The following story appeared in the Park Labrea News and Beverly Press 70th Anniversary issue, published April 21. To view the entire issue, click here.

Rev. Raafat Girgis has shepherded the congregation at Immanuel Presbyterian Church since last September. He has grand plans for the future of the church, which has been located at 3300 Wilshire Blvd. for 88 years.

(Rev. Raafat Girgis)

The congregation has approximately 180 members, but Girgis said at one time there were more than 3,000 members. He hopes to build bridges with other faith communities and re-grow the congregation to the size it once was. Located on Wilshire Boulevard between Koreatown and the Westlake District, Girgis wants the congregation to represent the diverse surrounding neighborhoods.

“The goal is to transform the church. We want it to go to the [next] level and for it to grow into a much stronger and vital part of the community,” Girgis said. “The main goal is working with our partners.”

Two other faith communities – The Calvary Faith Church, a Korean congregation, and Amanuel Ethiopian Church – use space at Immanuel Presbyterian for services. Girgis said they bring more than 300 additional people to the church each week. Girgis said joining with other groups helps realize his philosophy of bringing the community together.

“The church is providing holistic teaching,” said Girgis. “We are teaching spiritual transformation and social justice. We have a very welcoming congregation.”

The reverend said had it not been for fate, he may never have come to Immanuel Presbyterian. Girgis was born, raised and ordained in Egypt, where Christians are a minority.

“We are a sizeable minority, there are about 12 million,” he added. “In Egypt, [Christians are members of] the Coptic Orthodox Church. Many leave and become Presbyterians. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that an Egyptian minister can become head of staff of a ministry of such a large church like Immanuel Presbyterian.”

Girgis came to the United States in 1987 when he was 28 to further his religious education. He studied theology in Chicago and Virginia. After graduating from the seminary, he served as minister for five-and-a-half years at a Presbyterian church in North Carolina. Girgis later moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where he worked at the Presbyterian Church’s national office.

In 2014, he came to Los Angeles to be close to a cousin suffering from cancer. A short time after he arrived, he received a call from the Presbytery of the Pacific, the organization that oversees Presbyterian churches in Los Angeles. Church administrators here knew about Girgis’ work in Louisville. He was told about an opening for a minister at Immanuel Presbyterian, and he jumped at the opportunity. Girgis said the assignment is temporary – perhaps one or two years – but he is hopeful it becomes permanent. He added that the congregation is supportive, and he plans to do his best to serve members while boosting membership at Immanuel Presbyterian Church.

“It is a position that will continue as long as it takes,” Girgis said. “When I came here, it was almost like something leading to something else. We are in God’s hands.”