Hello everyone!
There are many of our coptic brothers and sisters who are straying from our God, especially youth. I understand that some are on tasbeha and have followed atheism and other attempts to try to show that God does not exist. There have been countless arguments trying to prove each perspective. Due to the nature of the age of this occurrence, I believe that it is most effective for Coptic youths to share their faith from experience in their lives because we do not only know God but we experience Him in every step of our lives. Would we be able to form something to serve our brothers and sisters in our Lord to return to Him, and share with them not only the faith but our proof for our faith which exceeds all logic and our limited minds?
God bless.
Comments
There are two aspects of your suggestions that are not going to work:
1.) Focusing on those who left directly --
In my experience, it is very likely a family issue which creates children to leave the church. It is largly based on a lack of theological and dogmatic understanding from parents. My wife's cousin married a wonderful man, and they got married in a secular ceremony, and they live with kind of an Eastern/Hindu Spiritual view of God. The reason she (my wife's cousin) left was because it was forced on her to attend church. Her parents used fear to make her come to church.
This example shows that such an all encompassing program is difficult because it is based on individual situations.
I suggest we improve adults understanding of the church. I've noticed an ethnic right of passage to learn about the church and God, rather than a comprehensive understanding of the Coptic church and Oriental Orthodoxy with many families.
By starting with new parents, and even older parents, we can improve things at the source, rather than running after people and telling them they're wrong. This strategy could help to significantly change how families interacts with those who left the faith, and would be a far more prudent step towards creating an improved personal relationship.
2.) Modern doesn't always mean better --
These forums are wonderful. But, they don't teach the primal and deep aspects of our church. Seeing things helps. Seeing how others treat one another, and being accepting and patient with others is the only way to get Cradle Copts back to the church, and to grow converts through missionary work.
Perhaps creating groups of Sunday school teachers and Deacons would be a good step to coordinate and communicate with each other about experiences, suggestions and input?
I agree that modern isn’t necessarily better it’s just a method to reach them at first because they do not want to conform to the “old school method.” However, the Coptic Church is rich with the ancient traditions and that should not be lost in any of the steps on the path. Patients is definitely needed for this process.
God bless.
“Patience” will be needed for this process.
I’m sure that “Patients” will also be needed for this process though. ;) ;)
Haha ya I meant patience, thanks for catching that! I guess patients would be needed too. May God give us patience for this service.
May God Bless your kind heart that cares about His lost children
What do you think?
The bishop is coming to my church next week so I will share with his grace what we have so far.
If anyone would like to share with their bishops this work, it would be a blessing so that more areas are aware and not just a diocese. God bless this work!
Pray for the service.