Mission Crossroads is a three-time-a-year magazine focused on worldwide work of the PC(USA). It offers news and feature stories about mission personnel, international partners and grassroots Presbyterians involved in God's mission in the world.
Issue link: https://missioncrossroads.epubxp.com/i/491857
Mission Crossroads 9 In November 2014, the Evangelical Teological Seminary in Cairo (ETSC) hosted a celebration of its 150th anniversary. Te 105 guests, from 17 nations, clearly demonstrated ETSC's global reach. Early Presbyterian missionaries saw education as the key to serving the Egyptian people. Teological education began on the houseboat Ibis, which would sail the Nile River from Luxor to Cairo. Students were trained in academics during the day, and in the evenings, ministered in area villages, and contributed to planting a large number of churches in the provinces of Minya and Assiut. In 1919, Synod of the Nile took up the challenge to build a permanent structure to house the seminary in Cairo. Rev. Muaawwad Hanna of Assiut was designated chairperson of the committee charged with raising the monies needed for this venture. In 1926 the seminary moved to its current location in Abbassia, Cairo. Until 1960, the seminary ofered a three-year bachelor of ministry degree program. In addition to academic courses, students received practical training in ministry, including internships that took them throughout the country. Some years later, when seminary leaders recognized the need for expanded academic preparation of students, the seminary switched to a four-year degree program. In the eighties and nineties, a branch was opened in Alexandria, and in 2011 another branch was opened in Minya. In 1999 the seminary opened a master's study program in theology, biblical studies, and Middle Eastern Christianity. Since the year 2000, the seminary has undergone renovation of its facilities as well as its academic programs. Currently, degree programs are ofered in Arabic for the master of divinity and master of arts in theology. English tracks include the master of arts in organizational leadership and the T.M. Te library houses 53,000 books as well as a number of rare books and manuscripts, making it one of the largest theological libraries in the Middle East. Although an institution of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Egypt, the seminary's 330 students prepare for service in churches not only in Egypt but throughout the Arab world. Despite the recent unrest in Egypt, ETSC continues to prepare thoughtful leaders for the church. Te seminary's president, Atef Gendy, says ETSC's vision for today is to "encourage young people to be part of society, to be proactive. We train students in ministries of compassion 'on the streets, in the slums.' Tis is what it means to be a grassroots church." Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo trains leaders for ministry in the Arab world Presbyterian Mission in Egypt 1854 Evangelical mission in Egypt begins. Initial focus is on educational work leading to the establishment of schools for girls and boys, and medical work leading to the founding of hospitals where both women and men physicians are active. 1860 Ibis is purchased and becomes a mobile mission station. The missionaries tour the Nile and stop on its banks. Wherever they land they engage the Egyptians in friendly conversation, distribute religious literature, conduct worship services on board the Ibis, and explain the tenets of the Protestant faith. It later serves as a mobile seminary. 1863 The Evangelical Seminary is established. 1896 Dr. Anna B. Watson and Dr. Caroline Lawrence begin medical work among women. Their work leads to the establishment of Tanta Hospital in 1904. 1900 Presbyterians run 165 schools with around 10,000 total students. Christians and Muslims, boys and girls: the gift of education is meant for all. 2014 graduates of the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo, who will witness and minister around the world The IBIS