The First Day of the MECC Annual Partners Meeting in Beirut

Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs: Your feelings that exude through our interaction together do not go unnoticed

The General Secretariat of the Middle East Council of Churches held its annual meeting with its international and regional partner organizations and institutions, on its first day on Thursday 3 November 2022, ending on Friday 4 November, in Beirut, under the title “Partners Accompanying MECC in the Ecumenical Journey”. Participants were 18 representatives of these partner organizations and institutions from all over the world such as USA, Canada, Europe and the Middle East... As well as, attendees were the MECC Associate Secretaries General, members of the Executive Committee, Directors of departments and the Council’s team headed by the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs.

How to Develop Work Mechanisms and Enhance Humanitarian Services

The Middle East Committee of the Act Alliance Forum continued its annual meeting on a second day, on Monday 24 October 2022, in Amman, Jordan. Attendees were 27 participants from Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestine and Egypt, representing local, regional and international organizations members of ACT Alliance, including the Middle East Council of Churches which was the coordinator for the Administrative Committee of the Middle East and North Africa Forum for this year.

The second day’s activities started with an opening Prayer by Rev. Imad Haddad, from the Lutheran Church. Then, participants presented the humanitarian and development activities they implemented in the countries and regions in which they work. Afterwards, a general discussion session was held and focused on the Ecumenical Diakonia topic and how to develop the work mechanisms among the Act Alliance’s members and Churches in each country.

MECC Participated in the Worship Service

On the occasion of the Evangelical Reformation Sunday and at the invitation of the Supreme Council of the Evangelical Community in Syria and Lebanon, the Evangelical Churches celebrated, as each year, a worship service entitled this year “Witnessing for the God of Life Amidst a Suffering World”, presided over by Reverend Joseph Kassab, President of the Supreme Council of Evangelical Community in Syria and Lebanon, and General Secretary of the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon. The Prayer was held on Sunday 30 October 2022 at the First Armenian Evangelical Church in Beirut.

Participants were the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs and the Regional Director of the MECC Service and Relief – Diakonia Department Eng. Samer Laham, alongside representatives of the member Churches of the Supreme Council of the Evangelical Community in Syria and Lebanon, friends from Lebanon and abroad and believers.

Awareness Sessions for the MECC General Secretariat’s Team

How Can We Fight this Disease?

“Cholera is a crime and a serious and deadly disease caused by infrastructure breakdown and pollution resulting from sewage water,” emphasized Dr. Sameer Shleweet, a gynecologist, gender-based violence and CMR trainer, and a humanitarian activist, especially in the MECC Service and Relief – Diakonia Department, Beirut office, during an awareness session held for the MECC General Secretariat’s team, on Tuesday 25 October 2022. However, in Lebanon and many countries, it became difficult to develop infrastructure due to other priorities imposed on governments as a result of local and international crises. Hence, personal prevention is very important to face cholera together and prevent its outbreak.

United in Prayer with His Family

On the Forty days’ memory of Late Gabi Habib, former Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches, the MECC General Secretariat’s team, headed by the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, held a special Prayer service on the intention of his soul, asking God to raise him to share the glory of the risen Christ. Habib’s small family, his wife Kathy and two daughters Maria Gabriel and Anna Sophia, participated in the Prayer which was made on Tuesday 25 October 2022 at the MECC headquarters in Beirut.

H.E. Senator Nasser J. Judeh, Former Minister of Jordan Foreign Affairs: The Kingdom is still providing a safe shelter

Secretary General Mr. Rudelmar Bueno de Faria: We condemn the economic sanctions imposed on countries such as Syria

The Middle East Committee of the Act Alliance Forum held its first annual meeting following the outbreak of the Corona pandemic, on Sunday 23 October 2022, in Amman. Attendees were 27 participants from Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestine and Egypt, representing local, regional and international organizations members of ACT Alliance. Noting that ACT includes more than 144 members from Evangelical and Orthodox humanitarian and development organizations worldwide, as well as the Middle East Council of Churches, which was the coordinator for the Administrative Committee of the Middle East and North Africa Forum for this year.

The Service and Relief Department – Diakonia, at the Middle East Council of Churches, Syria’s Office, organized a graduation ceremony for the participants of the vocational trainings that were implemented in Tafas. An exhibition was organized in Saidat Al Bishara Church in Dara’a governorate where the production of trainees was presented.

The three-day exhibition included the productions of 150 trainees in the Vocational Trainings in different specializations: tailoring, electronics repair, mobile repair, dairy production, men and women hairdressing.

