Bishop Paul and a group of about ten missionaries from around the world met in order to pray and discuss the growing needs and a new vision for the Coptic Mission in Africa. Most of the missionaries at this meeting had recently decided to leave their countries in order to commit long term to the mission and contribute to the mission’s growing needs. The group was motivated by Bishop Paul’s words of encouragement and all agreed that God is blessing the mission’s current services tremendously, and now He also has something new and big in store for the mission, which is why He has called this large group to work together at this point in time. Sticking to the vision of the Coptic Mission (which can be found on the website under “About Us”), the following areas were discussed:

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Her Beloved knocked and her heart yearned for Him.…she hesitated, and too late, she opened the door, but He had gone.          

 

The timeless story of the Shulamite woman and her Prince emulates our own ‘fairytale’ with the Sweet Lover of Mankind. The ending however, is up to you. Too gentle to encroach upon our freedom, He beckons us to go deeper with Him, but never oversteps our ‘liberty’.

The Shulamite woman troubled herself with irrelevant worries; ‘I have taken off my robe; How can I put it on again? I have washed my feet; How can I defile them?’, till she’d missed the opportunity to open the door to Him. Today, much the same still occurs; ‘My day is all planned out; How can I risk answering God’s call? I have a good reputation; How can I admit my sin?’.

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'The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy'

 

Psalm 126:3

The last Sunday before the Fast, has proven to be a sign of greater things to come through the grace of our Lord. Reconciliation and healing abounded in our Kenyan Coptic churches. The glorious sight of people hugging one another, and seeking the forgiveness of our Merciful Savior, has heralded the miracles expected during the Great Lent of 2008.

Through the soft, yet powerful whisper of the Holy Spirit, people realized their place within the family of God, as children of the Almighty. As such, God highlighted to each one’s heart that there is no distinction of color, gender, race or tribe.

Calabar, a village in southern Nigeria, is called by the local natives 'Canaan'. Canaan is the land promised to Abraham's descendants – a land flowing with milk and honey. The land in Calabar is lush and green, as if one was in a tropical paradise. The palm trees, mountains, rivers, and quiet breeze bring peace and tranquility to this land. The people living in Calabar are very friendly. They welcome you in their homes, in the marketplace and on the streets.

Mary Slessor, a courageous missionary, lived and died in this place of Calabar, never understanding why she was so attached to the people of Calabar.  

 By: Gina Gharbawi

Before and throughout our missionary trip to Nigeria, we felt the Lord calling us to a different life, a glorified life on earth. We were urged by our fathers Bishop Paul, Father Isozoros, Father Abraham and Father Anthony to seek the Promised Land- the heaven on earth in which our Lord Jesus wants us to live. Father Anthony shared that just as the children of Israel had to overcome crossing the Jordan River to enter the Promised Land, we also would have to overcome great obstacles in each of our lives before we reach the Promised Land. These obstacles could be anything from pride in ourselves to distrust in the Lord. Just as the children of Israel would fight many battles after overcoming the great Jordan River, we should also expect to fight many battles against the enemy.