By God’s grace and with the Spirit’s work, a network I have poured much investment into has successfully launched in Cairo.

Following a “pre-launch conference” nine months ago, many hours of texts, emails, and conversations in preparation, and then Pastor Mark’s and my trip there last week, we can report with joy that Pathways is up and running, spreading through northern Egypt.

Under the excellent coordination of our local leader, Pastor Ashraf, I am greatly encouraged by the way the network responded to the training we offered for a group of 15 carefully selected “master trainers” from nine different denominations who will pass on the training we gave them to many others. Initially, the group of educated and experienced ministry leaders pushed back at the thought of expository preaching, working through the text verse by verse, emphasizing what the author emphasized in the way he emphasized it. Preserving the author’s intent is a hallmark of Pathways, but was quite new to the Egyptian preachers. “Perhaps this works for a narrative passage like Jonah, but other genres require other styles, and our people prefer topical preaching.” However, as we continued through the workshop, they discovered the value of sticking closely with the text, submitting our ideas to what God has stated in His Word. By the end, the pastors were sold on the concept, eager to continue the training in future workshops and pass on the principles to those they know.

I learned a great deal about Egyptian (and Middle Eastern) culture by watching the group throughout the week. In general, the people tend to be quite different than most of those with whom I work in sub-Saharan Africa. They do not consider themselves to be Africans, they are a strong, proud people with a rich history and culture, they are punctual by western standards, and by virtue of their extensive education, their interaction with the material was deeper than I am used to. By the second day, they were enthusiastically vocal, engaged, laughing together, and digging into the meaning of the text. One participant commented, “We have read Jonah many times, but now with Pathways we are learning new things we have never seen or heard.”

In addition, not only was it a learning experience for the participants and me, but my training partner, retired pastor Mark, grew much throughout the week. Initially he preferred to observe as I taught, and as the training continued I gave him more and more of a leadership role, coaching him along the way, and he in turn empowered leaders in the group, coaching them in how to pass Pathways on to other leaders. 2 Timothy 2:2 was modeled so well through the process! Our Egyptian coordinator, Pastor Ashraf, was thrilled at the material, at how we presented it, and how the participants readily received it and are eager to continue the training process. “We saw the image of Christ in our leaders,” Ashraf said, “as they wisely and passionately encouraged us in the Word, built community, and offered simple but profound teaching.”

Regarding building community, one of the participants pulled me aside at the end of the training to share his powerful testimony with me. 15 years ago, he had been a pastor shepherding his flock for several years when his associate pastor, a younger charismatic man, began to speak against him, undermining his authority in the church, turning people against him. The lead pastor was deeply troubled, developed health problems through the experience, but tried to faithfully minister as God would have him do. Eventually, he was forced to leave ten years ago, and the pain of the trial led him to cut off all ties with other pastors and ministry leaders. Although God chose to guard his investment in the church, he was a broken man. Our Pathways training was the first time he gathered with other leaders in ten years. He shared that the walls he built to protect himself began crumbling down during our four days together through the love and relationships in the group and the training in the Word he received. He feels new health and a vision for the future. I prayed with this dear brother and we embraced as a testimony to our gracious God who heals and saves.

Thank you for your prayers for this important network, ministry partners, and may God continue the good work He has begun in Cairo and beyond. My training partner, Pastor Mark, will return in March 2025 to continue working with this group as I launch new networks in other locations like Nigeria, Burundi, and Kenya. Please continue to pray and celebrate God’s good call in equipping church leaders in every nation to handle and preach His Word well.