Samer, far left, while a student at ETSC

Samer, Marian and Hamsa

Outreach team at Kirkuk church in 2019 with Samer

Samer with (Kirkuk) Elder Samir and Rev. Haitham

Called Out: From Egypt to Iraq

Of the three Presbyterian churches in Iraq, two of them are being served by pastors from Egypt! When our Outreach Foundation team journeyed to Iraq this past October, we were delighted to meet the Rev. Samer Karam, an Egyptian, in Kirkuk (he and his family had arrived in January) and learn a bit of his story…

While in university in Cairo, Samer had joined Campus Crusade, and, when he graduated, he stayed on as staff for a year before heading to the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo (ETSC) for further study. Because two of his brothers were married to Iraqi Christians, he had heard many stories of how Christians there held great fear of terrorist organizations who were targeting believers for kidnapping and killing. As Samer tracked both the vulnerability of Christians and the subsequent immigration of many of them seeking safe haven, he began to pray about how best to serve the Church in places where Christians suffer.

While at ETSC, he shared his sense of call with Dr. Tharwat Wahba, Professor of Mission (and Mission Consultant for Outreach). They began planning, for Samer, an internship that would take him to Iraq – but escalating attacks by ISIS in Iraq foiled those plans. So, upon graduation in 2015, he was sent to serve a Presbyterian Church in Maghagha (near Minya in Upper Egypt) where he stayed for four years, helping to open a small clinic, start Bible studies and plant two churches. His life and ministry were blessed, during that time, by marriage to Marian and the birth of their daughter, Hamsa.

During that same time, Dr. Tharwat had been in conversation with Rev. Haitham Jazrawi, the pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Kirkuk. Rev. Haitham was wanting to plant a church in Erbil, about two hours away, but would need help – Samer! This answer to prayer, for both Haitham and Samer, would have a rocky start: after making the big move to Kirkuk in September 2019 and beginning to settle into their new flat (on the church’s grounds) and make some first steps in their new call, some issues with their residency visa application surfaced, and Samer and his family had to return to Egypt and reapply for the visa. They were finally able to go back to Kirkuk in January of this year, but then the Covid-19 pandemic forced a shutdown in Iraq and the plans for the new church in Erbil had to be paused.

Kirkuk, as in much of Iraq, is being deeply impacted by the rise of COVID-19 cases, political instability, and periodic terrorist attacks. Rev. Samer is finding many opportunities to serve, regardless, and is also using the time to get to know the faithful congregation as well as the staff of the church’s preschool and kindergarten. He and Rev. Haitham share preaching responsibilities. Samer is impressed by the congregation’s testimonies to God’s grace and protection. Reflecting now upon the stressful times through which he and his family have passed, as well as the challenges for his “adopted” congregation, he has been deeply inspired by the message of Hebrews 12: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus.”

The Outreach Foundation is honored to be supporting the ministry of Rev. Samer through the gifts which you have provided. And please pray with and for Rev. Samer as he seeks to develop new leaders in the church and to connect with youth outside the church. And, together, we can lean towards the vision of a new Presbyterian congregation to be gathered, one day, in Erbil, so that Christ’s light will be shown ever brighter in Iraq.

Joyfully,

Marilyn Borst
Associate Director for Partnership Development

Iraq Appeal - September 2020 update