FINDING REST IN EGYPT

Mafico Leadership Renewal Institute

(MLRI)

Rest and Renewal #3

    The Mafico Institute’s goal is to teach some and remind others about striking a balance between work and rest to remain rejuvenated to do ministry without stress and burnout. The best way to achieve complete rest is by going to the other side to rest awhile (Mark 6:31). The Mafico Leadership Renewal Institute (MLRI) pilgrimage for pastoral renewal have consistently proved effective for impacting participants with rest and spiritual renewal.

    In 2019, twenty-seven pilgrims who participated in the MLRI pilgrimage in Egypt unanimously rated it as having “exceeded expectations.” The group bonded by attending several Zoom training sessions prior to the pilgrimage. That enabled the participants to experience the pilgrimage as a grand vacation enhanced by cruising on the Nile, visiting ancient Egyptian temples, seeing the towering pyramids and the Sphinx at Giza, marveling at the Valley of the Kings, walking through the Egyptian Museum, seeing the treasures of Tutankhamun, sailing to  the Nubian village, and so much more. This spiritual experience was educational, inspirational, and awe inspiring. Our tour guide, Mr. Mohamed Abd Aziz, with expertise in Egyptology and Biblical Archaeology, read some Egyptian texts

written in hieroglyphics that related to the Old Testament. At the end of the pilgrimage, the cohort of pastors, lay members, and scholars returned feeling refreshed and determined to further the Africentric perspective of Egypt as

Kemet and its contribution to the Hebrew Bible, Christianity, and to world civilizations.

     Life is wearisome. But doing ministry is even more draining because pastors pour their energies on helping others. Jesus felt weary after a hemorrhaging woman touched him. Ecclesiastes states it succinctly: “All things are wearisome, more than one can express” (Eccl 1:8a)” Therefore, one must regularly retreat from routine (ministry,

church, research, and teaching to enjoy life in its natural fullness.

     Our pilgrimage to Ghana on May 18-27, 2023, was very successful. The hotels and itinerary the goals and

objectives of the MLRI, i.e. to enable participants to rest, rejuvenate, and achieve spiritual renewal. The five-star Labadi Beach Hotel enabled participants to balance sightseeing and complete rest, basking on the sands of the Atlantic Ocean. The participants reported feeling much better from aliments such as

diabetes and hypertensions. More pilgrimages are planned for 2024. 

• The Ghana Pilgrimage (May 16-25, 2024). Click here for the itinerary and Form for registration. Click Donate and designate your payment to the pilgrimage you wish to participate in.
• The South Africa pilgrimage is on September 18-27, 2024. The beauty and enjoyment of this pilgrimage is identical to the Egypt and Ghana experiences. We will visit Cape Town and ride the gondolas to the top of Table Mountain, sail to Robben Island to visit the goal where Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in confinement. Then we fly to Johannesburg to tour Soweto, Mandela’s home, Apartheid Museum and much more. We will also visit the zoo to see the big 5 and the small ones.  ·   
• Learning Hebrew the Easy Way. Detailed information is coming soon.

Themba Mafico, President and CEO

Mafico Leadership Renewal Institute