. >>> for years maggie gabron has been working to change the lives of poor people in egypt. devout christian has helped thousands through her organization steven's children. now her work has become increasingly focused on coptic christians as terrorists are targeting them in the middle east. >> reporter: julie, brutal beheadings of 21 coptic christians shocked the world. these men who didn't renounce their faith even in the face of death. now we know where that faith may have come from. her name is mama maggie. she's known as the mother teresa of cairo. for two decades she has served the children living in egypt's slums through their organization, stephen's children. seven of those beheaded came out of her school, five she knew by name. >> i touch them, i eat with them, i pray with them, i play with them. we cry together. we study together. yes, they are my boys. >> reporter: when they were beheaded the 21 men were said to have called on the name of jesus. i asked mama maggie, how did these simple men have such faith? >> they have their identity their self-respect their self