What others are doing at Home ...

We have all felt recently in our hearts that the Spirit of God is calling for us to move from our comfort zones. He doesn’t want us to simply care for ourselves and our own spiritual well-being but is eager for us to go out and learn from and encourage those in other churches throughout Europe, and then to go out and share the good news with those who haven’t heard of Him. So responding to this calling, a trip to Milan was quickly organised.

Going into the trip we were unsure what to expect. We did not have a set programm for the weekend and could not even speak the same language, but we soon discovered that such problems are so small when compared with God’s greatness.

The Italians we met were as the title says – fantastici. Even though we had never met before, they served us with great love and generosity: selflessly driving us around and willingly depriving themselves of precious sleep for our sakes.

Communication was easy, with Arabic as a common language, and we soon laughed and joked together as if we had known each other all our lives. Together we even managed to translate some worship songs into Italian and also French, as there happened to be two French girls also staying at the monastery. Also at the monastery were some younger children on a retreat, who soon joined with the singing. It was beautiful to hear the hall resounding with praise and worship of God. “…be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” Ephesians 5:18-19.

During the weekend we spent time alone with God in quietness and it was beautiful to see the excitement with which some returned, eager to share with all what the Lord had spoken. “So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend” Exodus 33:11.

Perhaps the most memorable time of the weekend was our last night with the group. After walking through the centre of town we sat in a large circle on the floor in front of Milan’s cathedral wishing to simply sing and pray together. But as always, God’s plans are greater than our own. We found that when we are willing, God uses us in every opportunity to bring others closer to Him. It was not long before two non-Copt Italians had joined our group – an old professor, and a young Muslim. The old man, interested to hear we were from the Coptic Church, began asking questions, and even requested for us to sing a Coptic hymn, while the other sat quietly, soaking up what was being said. After we finished one of the group talked with the Muslim youth, took his details and invited him to their weekly youth meeting.

During the weekend we had great fellowship with each other and we learnt many things, but above all I believe that God used this time to increase our faith. He wants us to remember that He, the Almighty God, is in control. All He asks from us is a willing heart, willing to step out of the boat and take a risk, the rest is up to Him. If we are willing, then His Spirit will work in us, to make us lights for His kingdom. St. Paul wrote “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the mighty…” 1 Corinthians 1:27.

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be the glory…forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

Since 1998, we have had many missionaries from Washington DC come to Africa in regular intervals. They have come every two years since then and have really brought a special blessing to Africa. Some have been called to serve full-time in Africa and some were called to go back home and make a difference in their community. After many trips to Africa, the people went back home and were inspired to do “something crazy for the Lord”. So the group gathered and prayed for God’s guidance on what to do next. The youth started by making sandwiches and going to the poorest part of DC and sharing the word of God with the people. They prayed regularly throughout the mission, sang many songs, and shared short messages from the Bible with the homeless, and even passed out pictures of Jesus with verses attached. This was the first step of something bigger which God had in store for the group. Little by little, the church added many more mission opportunities in DC, such as serving the inner city children, the elderly, the people with intellectual disabilities, and eventually starting a weekly mission to a problematic neighborhood where they walk the streets and knock on the doors and really share the love of God with everyone

But despite these wonderful outreach services, the DC Church felt God asking them for even more. They were led to start an organization called Mission Life Center, where they get people from the church and community and send them locally to DC for mission, nationally to places like New Orleans for the Hurricane Katrina effort, and of course globally like Mexico, India and Africa. The goal is to build and transform the people going on these mission trips so that one day these missionaries will go to all the ends of the earth and serve God’s children that are in great need. Anything is possible with God. The Washington DC group went step by step following God’s lead … and who knows what the Lord is going to do next?!

You too can take the first step today. Don’t let anything stop you from what God has planned for you and your church.

The Diocese of Sydney has a missionary group called St-Paul’s Coptic Missionary Group consisting of a good number of zealous youth who try to reach people in their communities for Christ. The group is presently working with the homeless people of Sydney.

Although Wednesday is the day of the week during which the youth encounter the homeless, the youth gather together every Tuesday night in a chapel for prayer and bible study in order to draw strength from the Lord and to stay in tune with His plan for the service. This meeting also allows them to discuss challenges and new ideas for the service, and to plan the logistics of their Wednesday service.

On Wednesday night, the youth are divided into small groups -each group being under the care of a senior servant. The youth then travel to various locations in the city, where they set up food and clothing vans, providing free meals and clothing to the homeless. This provides an opportunity to speak to the homeless about the good news of Jesus Christ, to tell them that they have a Heavenly Father that loves them and to be a listening ear for them to unload their burdens and troubles. Many times they are simply touched by the fact that someone cares about them, and actually wants to listen to their story. These gestures of love are much more effective in conveying God’s love than any preaching can be.

On special occasions such as Christmas and Easter, the homeless are invited to the Church for a celebration dinner with the youth, during which they are given presents from the bookshop, and a tour/explanation of the Church. It is always a memorable event for the homeless people, but even more for the youth who feel they have hosted Jesus Christ Himself.