Lighting The Way

By Gillian Maganda, CMS Ireland

Have you ever travelled outside your comfort zone and learnt something new about God and his Church in the process?

Ord. Daniel Fleming and Rev. Timothy Eldon, two students at the Church of Ireland Theological Institute, had the opportunity to spend time in the Province of Alexandria during their training for ministry last year. Daniel was in Egypt for one month while Timothy spent six weeks in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria. As these two men prepared for full-time parish ministry and continued their training, their placements and opportunities to minister alongside the global church were life changing.

Shortly after his visit, Daniel shared about his experiences at CMSI’s monthly online prayer room. He told us how the Church in Egypt is very vocal, with people openly sharing their faith and valuing the power of prayer, even in the face of opposition.

Despite being in the minority, followers of Jesus in Egypt have their attention fully focused on God and bringing the light of Christ into communities. Their faith is vibrant, living, dynamic, compellingly conveying a whole-life engagement with Christ which goes far beyond merely sitting through a Sunday service.

As a community of believers, they are a living embodiment of the light of Christ in both word and deed.

It seems that Daniel’s visit to Cairo was very much in God’s timing. The churches in Egypt follow the calendar of the Coptic Church and so Daniel had the privilege of celebrating Easter twice! He also had the opportunity to shadow CMS partners as they continue to build bridges between Christians and Muslims, facilitating ongoing dialogue. As part of this process of Christian-Muslim cooperation, a group from the Church were invited to Al-Azhar Mosque and university.

At the end of the meeting, Daniel and others attended an Iftar meal (breaking the Ramadan fast) and visited the square of Al-Azhar Mosque to learn about its history and take photos with the Grand Imam. Daniel even got to meet Ireland’s ambassador to Egypt.

During his time there, the Church also opened a new centre for Christian-Muslim Understanding and Partnership which Bishop Mouneer has spearheaded. Islamic and Christian people coming together to work for justice and peace in our world, a world which is so full of uncertainty, is truly fantastic.

CMS partners in Egypt are a brilliant example to us all in their crossing of cultural and social boundaries, in their seeking to break down stereotypes and barriers. These people, in shining the light of Christ, are convinced it is influencing them for good and preparing their hearts to open up to the work of God’s Spirit.

Though on the same landmass, Timothy had a very different experience. He spent a good part of his time in some of the poorer neighbourhoods of Alexandria learning from Rev. Mina and Dean David Aziz in All Saints Church, Stanley. Timothy reflected that the Church in Egypt practices the ‘Ministry of Presence’. They don’t wait for people to come to them, they go to the people – they feed the poor, heal the sick and injured, and give up their days off to reach the lost in their country in ways that are very different to models of evangelism we often see here in Ireland.

Timothy writes:

“Alexandria is a busy place, filled with bustling, tooting traffic rushing past posh looking clothes shops (which are many) while a multitude of street traders sell everything from y-fronts to cactus fruit on the pavements in front. At first glance Egypt seems like a very competitive place, as everyone tries to eke out their living. But this is also a place of hospitality.

“The hospitality of the churches in Alexandria has been one of the things I’ve found very striking. In the gospels we never have to read very far to find Jesus and the disciples sitting down to eat something, and it is the same with the churches in Alexandria. They never miss an opportunity to share food together. Whether it is the midweek Bible study, service of evening prayer or the main communion service, there is always an extended social time over some sandwiches and coffee afterwards.

“The Alexandrian example gives me cause to wonder too, whether we shouldn’t be aiming for more than a polite cup of tea and a slice of tart on a special occasion. What would it look like if we took every church meeting as an opportunity for fellowship over food? Perhaps we might start to get a little more of a glimpse of what it will be like at the wedding feast of the Lamb when we share in the Father’s glory.”

The Church’s involvement in the community, their knowledge of scripture and deep rootedness in theology which is intertwined throughout all their services is humbling, challenging, convicting and inspiring.

Timothy and Daniel both recognise that persecution is real and that believers in Egypt have been faithful under pressure. The faith of these men and woman has been tested and tried, and they are not afraid to face hardship or suffering in bearing the name of Christ. Indeed, Daniel and Timothy’s experiences attest to the fact that political unrest and insecurity has caused the Church and the faith of God’s people to grow. It has opened opportunities for deeper discussion around belief and injustice.

With such a testimony witnessed and shared by two trainee clerics, there are some difficult and challenging questions for each of us to answer. Is Jesus is more important to us than our own personal safety and comfort? And how might we learn from the Egyptian branch of God’s global church to selflessly love and share the light of Christ in our communities?