August 31, 2006

Dusty, Egyptian student Ragi, and translator Emmanuel stand in front of a church following a worship service.

Earlier this summer we made our first trip back to America since arriving in Egypt in January of 2005. It was a rich time of renewing bonds with family and friends in Kentucky, Tennessee, Minnesota, and North Carolina. We missed the rest of you—hope to see you in the second half of 2007! I shared with our church in North Carolina that Egypt has many, many captivating things to see, from the pyramids and the Sphinx standing as witnesses to the Pharaonic Age, to the mega city and cultural capital of the Arab world that Cairo is today. Yet, however impressive all of that is, the most amazing thing I’ve seen and experienced in Egypt is the lives of the faculty and students with whom I serve. To me they’re an example of what the Apostle Paul means when he says that believers “shine like stars in the universe” (Phil. 2:15). Let me share but a couple of glimpses with you.

Emmanuel, my translator for the courses I’ve taught so far, stands about 6 foot, 5 inches, and is filled with grace, warmth, and kindness from head to toe. A Sudanese, he left his country for Egypt on a math scholarship. Egypt has millions of Sudanese, almost all of whom hope to make Egypt their stop toward a better life in Europe, America, or Australia. It would have been normal for Emmanuel to consider his university education a launching pad toward a more prosperous life in the West. But Emmanuel took note of the needs of the Sudanese refugees in Egypt, especially the children, and has given the last ten or so years of his life to ministering to them. While doing so, he experienced God calling him to a long-term ministry to his own community. He enrolled in our seminary and became one of our most outstanding students. He was ordained this past spring. Now, instead of following the natural current toward a wealthier country, he’s set his dreams on returning to minister in Sudan. His vision is to further his education and to give his life to train young people for ministry in Sudanese churches.

Another who shines like a star is Waseem from Nineveh (yes, the same city as in the story of Jonah), Iraq. Waseem took my Theology of Paul course and just graduated from the seminary last June. As a student he started a ministry to foreigners stuck in Egyptian prisons. Many of these people went to prison because they overstayed their visas or didn’t have passports. They sometimes stay imprisoned indefinitely because they have no one to help them through the process of getting out of prison or have no money for a plane ticket to their home countries. A few months ago at the seminary we were surprised to see a limousine pull up in front and a dignitary step out. He was Niger’s ambassador to Egypt, a Muslim, who came to express thanks and to honor the seminary on account of Waseem’s ministry to citizens of Niger stuck in Egyptian prisons. The ambassador also came and spoke recently at Waseem’s ordination service, standing as a witness to the light shining from Waseem’s life.

If there were more space, we could tell of many others around us who shine like stars in the universe. There’s Rami, for instance, our other student from Iraq. I see in his eyes a deep eagerness for his studies and for Christian ministry. He’s from Basra and can hardly wait to return and be a pastor in Iraq. Rami is one among many who inspire our life and work.

In addition to “shining like stars in the universe” (Phil. 2:15), another image Paul uses that describes our students and partners is that of “holding fast to, or holding forth, the word of life” in Phil. 2:16. The verb Paul uses has two meanings at the same time: holding fast to the word of life, despite difficulties, and holding forth the word of life to others. Our students and partners have a lot of experience holding fast to, and holding forth, the word of life. Waseem, whom I mentioned above, has received a call to become the pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Nineveh. But the church warned him not to come now, because to return to Iraq would likely mean being kidnapped—pastors tend to be targeted, and their churches then face paying a ransom. So he’s left waiting in limbo in Egypt, not knowing what the future holds. In the meantime he holds on to the word of life, waiting to see how he may hold it forth to others.

Would you join us in praying for our students and partners? Please pray that they may have fruitful futures of holding forth the word of life to others, even as they hold on to God’s word through difficult times. Pray for all of us, that we will shine like stars in the Arab world.

We thank you for your prayers and other forms of encouragement that help to keep us in Egypt. As a family we continue to be happy to be here. We feel safe, but please keep praying that we will stay safe from all forms of harm. Pray as well for God to bless our progress with Arabic and for our wisdom as Sherri and I raise our children in a very different culture. We also pray for you, that God’s face will shine on you and that you will be a light to your own part of the world.

Grace and peace,

Dusty and Sherri Ellington

The 2006 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 165