About Us
Chicago Copts is a non-profit association dedicated to two main goals. The first of these goals involves education of the general public concerning who the Copts are, where they came from, and their presence in the Chicagoland community.
The second of these goals involves social services. These social services involve encouraging new immigrants and helping them to get established. Specifically, volunteers of Chicago Copts will assist in helping new comers apply for a Social Security card, resume writing, networking for job opportunities, teaching English as a second language, introduction into living in the U.S., clothes drives, food drives, assisting senior citizens with cooking, grocery shopping, cleaning, and other social needs.
Chicago Copts is also interested in connecting volunteers with other well-established volunteer organizations such as United Way, the Salvation Army, and others. Everyone is welcome to volunteer. If a volunteer expresses an interest in working with a particular organization, Chicago Copts will help to facilitate the cooperation between our volunteers and the specific organization. For example, volunteers of Chicago Copts may donate their time as volunteers of Little Brothers of the Elderly. They may also wish to help in food drives that are organized by other organizations. By facilitating the communication between Chicago Copts volunteers and other organizations, we hope that our charitable contributions to the general public will be more organized and more beneficial as a galvanized effort by several volunteer organizations.
Chicago Copts wishes to emphasize that these volunteer services will be offered to anyone who is need of them and our services will be publicized to the public at large. We hope that through these social services, we may continue to serve our primary goal of educating the public about the Copts.
Some examples of educational forums Chicago Copts hopes to use include seminars, public speaking at schools and events open to the public. By hosting a public picnic or a carnival, Chicago Copts hopes that the public will be exposed to the Coptic community and learn about the history of the Coptic Church. Similarly, by offering important, needed social services, we hope that the public will accept these services and express an interest in learning more about the Coptic people.
Some topics of our educational efforts include teaching the public about the history of the Coptic Church, its traditions, including theology, teaching of the church fathers, traditional Coptic hymns, hosting Bible studies, and the richness of the Coptic language and art. Our educational mission will also include information about the Coptic community in the United States, how and when they began to immigrate, and the important contributions they have made to society.
Because our services will be offered to anyone who is interested, we hope that the public will have the opportunity to learn more about the Copts and their rich history.
Mission Statement
Chicago Copts is dedicated to connecting members of the Coptic Community in Chicago, strengthening bonds within the community, and to promoting and preserving Coptic culture. Chicago Copts motivates Coptic Americans to become active in Coptic issues by empowering the community through education and social networking events. Chicago Copts is committed to reaching out to our Coptic brothers and sisters in Chicagoland and abroad.
Donations
Your donation is critical to helping us carry on our mission of supporting the Coptic Community and educating the public on Coptic issues.
With your donation, you will be actively contributing to programs and events that help us achieve this goal. All donations to Chicago Copts are tax-deductible. Thank you for your support!
Words Of Thanks
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy."
Proverbs 31: 8-9
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We wanted to thank all those who attended the lecture given by Fr. Mattias Nasr Mankarious. There was a great turn out. We also want to thank the following:
Fr. Isaac Tanios
St. Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church, Palatine
Fr. Yohanna Nassif
St. Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church, Palatine
Fr. Wilbur David Ellsworth
Holy Transfiguration Antiochian Orthodox Church
Pastor Rev. Raouf Boulos
The Moody Church
We especially want to thank Fr. Mattias for being our speaker. Fr. Mattias was eager to go back to Egypt and, as he said, to be next to his children
in their time of need. We want to thank him for being a beam of light for Christianity and standing up for the preservation of Christianity in Egypt.
The Bible teaches us in the Book of Matthew: " ...let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who
is in heaven." (Matt 5:16).
Thank you Fr. Mattias for being the light for us to all see and for being the father teaching your children the love, peace, and mercy of Christ. We know
how hard it is for you to see your children murdered, but we know that you are consoled to know that in dying in the name of Christ, they will be saved.
These things I have spoken unto you,
that in Me ye might have peace.
In the world ye shall have tribulation,
but be of good cheer:
I have overcome the world.
(John 16:32-33)
To download the power point presentation, click here.
If you wish to continue your donations for the Martyrs of Maspero and for the mission of Fr. Mattias, please do so here. If you wish to make a donation for the ChicagoCopts organization to continue its work, as well the donations can be made on the website. Please designate how your donations should be distributed.