Source: ASSIST News Service, May 22, 2015
Unlike Mother Teresa, who came from poverty and took a vow of poverty, Mama Maggie came from wealth. And during an encounter when she was a successful marketing executive, connected with a child in the garbage slums—a famous district of Cairo that has been mostly neglected.
She eventually gave up her marketing career and started a ministry called Stephen’s Children.
“Many times when the kids are asked what do you want to do when you grow up, they’ve really never thought that far in advance. And some of the kids, can you believe, have never been called by their name by anyone,” [author Marty] Makary said.
Mama Maggie’s ministry teaches the children a trade like shoe and clothing manufacturing—marketable skills for earning money and serving others, whether in the garbage slums, or elsewhere.
Makary said they’re not talking about getting out of the garbage district.
“They’re talking about serving the garbage district. And sure enough, a good number of the full time staff were kids in the ministry themselves, have graduated and want to give back,” he explained. “I’ve met doctors in the clinics over there and they’re working for almost no money.”
» Read full story. Note that seven of the 21 Egyptian Christians killed by ISIS in Libya last February were involved with Mama Maggie’s ministry. See Makary’s book, Mama Maggie: The Untold Story of One Woman’s Mission to Love the Forgotten Children of Egypt’s Garbage Slums.
» See also Retirees Volunteer, Impact World for Christ (IMB Commission Stories).