Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo Update October 2025

In our last update on the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo (ETSC), we shared the sad news of the seminary’s loss of three beloved professors (see previous update). And yet, despite this loss and its challenging consequences for the seminary, ETSC did not get discouraged. Instead, in grace and resilience, ETSC moved forward and continues its mission to form leaders and pastors for the Arabic-speaking church. 

This summer was eventful at ETSC. Master of Divinity students stepped beyond the classroom and into Egypt’s villages and cities to serve the church. Guided by experienced pastors and mentored by their professors, 19 students on the pastoral ordination track fanned out across the land—serving in churches, hospitals, addiction centers, and prisons. Like streams flowing from one source, they brought God’s news in word and deed.  

The seminary’s Center for Middle Eastern Christianity, under the guidance of Dr. Atef Gendy, continues to be a treasure house for the Arabic church. This fall, six new students from across the world have joined the center’s academic diploma program. Meanwhile, the center has been gathering and translating essays by Dr. Kenneth Bailey—pearls of scholarship that illuminate scripture through Middle Eastern eyes, a priceless resource for Arabic Christianity and for all who seek to read the Bible with fresh depth.  

ETSC’s heartbeat also resonates with the struggles of Egyptian society. The Center of the Church and Society embodies this compassion, striving not to let the Egyptian church mirror the fractures of the world. In June, it hosted a conference titled “The Egyptian Church and the Issues of the Poor.” Here, church leaders and scholars grappled with a hard-lived reality: congregations often mirror the divisions of class and culture rather than healing them; and instead of being one table where all are welcome, the church risks becoming many tables, divided by (in)visible walls. But the conference spoke prophetically and biblically into this reality. Drawing from Acts, First Corinthians, and James, speakers reminded the church that it is called to be one body, not many. One of the conference speakers cried out, “We need to disrupt the current state and bring people back together.” It was a call and a reminder that worship and fellowship should never be based upon class or economic differences. The church shapes its members through the teaching of Christian principles and values – we are all one in Christ with different talents and gifts.  

ETSC’s vision, teachings, programs, and services reflect ETSC’s enduring mission. The seminary is both a witness and a laborer in the field of God’s kingdom, planting seeds and equipping Christ followers to bear witness across Egypt and the wider Middle East. As ETSC moves forward, we invite you to continue walking with them. Pray for our sisters and brothers in Christ. Support them as they labor across oceans and borders. Their story is part of our story—the great story of God’s people being renewed, reconciled, and sent out for the sake of the world. 

THE OPPORTUNITY  

With deep appreciation for your partnership, The Outreach Foundation seeks gifts to support the mission and ministry of the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo (ETSC). All gifts of any size are welcome. You may make a gift by sending a check to The Outreach Foundation at the address below, or make an online gift at www.theoutreachfoundation.org. 

Thank you for being part of this movement of grace, compassion, and unwavering faith.