More than a century ago, the Canadian Holiness Church (which later became Free Methodist) began planting churches in Egypt. For decades, God blessed these endeavors and dozens of churches were planted, especially in southern Egypt. Sadly, over the years changes in the home church and misunderstandings on both sides of the Atlantic led to a serious rift. And although some 12,000 members remained in the Egyptian Holiness Church, little communication with their North American "parent" took place between the late 1970s and the mid-1990s.

At the urging of Asia Area Director David Yardy, Lucien Behar -- Free Methodist evangelist and a native of Egypt -- traveled to Cairo in 1997 to rekindle the relationship between the FMCNA and the Egyptian General Conference. Since his initial trip, Behar has visited Egypt about twice a year, and both he and his wife, Molly, have become quite close to Egyptian General Conference Bishop Mounir Hakim Gindy. Now the stage is set for continuing improvements in mission and ministry.

Leadership Poised for Growth
The Egyptian General Conference is ably led by Bishop Gindy, a stationed bishop elected in 1995 and the well-known pastor of Cairo's Kulaly church -- Egypt's largest Egyptian Holiness Church with nearly 500 members. He is also an evangelist who travels extensively in Europe and the United States preaching to many Arabic congregations. Further, Bishop Gindy edits and produces Herald of Holiness, one of the most widely read Arabic evangelical magazines, and his weekly radio program in Arabic on Trans World Radio is broadcast throughout the Middle East.
Free Methodism's Egyptian Holiness Church (they've never formally used the name "Free Methodist") is the fourth-largest Protestant group in Egypt, according to Behar. Currently, there are some 18,000 members in 104 churches and several plants -- all served by 87 pastors -- in a country of over 68 million with a Muslim (Islamic) majority and relatively few believers. The only Bible college, in Asyñt, is staffed by eight pastors who can contribute only one week a month to teach the 14 or so students.
In Cairo, a city of 16 million, there are 15 Egyptian Holiness churches and two plants. And although the Kulaly church is large, the typical Egyptian Holiness church has between 55 and 65 members.

Sisters in Ministry
One result of renewed communications with our Egyptian brethren has been the establishment of a sister-church relationship between the Kulaly church and Cornerstone Community in St. Petersburg, FL. When Bishop Gindy traveled to the United States in 1999 to attend General Conference, he stopped at Cornerstone to stay awhile and preach. He suffered a heart attack that precluded his attending General Conference and necessitated a "forced" month-long stay in Florida. During this time, Cornerstone's ministry to the bishop and family members who joined him did much to deepen ties between his churches and ours. One way the people of Cornerstone have continued to minister to the Egyptian Holiness Church has been their financial support of specific projects undertaken by the Egyptian churches. According to Behar, the FMCNA currently sends approximately $12,000 annually to support the ministries of the Egyptian General Conference as well.

Meeting the Challenges
"There is opposition to the church in Egypt," says Behar. "But God miraculously heals, and there have been many wonderful demonstrations of His power -- on people of all religions."
One of the challenges to ministry in Egypt is the fact that government regulations and restrictions are a constant deterrent as the churches endeavor to repair and expand their existing facilities. As a result, says Behar, the Egyptian church has to keep planting new churches to keep up with growth. But all is not hopeless, he adds. Relations between the Egyptian Holiness Church and the Egyptian government are actually pretty good. For example, the Port Said church recently received government permission to tear down and rebuild, and they are conducting a $1 million building campaign. Also, later this year the Egyptian Holiness Church will acquire seacoast property in Alexandria, where they plan to build a facility for a youth and family summer camp program.

Raising money in Egypt is no small effort either, where pastors' salaries are typically less than $100 per month and it costs over $100,000 to purchase a condo in Cairo. In fact, the economic situation would seem to negatively impact all ministry in Egypt, severely limiting the feasibility of sending missionaries to live there. But "God continues to help our Egyptian brothers," says Behar.

He describes an "ingenious investment program" that is raising limited funds from among Egyptian Free Methodists. They are encouraged to invest in a fund that is used for church planting and rebuilding, youth camps and pastoral pensions. The latter are very important for retirees, who have served in a country where there is no social security available for pastors and where there has been no established pension fund in the church until the last decade or so. Many retired pastors must live with their children. In spite of the poverty, a substantial amount has been raised through the fund to date. According to Behar, much more is desperately needed and assistance is being solicited from the churches abroad.

Amazing Shoubra Clinic
Thirteen years ago, the Rev. Louise Girgis Ghoubrial (Egyptian General Conference Legal Representative and pastor of a church in Shoubra, one of Cairo's poorest districts) and his small congregation began to pray for a miracle in order to be able to repair their building. "God enabled them to build a new six-story edifice right in the middle of the district," says Behar. "Given the poverty of the congregation and other difficulties, it was indeed a miracle!" Today, the first floor houses a clinic (offering medical, dental, X-ray and health education services, etc.). Costs are totally covered by a very evangelical Korean United Methodist Church, which has donated medical equipment and chosen to support the ministry of this Free Methodist church as a key part of their missions strategy for Egypt. The second floor is the worship center for the Shoubra church; the third is the Rev. Ghoubrial's residence. This year, the fourth floor has been made into a 12-bed hospital, and the sixth is available for retired pastors who have no place to live. On the fifth floor is "Angel House," a school for special-needs children. "We have seen miracle after miracle in Shoubra," says Behar. "It's amazing what they're doing -- in spite of their limited funds."

A second clinic is in the planning stages -- in Asyñt, where the second-largest Egyptian Holiness church is located. The FMCNA has given the Egyptian church a five-story building that formerly served as Free Methodist missionary housing. Monies to begin the project have come from individuals at Cornerstone and elsewhere. "They're very excited," reports Behar, "but there is much red tape ahead, so it may be a while before things are up and running." The facility is currently being used as housing for girls who come to the city for education, as it is very difficult to find safe living quarters for females.

Wonderful Future Ahead
The role of the FMCNA in the Egyptian Holiness Church cannot be paternalistic, where missionaries come in and "do ministry." Egyptian society and culture presuppose the superiority of the native clergy and downplay the roles of women and laity in ministry -- both significant aspects of Free Methodism. These things are changing, albeit slowly, with Bishop Gindy having asked for help in instituting men's and women's ministries and in developing lay leadership.
"Perhaps soon, God will raise up several people -- single or retired -- to live and serve in Egypt in a supporting role," says Behar. According to Behar, these missionaries could provide the Egyptian Holiness Church with much-needed assistance in the areas of church planting, administration and teaching. Interested persons should contact the Missions department at the World Ministries Center. "Whatever happens," he adds, "thanks to the dedication of our brothers and sisters in Egypt, and the able, godly leadership of the Egyptian General Conference, I believe the future looks wonderful for the church in Egypt."