Dear Friends,
This week, please join us in prayer for Dina Bishay from Egypt.
A cradle of civilization, Egypt traces its history to the sixth millennium before Christ. Its rich cultural heritage reflects centuries of interchange with the Greek, Persian, Roman, Arab, Ottoman, and Nubian empires. Once a prominent Christian hub, Egypt has long been a Muslim-majority nation, following its Islamization in the seventh century. Today, 90% of Egypt’s 108 million people adhere to Islam (mostly Sunni), the state religion, while 10% follow Christianity (mostly Coptic). Like other countries in the region, Egypt is facing economic troubles exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. Amid currency depreciation and surging inflation, living standards have fallen and up to 60% of Egyptian citizens live at or below the poverty line.
Dina is pursuing a PhD in Practical Theology (Christian Education and Formation) at Princeton Theological Seminary. Her research assesses how Egyptian politics and culture have influenced both secular and Christian education in Egypt. Upon graduation, Dina will return to teach as one of three women faculty members at Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo, a client of the Vital SustainAbility Initiative. Dina and her husband Amir have two daughters: four-year-old Layla and three-year-old Nelly.
Dina shares the following message:
I am Dina Bishay, a scholar from Egypt. In 2021, I joined the faculty of Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo. I am currently a first-year PhD student at Princeton Theological Seminary, doing my PhD in the area of Education and Formation in Practical Theology.
The big question that I am looking into for now concerns youth education in the Egyptian Presbyterian Church, the challenges and implications after COVID, and how it’s going to look in the digital age.
Prayer Requests
My prayer is to be able to witness real change in education in the Church in Egypt and to witness a new generation of church leaders rising up, so that our youth today would be our Church’s future.
I also ask for prayers for my beloved country Egypt. Egypt, like many other countries, is going through an economic crisis, and it is affecting almost everything. Please pray for God’s peace and comfort for my people, as well as guidance and wisdom for the authorities.
Also, pray for the Church in Egypt, that God would keep using the Church to shine His light and hope amid despair.
On a personal level, I need prayers for me and my family, including my husband, my mother, and my two little girls. Without their support for me, I wouldn’t be able to do this. So, I pray that God would continue to give them strength as we are navigating our way through the program. Pray that this would be a fruitful time for me to learn and grow.
Dina Bishay