My name is Joseph Louis. I grew up in upper Egypt in a faithful Christian family that taught me faith since my childhood. I was blessed with amazing parents who reflected God’s love and His true image. My local Church, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Ayoub, had a significant role in shaping my faith, knowing God, encouraging me, and discovering God’s call to my life. Early on during my university study, I realized God’s voice in my life to be a pastor.
God confirmed his call to pastoral ministry when I was accepted into the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo (ETSC) to study the M.Div. program in 2012. For me, ETSC is one of the most important stations in my life. It helped me think critically about the ideas and concepts about God and Christian life, in general, to strengthen my faith and confirm God’s call. One of the great principles I learned from ETSC is that learning and spiritual formation are lifetime journeys. I need to be humble before the grace of God and always acknowledge my limits and the need to deepen my relationship with God and myself.
On August 1, 2021. ETSC invited me to join the seminary faculty as a full-time teaching assistant in pastoral care and counseling. It was a massive shift for me to move from pastoral ministry to the academic field. It has been a big responsibility to be in one of the Middle East’s ancient theological institutions since 1863, with more than 500 hundred students currently studying in different programs. It’s a great honor to play a role in preparing the future leaders of the Church.
