a village in Sohag Presbytery (about 300 miles south of Cairo), as he reaches out in Christ’s name. What an honor to join him in shining the light of Christ in these dark times!
Click here to learn more about Outreach’s COVID-19 Emergency Appeal and click here to learn about the use of funds already sent to other places and partners around the world because of your generosity.