Report from BHW Egypt Partnership Facilitator

On Wednesday 24th November the BHW facilitator for Egypt met with NB and pastors G and B of the Holiness Movement via Zoom for a catch up. NB is our main contact in Egypt and interpreted for the other two pastors. Pastors G and B are the two men responsible to develop the programme. G pastors a church in Cairo and B in Alexandria. They travel to the various locations together every two months or so and are usually away for about 10 days each time. 

Recent Events

Context

Despite the ravages of COVID and the restrictions this has forced on them, the work continues to expand. Since the last report in August 2020, the loan programme has moved into another area which means they are now involved in five different governates within Egypt and 33 areas. 72 churches are now either involved or signed up for the loan programme. Around 30% of the churches in the denomination have members that have received loans to this point in time.  

Finances

Over the past 2½ years the fund has received US$52,000. This equates to around EGP800,000. To put this in context, this amount is 10 times the amount the General Council of the Holiness Church has in its accounts. To date, 245 families have received loans and, apart from a couple of deaths, all the loans are being repaid in good time. The total number of people being impacted directly is around 2,000. The small amount of interest that is received is used to assist the pastor of the local church as he has a role in the loan programme following up those with loans. 

The intention is to continue funding this for two more years so that by the end of that period it will be self-sustaining and continue to grow. In 2022 US$15,000 will be sent in January and the same again in July. By the end of the investment period the hope is that a high percentage of the congregants of the Movement would be on a much better economic footing. This would see an increase in the resources coming into churches and the Movement from tithes and giving. This trend is beginning to be noticed.  

The Programme

Some families are onto their third loan now, generally their businesses are thriving, and their lives are changing. The pastors of the churches involved are very encouraged by the impact up to this point. Their dream is not just to help people once and have them still remain below the poverty line, but to invest in them in an ongoing way to see them totally transformed and self-sustaining economically over time. 

Whole families who are only Christian by birth and who have rarely come to church are now actively involved and are growing spiritually as well as economically. The relationship between local churches and the families is growing much stronger and people are engaging. The guys in leadership of this programme are passionate about seeing people becoming spiritually active and growing in relationship with God and their local church. The leaders are receiving many reports these days of people becoming believers, this has increased since the inception of this programme. It is a very fruitful and strategic ministry. 

Partnership's Influence within the Community

The Holiness Movement has since its beginning been a work amongst the poor. They are generally regarded as the poorest people in their communities. This has become a mindset and the young people grow up with a poverty mindset which very few break out of. Over time, the lack of resources and economic power has discouraged people to the point of them leaving the “faith” and being vulnerable to those offering employment or money to convert. This is a common issue. Around Luxor the people are particularly poor and vulnerable. 

G and B as well as N are over the moon with joy about the impact this is having. It brings great joy to see the changes going on across the whole denomination. Hope is replacing the discouragement they once had. They are working hard to make the project work well and to get it to as many people as possible. 

They are so encouraged and cannot wait to see the long-term impact of this. There is still a lot of room for expansion. When the funds come in from BHW they select a new area to visit and, along with the funds that have come back into their central office, they allocate the money. It is always a happy time to be able to go out and contribute to the lives of the people rather than to be constantly asking poor people for more money to pay their pastors, their organisation, and Bible School. 

They have a small fund they keep back for emergencies. Recently, one of the beneficiaries in Luxor had cancer and they were able to help with his treatment. 

They are now training some younger pastors to prepare them to take over the running of the programme.