Last year, a group of Langham supporters from the UK travelled to Egypt for an extraordinary trip to see Langham’s work first-hand. They visited an evangelical seminary, and heard presentations from former and current Scholars, including D*, who is studying in the US. This is an edited version of her story:
Around ten years ago, I was serving in youth ministry at an evangelical church. I served in this ministry for more than ten years. And what stirred my heart, driving me to pursue academics, was actually being among the youth. They asked me really hard questions about God and about themselves.
I thought, I don’t know those answers myself, but I need to. That’s when I thought I needed a theological education. I got my MA degree in Theology and History at an evangelical seminary in Cairo. I really enjoyed my studies there, but I actually I wanted more perspectives, to see things from other points of view – maybe pursue a degree overseas.
So I started applying for a teaching degree, and I got enrolled in a teaching degree at Princeton Seminary (US).
That was in 2017, it was a one-year programme. While I was there, I realised that I have a lot of passion. When I started learning more things, God put a desire in my heart to pass them on to other people, to other educators, to other church pastors and leaders, who are dealing with youth in their home country.
‘My dreams have started to come true’
But at that time, it was a dream. Then I came back home and I went back to my job, which was teaching music in kindergarten.
But this dream kept being there all the time. And then, the seminary in Cairo posted a job in Christian education and I thought, “Wow, my dreams have started to come true”. And I applied for the job and got accepted.
That was a big deal for me because I am a woman, and at that time I was the second woman ever to have a full-time teaching position at the seminary.
However, to be a full-time professor there, I had to get a PhD overseas.
And at that time, I had two very little girls (aged three and five). The idea of even applying for such a long programme was just impossible in so many ways. My husband is a pastor and didn’t want to leave the church. It would be very expensive, especially in terms of childcare.
Langham made it possible
So I just took a leap of faith. My husband always believed in me and wanted me to do this. We thought I would just apply and see what happens. Then I got a letter saying I’d been accepted!
The night I couldn’t sleep. Usually when you get an admission letter like that, you’re over the moon. But I was very anxious, as at that time I had some funding but didn’t have the Langham Scholarship yet. So I thought, I can’t go, it’s very frustrating.
But then it was made possible because I had a meeting with Dr Riad Kassis (then the Langham Scholars Director, now the International Director).
I explained my project and he really believed in me. Langham made a way for this to happen. I took off on a plane with my two little girls and left my poor husband.
Another miracle was that my Mum didn’t have a visa for the US, and I couldn’t travel alone with my children. Then my Mum got the visa! So the bottom line is, when God has a plan, He brings it into completion, no matter how impossible or how hard it looks.
Emotional and spiritual support
It was very challenging with the kids and doing PhD coursework etc. But having the support that Langham has given me and other Scholars, not just financially, it really meant a lot having somebody to look after us and care for us.
They were regularly checking on us through emails and zoom calls and praying for us and checking for our needs emotionally and spiritually. I couldn’t have done it without all the support they’ve given me so far. And I’m so glad they did.
*Name removed for security reasons.
Langham currently supports over 100 Scholars, who are studying for PhDs around the world. Find out more about the Langham Scholars programme.