The first question people ask when we return from a mission is, “How was your trip?”  The phrasing of the question sets up an answer beginning with, “It was …” and ending with one or two adjectives—good, fruitful, tiring, etc..  In reference to our recent trip to Egypt, the question can’t be answered succinctly.  But here is a bit about it.

Our team had two purposes for the trip.  The first was to encourage a small part of the body of Christ in Egypt.  We visited five house groups including a new one that is growing in the slums of Cairo.  All are led by untrained lay leaders ranging in age from mid-20s to 50s.  Untrained means they have not attended seminary, Bible college or other pastoral education.  They are not unqualified for ministry; the Holy Spirit has selected them to lead these small flocks.  All groups were very happy to have us visit them.  They consider it an honor that their western brothers would choose to spend time with them.  Famous religious teachers and televangelists come to Egypt but stay in the large denominational churches in Cairo.  They do not visit believers in the rural house groups.  One of these house group members even asked, “Do you know Benny Hinn?” as if we moved in the same circles as the “big names.”

The pastors on the team taught on whatever topic the Holy Spirit directed for each group.  One house church had constructed a building and began using it for church services.  The government recently shut them down after the local Orthodox priest filed a fraudulent complaint against them.  Pastor Doug taught that group on “The Lord Who Fights for Us” from various Scriptures.  One group with many young couples wanted to know what is biblically acceptable in marital intimacy.  During part of another meeting, the women gathered in a separate room.  After a Q&A time, the team laid hands on and prayed for a woman who wanted to be steady in her faith.  After the prayer the woman went to the corner of the room and began vomiting.  Eva, our hostess for the mission, told us that before coming to the meeting the woman saw a shaman and drank one of his black magic potions.  The power of God through prayer was causing her body to reject the satanic liquid.  Eva said this is common for this woman and they have been working with her for six years.

On Sunday we journeyed to the village of Ishneen to visit a denominational church.  The pastor is a happy man who grew up in that small town.  The church is exuberant during worship.  The singing borders on shouting punctuated by the sharp jangle of cymbals.  Ishneen is a rural, agrarian town; goats, chickens and cattle roam the streets and even walk right in the front door of homes.  Those residents wisely leave their first floor unfinished with dirt floors and live on the upper floors.  It is also a poor town.  The people do not possess “stuff.”  They live simply and work hard day to day.  We visited the homes of believers and unbelievers alike to share the Gospel and extend kindness.  Two of the team’s women had an impromptu gathering with a few other women.  They all had questions around a common theme:  illness.  One wanted to know why, if she has been forgiven of her sin, she was not healed.  Another wanted to know why her children had exceptional health difficulties.  And yet another wanted to know the purpose behind her health difficulties.

These meetings were precious times to share hearts and come to know each other, establishing relationships across the boundaries of distance and language.  They were times to encourage the believers to find their strength through Scripture.  They were times for us to be content in the circumstances in which God placed us and, in obedience, do whatever He brought next.

The second purpose of the trip was to educate the leaders of the house groups so they can in turn teach the members of their group.  We held two overnight conferences.  Our team’s pastors taught the leaders and our ladies taught the wives.  At both, we taught the importance of reading the Bible daily. 

The pastors taught Ephesians 5:25 in depth, encouraging every man to love his wife just as Jesus loves the church. There was teaching and much discussion on how to live according to Scripture in a culture totally opposed to God’s ways. The brothers were deeply challenged as we studied the Word.

The women learned about forgiveness, jealousy and submission to the husband’s authority.  Some of the comments at the end of the conference give us hope that it was worthwhile.  “I understand that if I don’t forgive, I won’t grow spiritually.”  “I learned that as I submit to my husband, I put my trust in God, not him.”  Many spoke of specific insights they gained.  Others said they would begin making time for daily Bible reading.

Our goal in limiting these conferences to leaders and their wives was to limit the student to teacher ratio.  We wanted to address the topics in the context of leadership, teaching them how to lead their flocks by their lifestyle as well as their Bible teaching.  We want them to be equipped not just to say the right things to their groups but to live those things and let the flocks follow their example.

So, “How was the trip?”  It was very challenging physically but we are confident that there will be lasting fruit from it.  Thanks to all who prayed and gave for this effort to build up the body in Egypt!