ast newsletter, autumn 2015

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The Episcopal Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa

ALEXANDRIA SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY

NEWSLETTER, AUTUMN 2015

eventh Commencement Exercise & First MA Graduation

On 18 July, thirty two students graduated; one with a Diploma, twenty seven with a Bachelor in Theologand for the first time, four with a Masters in Biblical Studies from Moore Theological College, Sydney.

We were honoured to have Dr. Atef Mehany, Dean of the Presbyterian Seminary in Egypt, give the keynotaddress and also, Bishop Peter Tasker, Archbishop of Sydney's Bishop for International Relations, join us.

Mr. Philip Beshay, the elected representative of the graduating class said, We applied to AST to learn abou

theology; however, over the last four years of study, we embraced Christ.

It is very exciting and encouraging to hear how this time has formed the students academically, spirituall

and in mission.


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AST Conference, Wadi Natroun, Sept. 24-26

Launch of AST Program in Menya, Upper Egypt, Oct 1-3

In early September, we held the orientation day for new students enrolled in our undergraduate programs

Alexandria and Cairo which commenced in the two subsequent weekends respectively. Following this, ou

three day residential conference took place during the Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) public holiday in Wa

Natroun. We accepted over eighty new students between the three campuses in Alexandria, Cairo and no

Menya! We thank the Lord for the good standard and number of new students starting this academic year.

In 2009, we had a real sense, as we praye

together, that the Lord wanted AST to establish branch in Upper Egypt. The following year, for th

first time, AST started receiving students from

Menya, a city with a high concentration o

Christians in Upper Egypt. From 2011 to 2014

however, Egypt was in great turmoil and AST als

had a change of principal and implemented a mor

integrated learning approach. Because of thi

nothing happened, other than we continued to hav

more and more students from this area in Egyp

and the vision stayed in our hearts!


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Opening of AST affiliated college in the Horn of Africa

Last year, a couple who are AST students and live in Menya built rooms to take 60 people, on the land the

bought beside the north-south desert highway close to Menya, for discipleship training and prayer retreats

In March, they took the step of faith to extend the meeting hall and invited AST to begin teaching there!

Following acceptance of the proposal by the AST Board and Diocesan Synod for an initial one yea

programme of courses taught intensively, AST enrolled 27 students from cities in Upper Egypt and

launched the programme in early October with a 16 hour course on Systematic Theology. They selected

Upper Egyptian AST graduates to assist with the academic administration.

The Diocese has opened

St. Frumentius Theological

College in Gambella,

Ethiopia where there are

80 Anglican congregations

served by 16 priests!

The college will provide

training for the current

leadership, and will train

new lay and ordained

leaders to serve the

growing church in this

region.

Rev. Jeremiah, one of the

Gambella clergy and AST

BTh graduate, is a faculty

member at St. Frumentius

College.


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Praise Prayer

Give thanks for the good standard and

number of students enrolled on the BTh

program this academic year. Pray for their

academic, spiritual and missional formation.

Give thanks for the students enrolled on

the M.Div. Program. Pray for the successful

launch of this in December in cooperation

with Wycliffe College, Toronto.

Give thanks for the launch of the ASTProgram in Upper Egypt. Pray for the faculty,

students and alumni participating in this.

Give thanks for the opening of St.

Frumentius Anglican Theological College.

Pray for the full and part time students and

faculty and its dedication on November 24.

Give thanks for the funds raised to buy-out

the tenant in the flat in Alexandria. Pray for

funding needed for the extensive renovation

for this Space to Learn.

Give thanks for MEATE (Middle East

Accreditation for Theological Education).

Pray for the meeting in Turkey in early

November.

Give thanks for the AST Alumni. Pray for

the celebration in mid-November at All

Saints Cathedral, Cairo with AST students,

faculty and staff.

This December, in cooperation with Wycliffe

College (Toronto) and Trinity School for

Ministry (Pennsylvania), AST is launching a

Master of Divinity in Pastoral Studies

Program which will comprise of eight

courses studied over a two-four year period

for the primary purpose of preparing well-

trained pastoral leaders. The Program will

be taught in English and to those with a

Bachelor in Theology.

AST Family Facilities

Space to earn Project

St. Marks Pro-Cathedral, situated in the heart of

Alexandria, Egypts second largest city, has been the

home of the AST Alexandria campus since its inception in

2005.

In 2008, as AST approached its fourth intake year of

students, it was in desperate need for more classroom

and office space. This immediate and pressing need was

met by the church re-gaining possession of a small two

level flat owned by the church.

Since then, we have been praying that the other flats in

this building would be returned to the St. Marks. Last

year, St. Marks was able to raise the funds to buy out

the tenant in a 700 m2 flat on the second floor which will

provide AST with the space for the facilities it needs. This

flat is a real answer to prayer, but it requires extensive

renovation to make it useable. Please consider giving

towards this project.

Launch of AST

M.Div. in Pastoral

Studies Program

Over 150 AST Alumni

Seven cohorts o

students studying othe Bachelor i

Theology Program

have now graduated

On 13 November, w

will have

celebration with AS

alumni, students

faculty and staff a

All Saints Cathedra

Cairo.

ast newsletter, autumn 2015

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