I was saddened to hear from field staff in Egypt that Sameh Youssef, a Coptic Orphans Rep from Nag Hamadi, was wounded along with his nephew two days ago on Coptic Christmas eve in a drive-by shooting. Three suspects fired into a crowd of worshippers leaving Christmas mass at St. Mary’s church in Nag Hammadi, Egypt, and then sped off.
NPR reports seven dead, and a source on the ground tells Coptic Orphans that the number of wounded could be as high as 21. The Egyptian authorities have identified the car and arrested suspects.
Heroes of Love
Reps like Sameh are examples of self-sacrificing love that make them heroes to me. Sameh visits children every week, sometimes more. Like all Coptic Orphans Reps, Sameh does not receive any pay for the many hours he puts in each week visiting families, connecting them to resources, and following up. Not to mention organizing workshops and training for mothers and children, and receiving training himself.
Every week by his love and sacrifice, Sameh shows his children in Not Alone that they truly are not alone.
Other Reps make great sacrifices, too. I just heard about a Rep went over her Coptic Orphans budget for her children, so she used her own funds. She later refused compensation and told us, “it’s a gift to God.” The amount was more than a whole year’s salary, and she was not a wealthy woman.
How Can We Respond?
I have a burning question the wake of this tragedy, and you might share it, too: “what is the best thing we can do for our brothers and sisters in Egypt?”
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| In the wake of such suffering, the Body of Christ in Egypt needs our prayers for the supernatural strength to love. |
Jesus told us, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35, ESV) We can pray for our brothers and sisters in Egypt to respond in the love of Christ, and not in kind despite their deep suffering. We can help them by lifting them up with our love and support. It’s funny how easier it is to sacrifice yourself in love for others when you know that many stand with you, too.
Sameh and other Reps like him are beacons of love in the Body of Christ even when they face suffering. It’s the love of Christ in them that compels them to sacrifice so much. We have such an opportunity to strengthen them in love at this time by being one Body with them in Christ just when they need it most.
Coptic Orphans has established a special fund to support the victims of this recent tragedy as one way of expressing our oneness with the Body of Christ in Egypt. We will deliver all donations for this fund to Anba Kyrolos of the local diocese to be used for any victims of the Nag Hammadi tragedy according to his discretion.
Even as thousands of fatherless children around Egypt know that they’re not alone because of the support of their Reps, let our support send a message so that Sameh, Bishop Kyrolos, and the entire Body of Christ in Egypt will know that they are not alone, too.
Donate to the special Nag Hammadi Fund
