Coptic Christians in Egypt are the largest Christian community in the Middle East. The Coptic Orthodox Church is one of the oldest, surviving churches in the region. There are, however, many Copts who are no longer actively involved in church life. Without the strong community relationships, they run the risk of drifting away from their faith.
Arab Vision is working with the Coptic Church in Egypt through a project that will encourage Coptic Christians to rejoin the community life of the church and revitalise their faith.
People will be invited to share a weekly community meal and watch a video. They will hear the faith presented in a manner which is designed to revive their enthusiasm. After seven meetings of sharing meals and faith presentations, they will be invited to a conference where they will have the opportunity to renew their commitment to the faith and to the church community. Subsequently they will receive follow-up to help them persevere in their commitments.
We have produced 8 videos of about half an hour each, presenting the faith through topics like baptism, confirmation, Eucharist, penance and reconciliation, marriage, serving in the church community (vital elements in the Coptic Church) and community-life.
The introduction by Pope Tawadros II has been filmed and a pilot will be run in about 20 churches in the south of Egypt. Sharing a meal, studying the lesson together via the video and discussing the material together, so people can grow in the faith. We are subtitling the whole course in English; it will be excellent course material for migrants all over the world.
