Growing the Church in Egypt
The revolutionary events that began in Egypt on January 25, 2011, brought rapid and deep change to society and previously-accepted norms. The country now has a new constitution, a new government, and unprecedented openness to the church’s role in society. The Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Egypt (EPCE) – the largest Protestant church in the Middle East and the church that our missionaries planted over 150 years ago – is seizing this opportunity by actively reaching out to communities and meeting people's needs.
Outreach and New Church Development in Egypt
Studies done by the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo (ETSC) conclude that more than 70% of the Christian Egyptians do not have access to a church. Many rural and remote parts of the country do not have churches. Although Christians represent about 10% of Egypt's population, two-thirds of Christians in Egypt are unchurched due to the limited capacity of the Church (of all denominations) to minister to its people.
The EPCE’s congregations, presbyteries and councils currently oversee more than 66 new church developments in new communities throughout the country, as well as villages and remote areas. In recent years, the government of Egypt has given land to our partner church for the building of 14 new church facilities and significantly eased the process to obtain building permits. This is unprecedented in the history of Egypt since the Arab Islamic conquest in the seventh century. Church leaders see this as a God-given opportunity—an opening window to establish many new churches where none exists. But the window may not be open for long. Thus our partner church has issued us a Macedonian call: “Come over…and help us!” (Acts 16:9).
For legal and cultural reasons, it is not possible for a congregation to exist without a building specifically designated for a church. In most of these new church developments, the major obstacle to outreach is funding for such buildings.
Presbyterian World Mission is uniquely positioned to come alongside our EPCE by providing funding for constructing new churches and hiring organizing pastors. Our goal is to support 30 congregations in their efforts.
- The construction cost of a church building in Egypt ranges from $80,000 and up.
- A mission co-worker position will be needed to coordinate this new church construction work between World Mission and EPCE. (The mission co-worker will be given other assignments as well.) Amount needed: $83,000 per year for four years.
Equipping the Church through Pastoral Training
More than any other institution in the Middle East, the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo (ETSC) has trained pastors for churches from Libya to Syria to Iraq. Its graduates serve in a variety of ministries throughout the Arabic World. ETSC is well positioned to increase its impact in the region – opening satellite campuses and developing online course work in the Arabic language, reaching into nations and communities across the Arab World.
Established by Presbyterian missionaries in 1863, and blessed by Presbyterian missionaries serving as teachers for most of its history, ETSC has grown to the point where today it trains almost 400 students from Egypt and 6 other Middle Eastern countries. At this time of unprecedented growth and new church planting in Egypt, World Mission seeks congregations, presbyteries, and individuals committed to providing quality biblical and theological teaching to this strategic seminary through support for our ministry co-workers who are committed to equipping and growing the Christian Church in Egypt.
While a few Egyptians have earned graduate degrees in theological disciplines and are now serving on the faculty of the seminary, the rapid growth in the number of students and the potential for increased impact in the region necessitate an increase in the number of trained faculty, both native Egyptians and mission co-workers.
- A New Testament professor at Evangelical Seminary in Cairo. We are currently recruiting to fill this position, and candidates are being considered. Amount needed: $83,000 per year for four years
- Support for the Evangelical Seminary in Cairo to support satellite campuses, online course offerings, and other programs that will expand the school's outreach
Gifts to Growing the Church in Egypt will be divided as follows:
- 50% for New Church Development
- 40% for supporting new churches
- 10% for sending cost of PC(USA) liaison serving in Egypt who will coordinate some of this work
- 50% for training new leaders
- 20% for academic programs at Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo
- 30% for sending cost of three PC(USA) professors teaching at the ETSC
Click here to support the Growing Church in Egypt
