Today, Archbishop Dr. Sami Fawzy, Archbishop of the Province of Alexandria of the Episcopal Anglican Church, participated in a youth ministry training program held at All Saints’ Episcopal Cathedral in Zamalek. The training was led by Rev. Canon Greg Roberts, Executive Director of Youthworks College, and Rev. Mike Dicker, Dean of the College.
Rev. Canon Greg Roberts stated:
“The Bible affirms that children and young people are an essential part of God’s people. Youth ministry seeks to foster their spiritual growth so that they become disciples of Christ who, in turn, make other disciples. This ministry is built upon a living vertical relationship with God and a loving horizontal relationship with others, while encouraging each individual to use their gifts for the building up of the Church.”
He emphasized that because the youth stage is a critical period in shaping a person’s faith, ministry to young people must be intentional, impactful, and responsive to contemporary challenges. It should guide youth toward an authentic faith rooted in the Gospel.
Rev. Roberts continued:
“Effective youth ministry is achieved through personal mentoring, creating a safe church environment, and providing meaningful opportunities for participation and service. Spiritual growth is a lifelong process that varies according to different stages of life and requires appropriate care at each stage. The Gospel should influence the mind, emotions, and behavior alike, enabling young people to live out their faith in everyday life, mature spiritually, and participate in making new disciples.”
Rev. Mike Dicker, Dean of Youthworks College, also addressed the participants, saying:
“The Gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. God chooses to use ordinary people to carry this message despite their weaknesses, because the essence of the Gospel is not human ability but God’s power working through them. Therefore, ministry does not depend on charisma or personality, but on faithfulness to the message and genuine relationships with people.”
He explained that youth ministry is founded on authentic and meaningful relationships that point young people toward Christ and demonstrate the practical impact of the Gospel in every area of life, caring for individuals both spiritually and practically.
Rev. Dicker added:
“The Church is also called to reach those who have not yet heard the message of the Gospel and to equip younger generations to become disciples who make disciples. Young people are not merely the future of the Church—they are Christ’s disciples today and the leaders of tomorrow.”
He stressed the importance of maintaining a balance between caring for those already within the Church and reaching out to those outside it, while training young people to live out their faith with integrity and authenticity.
He concluded by noting that youth ministry extends beyond young people themselves to include their families, since faith is lived out within a loving community that embraces and supports the entire family.