 |
| Pastor Abdelmassih, with his family, Janette, Bassel, and Bassma |
An
Inkling
Thirteen
years ago my wife, Sarah, was amazed to hear, “You have a sister!” And so she learned for the first time about
Amira, an Egyptian! (That’s a long
story for another time.)
 |
| Keith preaching, with Ameny translating |
Sarah
and her three American sisters contacted Amira, and began writing back and
forth, laboriously translating from English to Arabic and vice versa. Finally they devised a way to bring Amira to
the U.S. to visit. What a thrill! I’ll always remember the tears, smiles, and
hugs of that first meeting in the Atlanta Airport. They were from such different backgrounds,
and yet they had a father in common – sisters!
And as they got to know each other they became sisters not just in fact,
but in relationship. That growing
relationship produced loads of learning and laughter, and even more love.
St.
Giles, you have a sister, the El Talbiya Evangelical Church of Giza, Egypt! (That’s at the western edge of Cairo, next to
the pyramids.) You don’t know your
sister yet, but she is very much your sister – you have the same Father. And now, in the time of his choosing, he has arranged a meeting of his daughters.
 |
| Sarah and a bunch of the children |
As
most of you know, Sarah and I went to Cairo last week as part of the E.C.O.
delegation to the 150th anniversary of the Evangelical Seminary of
Cairo. That was the official reason for
our trip, but we discovered that the Father had another reason in mind, that
his daughters, St. Giles and El Talbiya, meet each other.
 |
| The Music Team at their pre-rehearsal Bible study |
In
our week there, we got to know your sister just a bit. Allow me to introduce her. El Talbiya is in a modest and crowded
neighborhood of Giza. She has grown
since Pastor Abdelmassih Tadros and his family arrived five years ago from five members
to 150. They have a six story building,
with the top three floors still to be finished, making a kindergarten for 150
children and an apartment for ministry workers.
They have a good relationship with their neighbors, although things were
much more difficult during the recent revolution. And having witnessed their worship,
fellowship, and passion for reaching the lost, I can say their life with Jesus
truly honors their (our!) Father.
Our
Elders have now approved us entering this sister church relationship. Last week I witnessed again what I had witnessed
years ago with the introduction of Sarah and Amira, lots of learning, laughter,
and love. I’m confident that there is
much more of that to come as we learn how to serve Jesus together. Stay tuned for more details coming on that.
But
this I already know from being with them for a week – I know more about our
Father from having spent time with another of his daughters. May our growing relationship bring joy to his
Father’s heart!
His,
yours, and theirs,
Keith
