Steven Messeh is a young man who belongs to an ancient faith. The 26-year-old Egyptian Coptic Christian traces his church’s beginnings to A.D. 43. Born and raised in Tysons Corner, Messeh graduated from George Washington University and now works as a financial analyst for Deloitte & Touche. A son of Egyptian immigrants and a member of St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in Fairfax since he was a child, Messeh has been standing up for his faith in new ways lately, speaking at local churches and conferences to educate young people on persecution of Coptic Christians under the new Egyptian government, including the brutal attacks of Oct. 9. Is it odd to be a young professional practicing such an ancient faith, in many ways unchanged for thousands of years?
It’s not odd; it’s only odd when those traditions and practices are without understanding. These traditions are biblically rooted and allow us to live our faith and experience God in a deep way. And the thing about the church is there is such a sense of community and such a sense of a living church. It’s not ancient and traditional in the sense that it is a very cold church. The community at St. Mark’s is so warm, and there’s so many young professionals, and it’s such a welcoming community, and everyone really supports one another. It’s amazing when you’re really able to get rooted in the traditions. They help us achieve a real depth to our relationship and worship of God in a way modern churches cannot grasp.
What do you make of the most recent violence in Egypt? Has the revolution failed?
After the revolution happened in January and after the ousting of Mubarak, Christians and Muslims were together. They were chanting, “We are one,” hand in hand, there was this spirit of oneness and unity. The hope was through the roof. In the past nine months we’ve seen nine months of church burnings and other attacks, and with every passing attack there was this sense of fear and instability and this sense that the revolution was being hijacked by something. And I think we’re at the point now there’s uncertainty on the ground. Copts are uncertain whether they have a place in the new Egypt, whether they have a place or whether it will be the status quo of second-class citizens in the land. I think the recent activity has shown cause for concern. But, of course, what you’ll see in Egypt is that with every attack the church is strengthened. The hope in democracy may be waning, but the hope in Christ is strengthened.
How did you become so vocal in defense of Copts in Egypt?
I always knew of the persecution in Egypt, but I didn’t really care. Growing up we always heard of persecution. I sympathized, but never empathized with it. Until a year and a half ago, on New Year’s Eve, my wife and I were going into a church service, and we ran into Father Bishoy, and he was just frantic. He informed us of the attack in Alexandria. And I think that moment kind of triggered something in me. And the more I’ve learned about it, the more I’ve realized these people don’t have a voice and we need to stand up for them.
What can Copts in America really do to help, when the violence is so far away?
I think there’s a couple of things we can do. First, basically a show of unity between Copts here and Copts over there. I think a lot of times Copts there think people have left the country and forgotten about them. Last week in the demonstration in front of the White House, Copts in Egypt saw thousands of Coptic Christians standing up for them, saying “We’re with you; we care about you.”
And the second thing is because of Egypt’s unique position in the world, because of Egypt’s unique relationship with the United States, I think it’s important that we stand up and really lobby the policymakers here in D.C. In a country that outside of Iraq and Israel is the next biggest country given military aid — nearly $1.3 billion in aid — we need to make sure the government is upholding human rights and being held accountable for their actions.
Egypt is such a critical country in such a volatile region. Egypt is really the bellwether of the Middle East. As Egypt goes, so goes the Middle East. And it’s important for this country to see that.
At your core, what is one of your defining beliefs?
One of my defining beliefs is that God has an amazing plan for each person, and he’s waiting with arms wide open to fulfill that plan. He’s asked nothing of me but to accept that plan and to be willing to be used by him for great things. And that’s the best place anyone could find themselves in — to be used for God’s kingdom and his glory.
– Liz Essley
