New Church Development in Egypt: The Evangelical Church at Basion
Founded in 1930, The Evangelical Church at Basion once functioned primarily as a small American elementary school. By the early 2000s, however, the church was in decline as members slowly left the area, migrating towards larger cities. Eventually, no members were left, and no pastor was willing to serve the church in Basion.
And so, for 15 years, The Evangelical Church at Basion closed, and its building sat empty. Until recently.
As part of their initiative to revitalize the village churches throughout Egypt, the Pastoral, Outreach, and Mission Council (POMC) of the Synod of the Nile got involved and sent an evangelistic pastor to Basion to revitalize the church.
The work isn’t easy. Massive efforts are needed to physically restore the church building, as it has been empty for the past 15 years. There are also spiritual and social challenges, including religious intolerance in the area and the effects of the church’s long-term absence from the community. Despite these challenges, the church is responding with love, prayer, and commitment to community engagement.
In a surprising act, the governorate granted official approval to restore the church building. That work is already underway!
And despite the extensive renovation process happening all around them, a weekly worship ministry has been held consistently for the last seven months. The church is committed to maintaining spiritual life and worship alongside the renovation.
Even more, The Evangelical Church at Basion is seeking to respond to spiritual and social challenges with love and openness. Their vision is to make the church a safe, welcoming, and dignified space for worship and community activities.
Already the church has hosted its first educational seminar, including lectures on the Incarnation and the Trinity, as well as a training for leaders focused on prayer, repentance, intercession, and living in close fellowship with God. Doors have been opened to begin a children’s ministry and social outreach, including providing food supplies, helping families obtain medical treatment, and distributing school supplies.
But their work isn’t done. The long-term vision is not only to revive the church building but to bring true spiritual renewal and transformation to the community. To accomplish that lofty vision, they hope to establish services such as a nursery, a small medical clinic, and other developmental projects to serve the city.
Their dreams are big, but they serve a faithful God who can accomplish abundantly far more than we can ask or imagine.
The Impact
The Evangelical Church at Basion is currently 1 of 41 different communities where the Pastoral, Outreach, and Mission Council is working with evangelistic pastors to plant a new church or revitalize an existing one. In each of those 41 churches, POMC assumes full responsibility for the spiritual and financial well-being of the pastors. This commitment includes providing pastors with a monthly salary to meet personal and family needs as well as various resources and facilities to effectively carry out ministry in their respective evangelistic areas. Your gifts of prayer and financial resources fuel the expansion of the kingdom into new cities and regions of Egypt.
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Outreach Foundation is seeking gifts to support the mission and ministry of New Church Development in Egypt. All gifts of any size are welcome to help support planting and revitalizing Presbyterian churches throughout Egypt.
You may make a gift by sending a check to the address below with “New Church Development in Egypt” on the memo line or you can donate on the GIVE page of our website: www.theoutreachfoundation.org.
