The London School of Orthodox Christian Studies is often contacted by potential students from Egypt, Ethiopia, and even from Western countries, who would benefit from taking part in our Orthodox Education programme but cannot afford the course fee. Thanks to the generosity of several supporters we have been able to provide 6 sponsored enrollments, and a number of partial sponsorships to such students.
But we have many more, especially from Egypt and Ethiopia, who have asked for sponsorship. We would like to be able to offer 25 completely free places to Egyptian and Ethiopian students, but we need your support. Please visit our sponsorship page and consider making a partial or complete contribution to a disadvantaged students fees. All sponsorship funds will be used immediately to enable students to join our programmes.
http://www.lsocs.co.uk/sponsor.php
Comments
It is a wonderful idea, and a wonderful academic service.
You are something else!
I will take advantage of the opportunity for this blessing and will be able to extend for five of the 25 spots. I put out the challenge to others on this site to carry forward for the overall good of the Church. For the many who have stated fervently their hopes for the Church, this is a way to help the overall advancement. Through knowledge of Our Lord, we become the Church, and through the Church we will find salvation.
Father: a big kiss to your sweet fatherly cheek.
I am hoping that allowing students from Egypt to participate in the studies might give a sense of hope and looking forward to the future in the middle of very difficult circumstances. If I can find support for 25 of these potential Coptic and other disadvantaged students then it will be a start and perhaps more could be included in the future.
God bless you very much indeed
Father Peter
The number is down to 20.
I am aware that there is not a lot I can do for Orthodox brothers and sisters in the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt, but opening up the programme of studies as a gift is perhaps one way I can be involved, and others as well by supporting these students.
I now have an agent organisation in place in Egypt who will help me organise Coptic students in Egypt through the process of registration etc.
Do consider sharing this opportunity with your congregation and priests.
I have established an agency in Egypt with a reputable Orthodox publishing and education organisation who are helping to ensure that those who will benefit are able to take part.
Do please ask your priest and senior deacons if they would like to support this project.
I've not heard if any Coptic congregations would be willing to even part sponsor an Egyptian student, so do please ask at Church if this would be possible.
God bless
I do want to press on with the project because I am in touch with prospective students who do have good enough English to benefit, even if with additional support, and who just cannot afford any fee because of their circumstances. It does seem to me to be one thing that I can do, where I can do so little for brethren in Egypt.
I am wondering if I should approach non-Coptic organisations and charities instead, perhaps Anglican and Catholic ones here in the UK, to see if this sort of program fits into any of their development profiles? I am aware of several non-Orthodox agencies that do support the Church in the Middle East quite significantly. Does anyone have any experience of approaching such charities with projects?
Have I misunderstood something?
I am certainly in touch with English speaking Egyptians who cannot afford to live, let alone study, and for whom this opportunity is a welcome one. But it seems that hardly any one else thinks so?
I have a publishing and educational organisation in Egypt which is also very supportive of the idea and is about to become an agent of the LSOCS. They also believe there is a need.
I have many people who have LIKED the idea on Facebook, but it seems that no-one wants to take it further. I am not sure that anyone has spoken to anyone in their congregations, or elsewhere. I had thought that Copts would be very keen to support Copts, and it is a little confusing after having the generous support here of one who's judgement I trust completely it seems that not many other share his opinion about the project?
I don't post this as a criticism, but because it is confusing. I can understand that Copts might want to primarily support other Copts, especially at this time, and from the number of likes etc and even messages of support, it seems that people think it a good idea. But there is no real support, which is confusing? I cannot easily support Copts in Egypt in any other way than this at present. What am I missing?
I believe that this is confirmation that this project is according to God's will.
Glory to God in his servants.
More support is needed.
My immediate response would be that it would be strange that people would commit so much time and effort to gaining an education about things which are not of eternal value, and would not seek to become well educated in matters that have eternal consequences and are to do with our faith. Clearly we all believe in education, it is therefore a matter of asking why gaining an increasing education in the matters of our Faith could be neglected.
I believe very strongly that gaining such an increasing education in our Faith is something that we should be committed to throughout our life and it is something that I am still engaged in myself.
