Middle Eastern Presbyterian Fellowship

The Middle Eastern Presbyterian Fellowship (MEPF) is an Arabic-speaking fellowship dating to Aug. 15, 2008, that welcomes all Arabic-speaking worshipers in Tucson, Arizona. So far there are the following nationalities: Syrian, Lebanese, Iraqi, Palestinian, and Egyptian.

The MEPF is a ministry of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) through Presbytery de Cristo. Northminster Presbyterian Church in Tucson offers meeting space for worship and education, housing, and also provides support for the fellowship.

The MEPF is an outreach ministry that teaches and ministers in the name of Jesus Christ within the Tucson area and introduces the Christian Reformed Faith within the Arabic-speaking and Middle Eastern community.

There are people among us who have been here since the founding of this church and are still supporting this ministry. Some have left searching for a better opportunity, discovered a better place with their families, or found jobs elsewhere in the U.S.

The church received 39 families from all over the Middle East during those 14 years. We are proud that among us today are two new families, Palestinian and Egyptian. Out of the 39, about 18 decided to go to other communities. Some are still here and changed the church, and some families came back to live in our midst. Some are active members and making history with the church. All are welcomed, embraced, and loved.

For 14 years, our church was trying to build partnerships with all the churches around, and especially of the presbytery. We succeeded with some and are still trying with others. The organizing pastor answers the call of every inviting church to preach at any time. Some churches asked for a teaching session about Christianity in the Middle East; some about Islam. We responded to both teachings, and will for future needs.

Through 14 years, we worked very hard to resemble and follow our motto: We Care, we Share, and we Dare. Many times we achieved our goals; other times we failed. Through our very small budget, we tried to help every family with all what we had, regardless of religion, ethnicity, or family. We kept welcoming strangers and care for every one of them. We kept our doors open to all, and still do the same with everyone.

Through the 14 years we studied the Bible. We studied the Psalms and Proverbs, we studied the Gospel of John, Romans, Ephesians, Galatians, Hebrews, Thessalonians, Revelation, and more. Recently we have studied the Old Testament prophets and Kings, Psalms, Proverbs, and the Beatitudes in Matthew 5.

Through all the 14 years, we had the Identity crisis. Who are we? Is Christ in this church? Is this our church? Are we a legal church? Why don’t we join another church? Are we able to sustain ourselves financially? Shall I give to this church or take from it to give to another?

This church is a teenager in years, but has a huge and warm heart of giving. Everyone of this church loves so much. This young church had embraced all because our church believes that the heart she has is not hers, but the Lord’s, who loves her. Our church is in God’s heart, also. The hearts of its people love limitlessly, and though our church is poor in resources, her reputation is all over the state and even beyond now.

The first 14 years of the life of any church focuses on formation, basics, and foundation. There are many landmines, exaggerations, and lack of clarity or identity to be overcome. There is no doubt that we grew spiritually and culturally together with the new steering committee.

The pastor hopes with the new committee to have courageous people to say “I am here,” to learn how to love and how to study and how to witness to others about what the Lord has done. The pastor hopes with the new committee that the sister churches will keep supporting our young, special, vital, and embracing ministry to keep going and ministering to Tucson and the surrounding needs of immigrants. Today is a new beginning of the next 14 years of our lives together. We are all invited to be more serious about our faith, our commitment to Christ, and our commitment to our church.

We mustn’t forget to thank Northminster Presbyterian Church for its generosity to offer the worship place and the living spot for the pastor and his family and the office from which all operations are made. Moreover, we thank the presbytery and all churches of the Presbytery: Mountain Shadows, St. Andrews, Green Valley, Safford, Immanuel, Christ, and Tortolita, who prayed for our church and supported our mission to keep witnessing to the love of our Lord and Savior who gave us his everlasting peace. Special thanks for those who have kept MEPF going when the pastor was on his vacation, Pastor Nuhad Tomeh, Elder Kamal Abdul Karim, and the steering committee with brothers Nael and Sarmad with Amal Khawam. We also give big thanks to the women’s committee and other ladies who made the food and are the backbone of hospitality and support in this church.

Rev. Georges Bitar
Organizing Pastor – MEPF

About Magdy Girgis

The Rev. Dr. Magdy B. Girgis serves as the part-time field staff for Middle Eastern Ministries. His responsibilities include working in partnership with mid councils to develop and grow Middle Eastern new worshiping communities and their leadership. In addition, he identifies social justice inequities and acts as a bridge for dialogue, promoting educational and cultural understanding of Middle Eastern issues in partnership with the National Middle Eastern Presbyterian Caucus and other groups. Magdy is a board-certified chaplain at Vitas Hospice Care in California. In addition to English, Magdy speaks his native language, Arabic.

Magdy brings to this position the characteristics of leadership development, communication skills, partnership, wide and diverse administrative experiences, and proficiency in various fund-development efforts. He is committed to understanding the goal of igniting the movement to grow 1,001 new worshiping communities “by investing a good time of my life in leading missions and developing local evangelism, which is what my life is centered around because it is my passion.”