University News
Personal Account of Faculty Member, Dr. Joe Grana’s, Latest Trip to Egypt
HIU’s Chair of the PCC Church Ministry Department, Dr. Joe Grana, recently taught at a leadership conference in Egypt. This opportunity arose out of a friendship with Safaa Fahmi, with whom Dr. Grana has been developing and encouraging pastors and leaders in the Middle East. Through their partnership, many individuals have participated in a pastoral certificate program through HIU. Presently 71 students from the Sudan and other Arab countries have gone through the program, and many more are anticipated in years to come. Dr. Grana shares his personal accounts of his latest trip (January 208) to Egypt:
“Many of us have stereotypes of the Arab world. There is some validity to some of them but by living among them for a short time in Egypt, my view has broadened immensely. I was challenged, blessed, amazed and humbled to find some fun-loving, deep-thinking, Christ-dedicated people.
With Safaa Fahmi, a progressive thinking Egyptian minister, we drove for two hours from Cairo to a conference center on the Suez Canal where we met with 133 church leaders (men and women) from all over the Arab world. Pastors, doctors, students and others from Jordan, Sudan, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Calcedonia, Russia and throughout Egypt gathered at the Suez Canal to study leadership and the issue of women in the church.
When it came time to discuss women’s roles I mused, “By the time I finish, you will probably throw me in the Suez Canal!” They laughed and said, “Oh no, we won’t do that.” Shortly afterward, Joseph – a 20-something young man from Egypt – stated, “We don’t have any trouble with women elders in our church.” I responded, “You don’t? In Egypt?” He said, “Of course not.” I was amazed. To my astonishment most of the people’s views were centrist or leaned in Joseph’s direction. It seems that they have allowed their faith to surpass their culture.
One night when Safaa was speaking, he said, “The terrorists may come from the south but don’t worry, don’t be afraid. You only die once. Die with honor. Die to the Lord.” I was totally blown away and humbled. I have often quoted Revelation 2:10 “Be faithful unto death and I will give you a crown of life.” I then realized how easily I could say that verse, but now I was in the presence of people who were actually living in it.
What this experience gave me was hope. There is hope for Christ to change lives in the Arab world. Three thousand leaders will be used to reach hundreds of thousands of Christians and millions of non-believers in an area of the world where most of us feel helpless and hopeless. God is at work in the world, even the Arab world. There is hope!”
Dr. Grana leads pastoral leadership conferences twice a year, as well as other training trips, such as a recent trip to Israel to train pastors on pre-marital counseling and family ministry. His next trip is scheduled for late August 2008 in Ecuador. Dr. Grana also leads service trips for undergraduate students to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and Chile. With questions, please contact Dr. Grana at jgrana@hiu.edu.