Sharing the Gospel with Two Hands
Teresa Subhi lives in Moharam Bek with her mother and two brothers. Life has not been easy for her. Along with the daily realities of caring for her health while living with Down syndrome, Teresa has struggled with delayed speech, difficulty pronouncing words, and forming clear sentences. These challenges often left her feeling isolated and made family life more demanding. Yet even with these obstacles, Teresa carried a quiet determination to grow, connect, and find her voice.
CBM, through its global staff member Emad Botros, has been serving in Egypt over the past three years. Part of Emad’s ministry is strengthening church health and growth by helping local congregations discover the God-given opportunities right in their neighbourhoods. One such opportunity came to life in Alexandria, where Emad encouraged Green Evangelical Baptist Church to take a faithful step toward serving people with disabilities more intentionally. “The church has a heart to serve people with disabilities,” Emad shares. “They have been welcoming this group for many years, but now we are encouraging them to take a step of faith to serve even more diligently.”
The church has long had a heart for people with disabilities. For many years, they welcomed and supported families in their community. Recently, this welcome deepened as they launched the Green Skills Development Centre, a space designed to help participants build communication abilities and life skills. At the centre, Teresa found a place of belonging and growth. Through consistent support and training, she slowly began to gain confidence and a greater sense of independence. “I love coming here,” she shared with a smile. “It makes me happy to learn new things and practise the skills that help me in my daily life.” Teresa’s mother echoes this hope: “We dream that one day Teresa will be able to rely on herself fully, to live with confidence and independence.”
The transformation in Teresa’s life is echoed in her community. The Green Skills Development Centre has become a testimony to what faithful ministry can look like, serving as a model of “the Gospel with two hands.” One hand shares the Good News of Jesus Christ, and the other offers tangible love and support to those in need. Today, Teresa is learning, growing, and feeling included. She is no longer standing on the margins but is part of a community where she is seen, valued, and encouraged to flourish. In her journey, we catch a glimpse of God’s Kingdom taking root in everyday life in Alexandria.
Teresa Subhi lives in Moharam Bek with her mother and two brothers. Life has not been easy for her. Living with Down syndrome, she has faced challenges such as delayed speech, difficulty pronouncing words, and forming clear sentences. These struggles often left her feeling isolated and made daily family life more demanding. Yet even with these obstacles, Teresa has carried a quiet determination to grow, connect, and find her voice.
Her journey toward confidence began when the Green Evangelical Baptist Church in Alexandria expanded its long-standing ministry to people with disabilities. Supported through CBM’s work in Egypt, global staff member Emad Botros had been encouraging the congregation to recognize the God-given opportunities in their neighbourhood. Their desire to serve families like Teresa’s was already present. What they needed was the encouragement and guidance to take a deeper step of faith.
That step became the Green Skills Development Centre, a new space created to help participants build communication abilities and life skills. For Teresa, it became a place where she could discover her strengths. Through patient support and consistent training, she began improving her speech, growing in independence, and building meaningful relationships. “I love coming here,” she shared with a smile. “It makes me happy to learn new things and practice skills that help me in my daily life.”
Her mother sees the difference, too. “We dream that one day Teresa will be able to rely on herself fully, to live with confidence and independence,” she said. The centre has made that dream feel closer.
Teresa’s progress has become a powerful reminder to her church community that ministry is lived with both words and actions. As she learns, grows, and becomes more confident, the Green Skills Development Centre stands as a testimony to what it means to share “the Gospel with two hands.” One hand proclaims the Good News of Jesus Christ, and the other offers tangible love and support to those in need.
Today, Teresa is no longer standing on the margins. She is part of a community that sees her, values her, and celebrates her growth. Through her story, we glimpse God’s Kingdom taking root in everyday life in Alexandria.
