GIRGIS, Girgis Mikhael, Rev (1927-2014)
Assembly memorial minute, 2014
Girgis Mikhael Girgis was born in 1927 in Upper Egypt, raised in a Christian home, as the 6th child of 10 siblings. Girgis gained a tertiary qualification and qualified as an English teacher; and, after graduation, was assigned to teach in country schools through Upper Egypt, using this opportunity to preach and teach in local country churches.
He moved to Alexandria in early 1950s and married Lily in 1958. Girgis and Lily travelled on an education exchange program as a teacher in Sudan in 1963 to 1967 where he also joined and ministered in the church there with the Lord helping them to be fruitful. Having moved then to Cairo in 1971, Girgis joined the Heliopolis Presbyterian Church where he continued his ministry among the youth and as an Elder in the church. He then completed a degree in theology while working full time as a teacher and a school vice-principal of a large school of 3000 children.
At the relatively young age of 54, he retired as a teacher to enter a ministry of God as a full time missionary amongst the rubbish collectors in the slums of Cairo.
So, after a lifetime of ministry as an Elder, preacher, minister, missionary within the Presbyterian Church in Egypt, this retired gentleman migrated to Australia with his family to commence a new ministry here with us, from 1984.
Girgis began his Australian Presbyterian ministry by running a Milk Bar business, during which he reached out to every customer who entered his door, touching many lives, and was also very active in the ministry of Arabic Evangelical Church.
Rev Girgis Girgis led the Arabic speaking congregation from 1985 to 1996 and was finally recognised as a minister within the PCA during the meetings of the 1997 General Assembly of Australia.
Girgis was a quiet gentleman, hardworking, gracious and always willing to minster to those who needed him. He loved God and God’s Word and poured out himself for all – for the church as a whole and yet also on personal and individual levels. He
always looked for ways to build the church and build up others around him. Encouraging new minsters arriving, seeking how to plant new congregations - instilling the hope we find in Christ in those around him.
The message that Girgis loved to preach is that of reconciliation – reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ the Son and also with each other. He was one of those of whom Paul spoke in Corinthians: “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors … We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be
reconciled to God.”
Rev Girgis Girgis, died – full of faith – in July 2014, aged 87 years.
Gender
- Male