June 17, 2008

Dear Friends,

The graduating class of 1958 of the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo (ETSC). 

Greetings from Cairo in the grace and peace of Christ Jesus. We have reached the end of the academic year here at Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo (ETSC), and we have a great deal to celebrate. We have written about our transition from Scotland back to Egypt in previous letters, and looking back, we can celebrate a year of answered prayer in that regard. We have also written of our deep admiration for our colleagues and students here in Cairo. ETSC is an inspiring place to work, and we celebrate another year of being a part of this dedicated community. What we haven’t written about before is the longer view of our seminary’s history. This letter is a glimpse of that “big picture,” and to celebrate a rich past that has laid the foundation for a fruitful future.

When we confess with the Apostles’ Creed, “we believe in the holy catholic church, the communion of saints,” we profess a belief in a history much larger than ourselves. C.E.B. Cranfield, a New Testament scholar, wrote that the Church “needs to struggle constantly to maintain and to value its continuity with the church of past ages and to guard against the pride that makes us try to be independent of our fathers and mothers in the faith and to indulge in individualism and desire for the latest novelty.” While many new and wonderful things are happening here at ETSC, they are connected to a past. We have the privilege of joining ETSC’s long history. We have the privilege of laboring with Christians around the world and throughout history. We are a very small part in this wonderful history, but we remain a part of this wonderful history.

On May 30, we celebrated ETSC’s 137th graduation. One of our favorite traditions of the graduation ceremony is honoring ETSC graduates from 50 years ago. This year, four pastors from the class of 1958 received plaques and were recognized for a half century of ministry. The Reverends Nasif Barhoum, Refki Matushalla, Shawki Zaki, and Emile Zaki embody the reality we witness to when we affirm the communion of saints. These four were recognized for the creativity, faithfulness, and compassion they showed in a lifetime of shining the love of God throughout the Arab world. As these men slowly walked to the stage, they represented what we hope our current graduates will do over the next five decades.

The Reverend Refki Matushalla served most of his career in a village called Saft il-Leban (which means literally, Safety of Milk!). From 1972-2006, Refki built a reputation for faithful service that extended well beyond the walls of the church. He pioneered new social services for his whole village, preached with enough passion to inspire many young people to study for pastoral work at ETSC, and built friendships throughout the country. His nearly 35 years in that one church helped to make it a powerful force of grace and love.

The Reverend Shawki Zaki spent the majority of his career, from 1965-1989, serving in Nag Hammadi. While the rest of the world learned of Nag Hammadi from the ancient manuscripts discovered there, Shawki faithfully labored in preaching, youth ministries, and outreach.

The Reverend Nasif Barhoum ministered in two churches around Souhag, Egypt, beginning in 1958. Then, in the years following the Six Day War in 1967, Nasif was called by the Presbyterian Church in Basra, Iraq. There he served faithfully for two decades, until his situation became too dangerous. Though he returned to Iraq on short visits throughout the 1990s, Nasif could not permanently return to his ministries with the Iraqi Presbyterians. Nasif’s love for others continues to manifest itself in his ministry to Sudanese communities here in Egypt.

Calvin and Sammy Kennedy with the Revend Emile Zaki, one of four of ETSC's class of 1958 who was honored for 50 years in ministry.

The story of the Reverend Emile Zaki hits us closer to home, as he has been a friend, mentor, and teacher to both of us since our first exposure to the church in Cairo back in the summer of 1997. We enjoy a profound communion with him. Emile’s heart is for the Church. He’s developed Bible study curriculum in use all over the country. He is equally comfortable speaking in front of large ecumenical and interfaith gatherings as he is counseling young pastors on the trials of ministry. Now retired (more in the sense of putting on a new set of wheels than living in a mobile home in Florida), Emile mentors many disciples all over the Middle East who continue to serve in the ways he has taught us.

The witness of these four pastors and their families represents a total of 200 years of service. As our graduates leave the seminary, we pray that they would be inspired and encouraged by the privilege of the communion of the saints. May you, too, be encouraged by the witness of the saints from ages past and from around the globe, as you follow the Lord in your part of the world.

In Christ,

Darren and Elisabeth

The 2008 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 324