Mission trip leads to 360 professions of faith in Egypt
Victoria Richards, youth director at Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church, recently returned from a 12-day mission trip to Northern Egypt, where she joined a team of volunteers sharing the gospel in one of the world’s restricted nations.
“I’ve always had a passion for unreached people,” Richards said, “especially those who have never heard the gospel before. When the opportunity came up to join a trip to northern Africa, I knew I had to say yes.”
The trip, organized by International Commission, included a team of 15 Americans who partnered with six local churches. Because Egypt is a Muslim-majority country with laws limiting religious conversion efforts, the exact location and names of contacts have been withheld for safety. Still, Richards described the atmosphere as one of powerful faith, even under scrutiny.
“We had to be cautious about what we said and where we said it,” she explained. “It’s a restricted nation. The churches we worked with weren’t even technically allowed to invite us—but they did. The pastors and members took a risk to spread hope in their communities.”
Richards and her group conducted home visits each evening, adjusting to the local culture’s nighttime lifestyle. “Our days didn’t start until about 4 p.m., and we were often out very late or into the early morning hours,” she said. “We visited two to five homes each night, sharing the gospel and encouraging believers.”
Her team alone saw over 1,050 people hear the message of Christ, with more than 360 making professions of faith during the four days of ministry. “That’s what made it all worth it,” Richards said. “We were planting seeds, and in many cases, we got to see the fruit right then and there.”
Though she never felt unsafe herself, Richards acknowledged that the stakes were higher for the local pastors and interpreters. “The worst that could have happened to us is being sent home,” she said. “But we didn’t know what might happen to the people there if we were caught. That’s why we were so careful.”
Richards, who joined MMPC in January, credits an earlier mission trip to Belize in reigniting her desire for global ministry. That trip, facilitated by mission leader DeAnne Fitts, led to this most recent opportunity. “DeAnne was the one who called and asked if I’d be interested in going to Africa. I didn’t even hesitate.”
At the end of the trip, Richards and part of the team traveled to Luxor, where they visited the Karnak and Luxor temples, the Valley of the Kings, and sailed the Nile River. “It was a beautiful way to wrap up the experience,” she said. “But what stuck with me the most was how kind and welcoming everyone was. A lot of people had never seen white Americans before. They were mesmerized.”
She remains in close contact with her local interpreters and others from the church. “They took such good care of us,” she said. “They introduced us to their favorite street vendors and showed us what life was like for them. I’ll definitely be staying in touch.”
When asked what she would tell others considering mission work in restricted places, Richards didn’t hesitate. “If God puts it on your heart, go. Don’t let fear stop you. He’ll take care of you.”
To learn more about the International Commission and its mission work, visit internationalcommission.org.
