Leaving jobs, family and friends, Misheal and Diana moved with their spouses from their homes in Egypt to prepare for the work God called them to.
Coming from Egypt, where he had a prestigious role as Director of Scientific Productions at Egypt’s Science Exploration Centre, Misheal and his wife Amany followed God’s call to go to Lebanon to study at the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary.
Leaving behind the stability that they had in Egypt was not easy, Misheal says. “Still now, the devil tries to convince me that giving up [our life there] and coming to Lebanon was a huge mistake.”
Now in Lebanon, they are a blessing to those around them. He says, “The truth is, we try to minister in every way possible, starting conversations and building friendships with all sorts of people wherever we meet them.”
They have become friends with people they have met in the taxi, or while eating ice cream at a sidewalk cafe.
Although the changes have been difficult, there have also been rewards, “We have been blessed,” says Amany. “We have learned to walk by faith.”
Misheal adds, “I am happy and proud that I put the Lord first, relinquished my job in which I was successful, and came to Lebanon in pursuit of theological training in response to God’s calling”.
As they look to the future they are unsure of what their next step should be. Misheal comments, “I pray every day that God would shed light on the next step we should be taking. Our goal as a family is to serve him and accomplish his will for the rest of our lives.”
Diana and her husband Michael also moved from Egypt to go to the seminary. Diana explains her background: “I used to serve in a Christian organisation that works with orphan children in unchurched regions in Egypt.”
Again, the decision to leave home was a difficult one; they had to “leave everything behind and come to Lebanon to study theology so that I could prepare myself for future ministry.
We had a stable life back in Egypt and coming to Lebanon was kind of surrendering to the unknown.”
For Diana, though, this time has been rewarding: “I allowed God to work in my life; shaping and changing it the way he sees fit for his glory.”
Now, she says, “I want to go back to Egypt and use all I have learned for the glory of the Lord. I want to live a different life in which all people around me would be able to see the changes God has made in my life.”
Please thank God that Misheal and Amany and Diana and Michael were given the strength to leave behind their lives in Egypt.
Pray that God will continue to strengthen them and bless their ministries in Lebanon, and that he will guide and watch over their future steps.