Florida Man Gives Presbyterian Church $1 Million for Mission Work in Egypt

(PHOTO: PCUSA)
The Presbyterian Center, a building belonging to Presbyterian Church (USA) and located in Louisville, Kentucky.

A Florida man has given a large donation to the global missions arm of the largest Presbyterian denomination in the country.

Jim Davis, member of the Miami Shores Presbyterian Church, gave $1 million to Presbyterian World Mission to support mission work in Egypt.

"Half of the gift will be used to help the Egyptian church construct new churches in underserved areas," said Kathy Melvin, director of mission communications with the Presbyterian Mission Agency, to The Christian Post on Friday.

"The other half will provide context sensitive theological education to train leaders for these new congregations and support the teaching ministries of Presbyterian mission workers teaching at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo."

Hunter Farrell, director of World Mission, said in a statement provided to CP that Davis' donation is crucial to the organization's missional efforts.

"We praise God and are deeply grateful for this visionary and generous gift from Davis that allows us to grow the Christian church in Egypt," said Farrell.

"Without a leadership gift like this, Presbyterian World Mission would be unable to respond to this unprecedented opportunity."

Presbyterian missionaries have a long history in Egypt, dating back to the 19th century with the founding of various churches and schools, including the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo in 1854.

Reportedly the largest Protestant denomination in the Middle East, the recent political upheavals in Egypt have had mixed results for the Presbyterian Church, according to Melvin.

"Since the events of the 18-day revolution that began in Egypt on Jan. 25, 2011, the national manifestation of what is popularly known as "the Arab Spring," there has been a new era of openness in the country which has permitted church growth, even as there is also increased insecurity in many places," said Melvin.

"Our church's commitment to the Synod of the Nile continues in both good times and in more difficult times. We have seven mission co-workers assigned to Egypt, numerous projects in theological education, evangelism, health and education, and a large number of PC(USA) congregations that engage in on-going relationships with our Egyptian partner church."

BY MICHAEL GRYBOSKI , CHRISTIAN POST REPORTER