Hope Despite Pain: Middle East and North Africa at the ACT Alliance General Assembly
Highlighting the Region's Characteristics and Challenges Through Interaction, Dialogue, and Art
The Middle East Council of Churches - Indonesia
From the cradle of Christianity, the region where Christ was born, grew up, and rose from the dead, they headed to the Yogyakarta region in Indonesia with much hope in their hearts.
They are the representatives of the Middle East and North Africa MENA region in the global "ACT Alliance," who brought the customs and traditions of their countries to the Fourth General Assembly of ACT, held under the theme "Hope in Action, Together for Justice," between October 28 and November 1 in Yogyakarta.
With a presence filled with faith, hope, and determination to hold onto their land, they actively participated in the General Assembly's work, where they discussed urgent humanitarian and social issues, presented their most significant challenges, and explored solutions with partners and friends representing humanitarian organizations from various continents of the world.
Moreover, participants from the Middle East and North Africa highlighted the activities of the organizations and entities they represent in a special exhibition held for ACT Alliance's regional forums, where they exchanged views, experiences, and expertise with specialists from diverse fields and backgrounds.
As part of the General Assembly's activities, a cultural evening was dedicated on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, to highlighting the richness of this region that holds onto its hope and insistence on rising from the ashes because "light will shine out of darkness" (2 Corinthians 4:6). It is noteworthy that the General Assembly program included cultural evenings for the various ACT Alliance forums.
In fact, this event was a greeting of peace and love from the Middle East to the entire world, during which the region's representatives affirmed that preserving the Christian presence in the Middle East contributes to strengthening the determination of the brothers and sisters in Christ wherever they are because we all belong to the one body of Christ; if any part suffers, the whole body suffers.
In the same context, these representatives pointed out the necessity of praying and walking together to defend the whole world in order to achieve justice and peace. This justice is embodied in working to end wars in the region and alleviate the suffering of people who witness death and displacement every day.
Participants in the General Assembly also raised Prayers for justice and peace in the Middle East and stood for a minute of silence for the souls of the martyrs of wars and conflicts. They watched a documentary film entitled "From Wounds of Our Countries to the Resurrection of Those Suffering from Wars and Disasters," produced by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), specially prepared for the occasion, highlighting the various civilizations of the region as well as its challenges and the needs of its people. They also got to know the "Dabke" dance, characteristic of the region, which reflects through its steps the meanings of unity, solidarity, and determination to stand side by side no matter how intense the storms.
During the cultural evening for the Middle East region, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and the Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees (DSPR) affiliated with the Council presented commemorative gifts from Jerusalem to both the current ACT Board President, Mr. Erik Lysén, and the General Secretary of ACT Alliance, Mr. Rudelmar Bueno de Faria.
Thus, this event, alongside all the General Assembly's segments and sessions, embodies a slogan carried by the Middle East Council of Churches since its inception: "Building Bridges, Standing Together!"
#ACTGA2024 #Hopeinaction
