How can I change others ?

Remember the skit the kids have been preparing for a while now ? One day the kids left without cleaning up. Erini was left alone to clean everything. Michael, the teacher, noticed she was upset. She explained to him that no one is there to help her and it will take way too long.

Michael told her that the best way to change someone is to lead by example. The Bible teaches us in 1Timothy 4:12 : “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”

But Erini still didn’t understand how leading by example would make anyone change. So Michael decided to tell her the story about Pope Kyrollos IV. Do you know his story ?

He was born in a small city called Ekhmeem. He learned Arabic and Coptic at a young age. When he was 22 he left home to go to the Monestery of St. Antony. He was ordained as a monk by the name David. He liked reading and studying the Bible and he would sit with the other monks and explain it to them.

When Pope Peter VII heard about his righteousness, he ordained him as a priest. When the abbot of the monastery departed, all the monks chose him to become the abbot of the monastery. He did things differently than the others. He put lots of attention on education. He made a class for the kids of the villages teach them Arabic and Coptic.

After the departure of Pope Peter father David was ordained General Metropolitan because he loved and served everyone. He was the 110th Patriarch. He continued to give special attention to education. He built a Coptic School that had students from all religions.

As Pope he worked really hard to take care of the people in Egypt. Here are a few things he changed : 1) He completed the building of a second school. He offered the students free education so education became affordable to everyone. 2) He instituted 12 schools in total. Pope Kyrollos IV was the first one to institute schools for girls. He introduced the idea of equality between man and woman.

3) Pope Kyrollos IV realized the need of a print shop to print schoolbooks and Christian books for the Church instead of the handwritten ones. He bought a printer from Italy. This was the second print shop in Egypt. 4) He gave special attention to the building of new Churches and the reconstruction of the old ones.

5) He played an important role in the reconciliation between Egypt and Ethiopia at that time. He made peace between the two countries.

This is why he was called THE FATHER OF REFORM. He died at a young age. He was 46 years old.

Now what can I do ? I have to show people what it means to be a true Christian. I can’t just tell them what to do. I need to show them how to; Be friendly with everyone, Share with others, Love everyone, Take care of those who need me, Help anyone that asks, And of course always obey my parents.

Questions True or false Pope Kyrollos was born in a small city called Ekhmeem. He didn’t go to the monestary until he got old. He didn’t really liked reading and studying the Bible. He made a class for the kids of the villages teach them Arabic and Coptic.

He got tired and stopped giving as much attention to the building of new Churches and the reconstruction of the old ones. He was the 111th Patriarch. He introduced the idea of equality between man and woman. People called him “The father of reform”.

“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind” Romans 12:2