Egypt - A land of Partnerships and Pyramids
The airport was familiar but I could see no one whom I recognized in any direction. Bishop Mark Lawrence, his wife Allison, the Revd Chris Royer from Bluffton and myself were all traveling to Egypt as a team to establish a new partnership with the Diocese of Egypt, North Africa and The Horn of Africa.
We were coming at the request of the Rt Revd Muneer Anis, the Archbishop of the
Province of the Middle East and Jerusalem and would be representing South Carolina
at his Annual Diocesan Convention and teaching at a Clergy Retreat at a
monastery in the desert between Cairo and Alexandria.
"Mike, Mike!" rang out the cry from the other end of the arrivals hall of the Cairo Airport. Suddenly I saw Medhat Sabry, an old friend who was now the Rector of the Anglican church in Old Cairo.
I was swept up in a bone-crushing embrace that only someone from the Middle East would inflict on another in love. What a joy for me to be back with some of my brothers in ministry in the Middle East!
I had met many of them in 2004 when I came as part of a team to introduce the Alpha program to the Middle East and had renewed the relationships over the next five years through Provincial visits and conferences. It felt a little strange now to be back on behalf of the Church of Our Saviour and the Diocese of South Carolina. God does operate in extraordinary ways!
The next week was a blur of meetings, meals and a bit of time to take in the
local sights. We each spoke at the Convention. On Sunday evening,
I preached in Old Cairo to an Arabic speaking church and, at the end,
invited the Holy Spirit to minister to people while Chris and I stayed behind
to pray for people.
Mark taught extremely well at the retreat and it was clearly of great impact on those present through the three days. We all ministered to Clergy who were dry, in some cases discouraged, and deeply appreciative of a touch from God's Spirit.
The impression which will stay with me from this whirlwind visit are of the clear
anointing on our Bishop Mark for leadership and teaching.
Rarely have I had the privilege of working with someone who is growing so
strongly in his gifting. I was appreciative of the teamwork which the four of
us were able to enjoy and model.
I was reminded of how difficult it is to minister the love of Christ in the fear and shame based culture of the Islamic world and how draining the constant pressures of this are to those called to this ministry. I was also touched by how grateful those in the Diocese were for our hand of friendship and how eagerly they desire to get to know more of us in the future.
Thank you for enabling me to go. Please continue to pray with me for the
Diocese of Egypt and for the area of the world that is so important to our
faith and that of others.
By Mike Clarkson