Evangelical Theological Seminary of Cairo Update

‍Most students, whether just starting out in school or nearing the end of graduate school, look forward to summer vacation. It is a chance to take a break, get some much-needed rest, or catch up on all the things that get pushed to the side in the midst of the rigors of academic pursuit.

For a Master of Divinity student at Evangelical Theological Seminary of Cairo (ETSC), summers look a little different. Rather than a break, summers are a time for internships, or as ETSC describes them, “the classroom of life.” Summer internships provide an intentional opportunity for students to take what they learn in the classroom and apply it to ministry.

A student pursuing ordination completes three internships during their study at ETSC. First-year students serve as an assistant in an established church working under the supervision of a skilled pastor. Second-year students serve in a community-based organization where they are faced with challenges presented, for example, by life on the street or in mental health centers. And finally, third-year students spend their summer as pastors in communities around Egypt that don’t have a pastor.

One student, Martin Magdy, now in his third year, spent his summer in the village of Balansura with The Ark Foundation, a ministry of Balansura Evangelical Church. There he organized workshops that used the arts and cultural activities to provide participants with psychological support. As a stand-alone entity, The Ark draws people from all over the community, Christian and Muslim alike.

Martin described his experience as “rich and fruitful.” He went on, “It allowed me to see the church’s prophetic role in going outside its walls to meet people where they live and to declare the Christian message in their context.”

Another student, Walid Fayez, also now in his third year, spent his summer in Cairo with the Stars Foundation, a ministry operated by the Lutheran Church in Cairo. His primary role involved teaching Egyptian Arabic to refugees from Sudan, Chad, Yemen, and Somalia.

Reflecting on his summer, Walid said he came to appreciate that a spiritual leader is primarily a servant who seeks to understand others and to participate genuinely in their lives. “Refugee ministry is an essential part of the church’s mission and is consistent with Christ’s call to proclaim the Kingdom of God to the brokenhearted and the weak,” he said.

At ETSC, preparation for ministry begins in the classroom but continues in the world. The internship is a vital component of that work because it requires students to confront situations that test and sharpen their understanding of ministry. Students bring those experiences back to the classroom as they continue their studies and preparations for ministry in the world. In doing so they fulfill the vision of ETSC to prepare, equip, and train pastors, ministers and leaders to serve the church and society in Egypt, the Arab world, and Arab communities abroad.

ETSC is not simply an academic destination, but it is a path to spiritual formation. Working with the Synod of the Nile, ETSC trains pastors, church planters and theological leaders to carry the message of hope and love to Arabic communities in Egypt and around the world.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Scholarships are critical for students to undertake the rigorous work of preparing for ministry. $8,000 supports a Master of Divinity student preparing for ordained pastoral ministry who will go on to love and serve the world. Every amount toward that makes a big impact! The Outreach Foundation seeks gifts to help our partners prepare to empower the church by creating a well-trained cadre of leaders. You may make a gift by sending a check to the address below with the partner name ETSC in the memo or you can donate on our website: www.theoutreachfoundation.org.