Egypt (MNN) – A new generation in Egypt is stepping out in faith through the power of the Gospel. Nader Maurice with Kasr El Dobara Evangelical Church (KDEC) says God is moving in big ways in their youth.
Maurice says, “This generation, who are now in high school and uni, there is a spiritual awakening amongst them. They don’t want to change the country. They don’t want to change politics, but they want to take the Gospel. They want to go to Africa; they want to go to places in the Middle East that [haven’t] received the Good News yet.”
The Youth Before Them
The church in Egypt has seen this before. Maurice shares that similar awakenings happened in the 70s, 90s, and most recently in 2014. In those times, as the leadership leaned into the vision of their younger members and gave them control, church meetings looked a little bit different.
(Representative photo courtesy of StockSnap from Pixabay)
“They started inviting their friends to their own service, to their meeting, their ministry. The worship became different, the preaching became different, and God found a way to revive their hearts and their lives.”
Gospel Grace at KDEC
In this most recent movement Maurice says that the youth in KDEC have brought a variety of changes. If you look around the church, there are clear signs that God is at work.
“When the youth move, they bring their friends. People start hearing about what’s happening, and people start visiting. So, this is one sign: new believers and newcomers and seekers. Another sign is the quality of worship. It’s not about the sound. It’s not about the energy or the hand gestures or the physical aspect of it, but you feel that there’s a depth in the worship. They don’t want to sing three songs. They want to worship for an hour.”
Additionally, Maurice shares that the passion for the Gospel has been spilling beyond the church walls. He shares, “Last year, 500 young people from church signed up to be in our Missions Program, which is a nine-month school with two short-term trips and one abroad. It’s expensive. It takes their time, their effort, but they want to go out. They feel that they have something to give and that they’re sent to the lost.”
Making Space for God to Work
As in so many times and places before, youth coming in and making changes can make the older generations feel concern. They worry that the students are not mature enough; they haven’t been discipled long enough to take control of their ministry or lead well. However, Maurice points out that there is also danger in continually waiting for people to mature.
(Representative photo courtesy of Naassom Azevedo via Pixabay)
“We believe that Jesus uses simple vessels and that He does not require of us to be amazing, because, anyways, it’s all about Him. And I think when we wait for people to mature, sometimes we wait too long. They don’t mature. Because a lot of the training, a lot of the shaping, a lot of the discipleship happens really, on the go, on the job, as you are a disciple, as you go and share.”
Join the Movement
As KDEC and the larger church in Egypt seek to empower youth to share their faith, Maurice asks for prayer. He says their network of churches shares the vision of Habakkuk 2. They want to see the Earth filled “with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” They want to see every Arab have an opportunity to hear the Gospel and be discipled.
“We believe in prayer and unity, because what we’re dreaming of will only happen from above. As we unite, we give room for God. As we pray, He releases His power. So, we don’t want to be known of something. We want to see Him known. And we believe that when the youth are on fire, when the youth are released, when the youth are commissioned, this makes it happen faster and better and bigger.”
Please pray that God would bring many people to Himself through the youth in Egypt. Please also pray that the Church around the world would show and represent the true, loving Jesus and His saving grace.
Learn more about KDEC youth here.
Header photo courtesy of StartupStockPhotos via Pixabay.