I don't know if anyone here has mentioned this project to anyone? It would be helpful if you did. Please ask your priests and deacons to consider supporting this project.
The London School of Orthodox Christan Studies is pleased to announce that it has entered into a official Agency agreement with Panarion Company in Cairo, who will help the registration of Egyptian students, and manage the dispersement of partial and full sponsorship places.
Panarion Company
47, Cleopatra st., Salah El-Din Square.
Horus Centre 2nd Floor
Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt.
Telefax: +2 02 24143106
Mobile: 002 012222 55 383
email: [email protected]
www.lsocs.co.uk/sponsor.php?1
If you cannot, will you speak today to someone who could?
The Sponsor a Coptic Student project is seeking to raise sponsor funds to allow Coptic Orthodox in Egypt to join the online, distance learning courses of the London School of Orthodox Christian Studies at a much reduced cost, or even in some cases to cover all of the costs.
The London School of Orthodox Christian Studies is often contacted by potential students from Egypt, Ethiopia, and even from Western countries, who would benefit from taking part in our online Orthodox Education programme but cannot afford the course fee. Thanks to the generosity of several supporters we have been able to provide 13 sponsored enrollments, and a number of partial sponsorships to such students.
But we have many more, especially from Egypt and Ethiopia, who have asked for sponsorship. We would like to be able to offer 50 completely free places to Egyptian and Ethiopian students, but we need your support. Please visit our sponsorship page and consider making a partial or complete contribution to a disadvantaged students fees. All sponsorship funds will be used immediately to enable students to join our programmes.
Will you ask your friends and family, priest and congregation if they are interested in sponsoring an Egyptian student? It will just take a moment, but will make a great difference to one of our sponsored students. Will YOU consider making even a partial spnsorship, or taking up one of our courses yourself.
All those able to support an Egyptian Christian in taking up these studies will receive a free ebook copy of my volume of collected papers , 'Orthodox Christology'.
http://www.lsocs.co.uk/sponsor.php?1
Has anyone spoken to anyone about this? Even if they are unable to participate themselves? Has anyone spoken to their priest or senior deacons?
I guess I am confused at the lack of support, especially when the project is directed towards helping those in Egypt who are members of our own Church?
Do please consider if you can make a small donation, or can share this project with family, friends and clergy to raise the complete funds required.
There is more information, and a means of making a donation at:
www.lsocs.co.uk/sponsor.php
Many Copts, not all of them of course, but the vast majority of them, go to church for a social club. They outwardly act like they are Orthodoxy but are vehemently opposed to anyone, especially converts, who attempt to make a difference. Getting a Copt to donate money is like pulling teeth. Actually just getting them to care or even listen would be a win! If you were a bishop they would give you tons of money so they can look good. Seriously, these people treat the church like a bath house sometimes, just a place to go. And they are always late, but when there is a bishop, they put on their best clothes and best perfumes and come early and then the devout people have no place to sit so the copts can all look good for their bishop. Because we all know thats how you get into heaven right, impressing a bishop.
They don't stop and think, you receive the body and blood of CHRIST! Yet you show up on time whenever there is a bishop. I hate to tell you Abouna but converts are not welcome in the Coptic church, not one bit. As wonderful as this school is and as much as I have learned from it, the copts don't care. If you made some kind of chat room where they can get together and pat themselves on the back for being coptic, then I think you would have tons of supporters but realistically its not going to happen. Copts are spiritually lazy, leaving us scratching our heads. If it were not for great Popes like Pope Kyrillos the 6th, what would you people even have?
Sorry but its the truth, just blatantly ungrateful people who are clearly not welcoming to converts, yet they blast protestant music all over CYC in a cheap attempt to whore themselves to protestants to say "hey we are cool, we are hip". Its really a cruel joke for us Abouna. It saddens me, the amount of work you have done and nobody seems to care, its no wonder I never see visitors come back to our church. Its no wonder people go to the EO. I mean essentially we are pushed off to the side and ostracized for being non-egyptian.
I expect a bit of criticism from this post, go ahead. Can you really deny the facts of the above said statements?
Unfortunately, I cannot find a flaw in anything you have written.
Unfortunately, you are correct.
Unfortunately, I have to echo everything you said.