God Has Not Forgotten Egypt

Kirollos, a young Egyptian believer from Alexandria, found himself captivated by the book of Romans during a Bible study at his local church. What began as a group study turned into a life-altering journey one that led him from man-centered doctrine and prosperity teaching to the richness of Reformed theology. His transformation fueled a desire for deeper knowledge, eventually leading him to enroll in the Alexandria School of Theology (AST). Now, Kirollos is preparing to graduate, equipped not just with academic knowledge, but with a calling to bring biblical truth to a region hungry for authentic gospel teaching.

Kirollos’s journey is not unique. He is part of a quiet, growing movement in Egypt — one that could be easily overlooked in a country where less than 1% of the population identifies as Protestant, and where Reformed convictions have often been marginalized or forgotten. Yet God is stirring hearts, raising voices, and bringing back the deep doctrines of grace to a land with a theological heritage that stretches back to the earliest centuries of the Church.

Ancient Roots, Modern Renewal

Egypt has a long Christian history. The early church in Egypt produced theological titans like Athanasius and Cyril of Alexandria. But the legacy of vibrant orthodoxy was obscured over centuries, especially after the Chalcedonian controversies and the Muslim conquest in the seventh century. The result was a national church the Coptic Church rich in tradition but increasingly detached from Reformed and evangelical expressions of Christianity.

Within the Coptic tradition, which includes about 10% of Egypt’s population (with Muslims comprising the other 90%), doctrines such as the mass as a means of atonement, priestly mediation, and sacramental regeneration are held firmly. Meanwhile, the Protestant population including Presbyterians in name accounts for less than 1%. While Protestant missions have a history in Egypt dating back to the 18th century, their doctrinal influence waned sharply by the late 20th century due to liberal theology, feminism, and a drift toward motivational-style preaching.

But God...

Around the year 2000, biblical orthodoxy in Egypt was faint. Few believers could access Reformed resources in Arabic. Expository preaching was rare. Foundational doctrines like the five solas or the sovereignty of God were not only unfamiliar they were often outright rejected.

But then God moved.

In 2005, the Alexandria School of Theology (AST) was established under the Anglican Church with the support of missionaries who brought a firm commitment to Reformed orthodoxy. AST’s emphasis on sound doctrine, church history, and pastoral theology has helped raise a generation of Egyptian pastors and theologians committed to the authority of Scripture and the sufficiency of Christ.

Churches like Sidi Beshr Kebly Presbyterian in Alexandria — where Kirollos found gospel clarity began to shift. Graduates of AST joined the church’s leadership and started preaching expository sermons, teaching the doctrines of grace, and grounding their community in Scripture. Though resistance came from both inside and outside, God granted unity and growth.

A Movement Takes Shape

In 2014, four AST lecturers began meeting to discuss how to broaden the influence of sound doctrine in Egypt. The result was El-Soora, a teaching ministry aimed at publishing, multimedia resources, and theological conferences. Its first major conference in 2015 featured Don Carson and drew significant local interest. Since then, El-Soora has partnered with international ministries like Ligonier, Desiring God, and The Gospel Coalition, working to translate and distribute books and resources that were once inaccessible in Arabic.

The growth is measurable. Two decades ago, Reformed Christians in Egypt may have numbered in the dozens. Today, that number is in the hundreds and growing. The availability of sound Christian literature in Arabic has expanded rapidly. Egyptian believers are not just translating foreign resources; they are writing their own books, articles, hymns, and sermons rooted in a Reformed framework. Conferences that once drew dozens now draw hundreds. A theological conference sponsored by El-Soora recently hosted 350 people and distributed hundreds of books.

God Is Not Done with Egypt

Despite the growth, the challenges remain immense. Truly Reformed churches are still rare in a country of over 110 million. Many believers struggle to find gospel-centered communities. The fields are white, but the laborers are few.

Yet there is hope because God is clearly at work.

The transformation happening in Egypt mirrors the early days of the New Testament church. As in the book of Acts, a small group of devoted disciples can ignite a gospel movement even under cultural pressure. The same God who planted seeds of faith through the Apostle Paul is now planting them through modern-day teachers, pastors, and seminary students in Alexandria and beyond.

And this is not a foreign gospel. These doctrines are not imported Western ideas. They are the very truths that once flowed from Egyptian pens in the early centuries of the church truths now being rediscovered and lived out afresh.

The Harvest Is Plentiful

Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers” (Matthew 9:37–38). That is the prayer of many believers in Egypt today. They are asking God to raise up pastors, teachers, writers, and leaders who will proclaim the truth without compromise and shepherd God’s people with tenderness and clarity.

From the classrooms of AST to the pulpits of local churches, from newly published Arabic books to the worship of God’s people, the fingerprints of revival are beginning to appear. It’s not flashy. It’s not fast. But it is faithful.

God is still visiting Egypt. And He’s not finished yet.

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