Meet Khaled Ghobrial – TOLI’s new Chaplain in Egypt (full interview)
Can you describe for our readers what your role is with TOLI and what working with TOLI is like?
“I am the Chaplain for Egypt. This is the strategy I am hoping to implement in Egypt: to serve four circles. First circle is the Social Workers, then the leaders and volunteers in the churches in all the sites, then the pastors of the 16 churches, and finally the people who are living in poverty, the TOLI clients.
I told myself that I had to be patient in all circles. I was to start with the clients, then the Social Workers, and then later serve and train the committee members and pastors. But God was so faithful, in less than one year, I’v served the clients, Social Workers, and pastors. It’s much faster than we thought or expected. God has been so faithful and gracious.”
What is your favorite thing about the TOLI microloan program?
“My favorite thing is the wide open door. I left a church after being a pastor for 22 years. I questioned and doubted if I’d have the same circle of blessing and influence. Would God use me? Just the last time I visited Egypt, there were thousands of people. Thousands of clients and relationships with volunteers and pastors. It’s a wide open door.”
What impact have you seen the TOLI program have with your ministry?
“The impact is amazing actually. We have two wings of the ministry. We have the practical serving and washing the feet of the saints (TOLI clients) with microloans. The other wing is the spiritual aspect – the discipleship, teaching, preaching, training, and equipping of Field Staff and our Partner pastors. The impact on the sites is becoming deeper and more powerful. It’s gaining more momentum. The churches see how they are serving people in both ways, and it’s so appreciated. They appreciated the relationship so much.”
What specific successes have you seen within the past year — can you tell us about a client or two that has inspired you the most?
“For the clients, I had two visits that were so special. One family had a suicidal case and because it’s a shame culture in Egypt, when we visited the family, they were mad at the girl who committed suicide. They felt that she put them to shame in front of the whole village, ‘What have you done to make this happen?’ Eddie and I went for two and a half hours. I cannot say it’s a success, but it’s one of two visits that was so deep. We talked with them, explained Scripture, prayed with them, and opened our hearts to them. And they opened their hearts to us. They need someone to talk to.
Another visit was a woman named Mariam*. She had so many problems with her kids. The boys were violent, and it was so bad. We met with the most aggressive of the brothers, and after two and a half hours, by the grace of God and work of the Holy Spirit, we saw and felt the work of God in their hearts. The Holy Spirit touched their hearts and shifted their bad bitter attitudes to be forgiving and hopeful. It was a great visit.
These two were so great on the individual level, but I cannot forget or deny the blessing of God in the three day revival teachings in each site. God was so gracious and used my simple words very powerfully. It’s just his grace.”
*Name changed for privacy.
In what ways do you see God working in the lives of TOLI clients?
“I see as if God is working in the streets of the villages, knocking on their doors, and fulfilling the need of every family with microloans. I see God is using the Social Workers in a very powerful way to communicate with the families and talk to the people. God is using them as a channel to demonstrate his love. I am praying God will speak powerfully to the people over there and do miracles in the midst of the families of the clients.”
What is your vision for the TOLI program in your ministry in the future? How do you feel like God is leading you while working with TOLI?
“I am hoping this will be an answer to my prayers: that God will help me to establish partners with American churches. Not to just give money but to partner with them, their pastors, leaders, and congregations – so that they come and visit Egypt. I’m hoping this year to have two churches come to Egypt (not for money, but to come, serve, and visit). This partnership will take ministry to the next level.”
How can we be praying for you and your ministry?
“First, pray for the partnership with American churches to come and serve with us in the field. Second, I travel and am absent from home and family for months. I need prayer that my absence won’t affect the family in a negative way.”
Anything else you’d like to share?
“Eddie and I go to churches for fundraising visits. Each time when we go there, the people receive it very positively. Someone said, “This is a combo ministry. It serves the real needs and preaches the Gospel.” TOLI is a combo ministry. People receive it so positively – differently than any other ministry. TOLI is a special ministry that serves the poorest of the poor with microloans and discipleship. God has been so faithful and gracious.”
