Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Egypt

Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Egypt
Synod of the Nile

By: Reverend Gadalla Tiab 
Pastor of East Worthing Baptist Church/ England 
Evangelical Presbyterian in Egypt, the church which I belong to. While small, the Presbyterian church has for more than one hundred and sixty years affected the lives of generations in Egypt with her conscious and active presence. Presbyterian Church is not an ethnic foreigner Church, but it is an authentic Egyptian church. It was founded by German, Scottish, British, and American Presbyterian missionaries.  
In 1854, one Scottish and two American Presbyterian clergymen and their families began work in the Nile Delta. Their goal was to help strengthen the Christian community. The distribution of the Bible in Arabic, the introduction of a sermon into the liturgy, the encouragement of an educated priesthood, and the move toward an informed laity were foremost in their concerns. Gradually, the need for education and medicine in Egypt. City of Assiut saw the founding of Assiut College by John Hogg of Scotland. Later, a major college for women was established in Cairo. A university also opened; it was in Cairo. A professor of Bible study and its former president  of America , Dr. John Badeau, was appointed the Ambassador to Egypt in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy. In addition, theological study started on the deck of Dr. Hogg houseboat; in the first 25 years, Dr. Hogg himself was the central figure of the Presbyterian movement in that region. From these humble beginnings evolved the Cairo Evangelical Seminary
In time, the Presbyterian community was formed and organised into local congregations, presbyteries, and a synod.  Official church membership is Around 1 million Presbyterians.  The Presbyterian church runs two hospitals, one in Tanta and the other in Cairo, and enormous clinics belonging to the local church, and 24 schools. The Synod has 575 churches, including the new ones and others in process of formation. Pastors number is 350, retired 130, in addition to those who are recognised.  
The Evangelical Presbyterian Church is the biggest Protestant denomination, and it is thriving! The Synod of the Nile is among those that initiated the inclusion of the Orthodox and Catholic churches into the Middle East Council of Churches and continues to be a voice for ecumenism. The Synod is also running programs for Christian-Muslim dialogue. 
In conclusion, Synod of the Nile has and still affecting the lives of generations in Egypt with her conscious and active presence. Presbyterian Church in Egypt is not an ethnic foreigner Church, but it is an authentic Egyptian church. The Synod of the Nile did not limit its role to evangelism, but it was very proactive in creating a wheel for making leaders. And creating new leaders directly and indirectly to serve the church and society in Egypt.