Egyptian Coptic Christian Reaches Outside the Church with 168 Film

In light of the recent terrorist attacks on Christians in Egypt, we are encouraged and excited by on of the entries to the 168 Film Project. Here is a bit about him. Pray for the safety of the Copts.

I'm originally from Egypt and grew up a Coptic Orthodox Christian (the main Christian group in Egypt). My family immigrated from Egypt to Canada in 1991.

The culture I grew up in didn't encourage breaking with traditional thought and service. Even when the Coptic Church got into media they only concentrated on making programs that reached out to the Coptic Community. However, I've always wanted to reach out to people outside the Church. Seems to me that this is one of the main things God called out the Church to do. "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature".

I stumbled on 168 Film by a complete accident.

In 2013, I had written a webseries, and I reached out to the acting community in Vancouver, BC. I didn't expect the great interest for the project. Forty actors jump-started the project and I got a new beginning. 

In 2015, my 168 film won best special effects.

And now in 2017, I decided to enter the non-speed category, to have time for a challenging VFX heavy project. This is by far the most ambitious project I've been involved in. It has a fully CGI character in it. This is the first time we do a film with a CGI character and I believe it's something that has not been done for a 168 project before (at least from what I've seen). I need a lot of prayers to be able to complete the job we set out to do.

Being a no-budget film-maker, I decided to really rely on free software for editing and 3D work, namely Blender. This is something I believe should encourage others who are set back by how expensive tools are. There are now free tools that can do a great job.

For me it's not about winning the grand prize (although that would be nice), it's not about working with famous celebrities (again that would be nice), it's about doing what God wants us to do, preach the Gospel. 

For all of us can see ourselves in the parable of the Sower. We are in Christ who went out to Sow, and some seed fell on the way side, other fell on stony places, while others fell among thorns, but others fell on the good ground. The sower's job, our job, is to sow the seed on all types of ground. It's God who gives the increase.

So if you guys have a prayer group, please add me and my group in your prayers. Hopefully God uses these small projects for his glory.

Finally, I'd like to thank you for the work you do on 168 Film. For me it's a great feeling to know that our films get viewed in front of many people.