In the ceremony, all graduates received kits including the tools needed to start working or launch their own business.

MECC Supports Women in Akkar

Despite the deplorable economic conditions hanging over the country, the Service and Relief – Diakonia Department, Beirut’s Office, at the Middle East Council of Churches, launched a project aiming to enhance women’s resiliency and improve their livelihood. As such, the department chose Akkar, one of the most neglected and poverty-stricken areas in the country, to implement the project that would promote women’s products and their sale. Three villages namely Andket, Bazbina and Chadra were taken into consideration.

Women in Lebanon, just like any members of our society, have been severely impacted by the dire socioeconomic conditions haunting the country. Their sources of livelihood have been put to the test the same way their mental health has been impacted. For this reason, the Service and Relief – Diakonia Department, Beirut’s Office, at the Middle East Council of Churches, organized a Crochet Knitting workshop, in an attempt to alleviate such burdens.

During the workshop, women, from different age groups, were taught how to make crochet using balls of yarn and a pair of needles. They got the chance to learn a new skill, which they can use to start their own small business or make decorations for their homes.

It is a fact that unequipped WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) facilities that do not meet good hygiene conditions constitute a danger that might cause the spread of diseases among students.

Therefore, The Service and Relief Department –Diakonia, at The Middle East Council of Churches, Damascus’ Office, rehabilitated the WASH facilities in Aartouz Third (Al Thaletha) School and Aartouz Mixed (Mukhtalata) School in Aartouz, Josef Abou Zedan School in Sehnaya and Mohamad Husein Eid School in Jdaihet Aartouz City in Rural Damascus in order to secure a healthy environment for students and teachers.

The rehabilitation activities included the rehabilitation of WASH infrastructure and its equipment, maintenance of the drinking water network, installation of taps, toilets, doors, tile, ceramic, electric cables, water pumps and pipes in addition to completing the required painting activities.

The video highlights the visit of an “ACT Alliance” delegation to Lebanon, with the support of the Middle East Council of Churches, between 18 and 25 September 2022, as part of its Gender Justice program and Humanitarian program teams’ annual meetings. What did the participants say? What are their opinions? Answers in the following video, prepared by the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department.

Rehabilitation of the St. Elias Home for Elderly in Aleppo

The Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches presents a video about the restoration and rehabilitation work implemented in the St. Elias Home for Elderly in Aleppo, which came back to life again. The project is within the “Restoration Fund for Rehabilitation of Faith-based Social Services & Religious Infrastructure Damaged During the Crisis in Syria” program implemented by MECC in cooperation with Kerk in Actie in Netherlands, in various Syrian governorates. The video was prepared and filmed by the Middle East Council of Churches in Syria.

Positive parenting is something every mother aspires to implement while taking care of her children. In order to raise the awareness of parents on how to build a strong and healthy relationship with their children, MECC implemented positive parenting sessions targeting 300 mothers in Damascus and Rural Damascus.

During the three-day training, the mothers were introduced to parenting styles, the importance of positive parenting, the correct methods of dealing with exhaustion and self-care, the characteristics of different age groups, active communication, problem-solving, and how to provide support and motivate children.

The Diakonia Department in Beirut Supports Refugee Children Psychologically

According to a UNICEF report, Lebanon has significantly lost its progress towards achieving children’s basic rights, especially their right to health, education, protection, play and entertainment. The report issued in August 2022, based on a UNICEF study on child poverty and a child-focused rapid assessment (CFRA), mentioned that reasons are due to the economic crisis and the outbreak of the Covid pandemic. As well as, the report noted that children in Lebanon are witnessing the crises’ repercussions on their lives, so they lost their hopes in a better future and even in their dreams. Children are thus suffering from mental health problems as they are not receiving the necessary care.

The international humanitarian organization ACT Alliance is holding its Gender Justice program and Humanitarian program teams’ annual meetings, in Lebanon between 18 and 25 September 2022. Hence, the Middle East Council of Churches, member in ACT Alliance, was the facilitator of the visit to Lebanon, and contributed to the support in some logistics matters, in cooperation with ACT Alliance Regional Jordan’s Office. Noting that participants were from different countries of the world such as Palestine, European Union, Kenya, Philippines, Pakistan, Brazil, UK, India, Columbia, and some other countries from Africa and Asia pacific…

During its tour in Lebanon, the Act Alliance delegation visited the headquarters of the MECC General Secretariat in Beirut, on Wednesday 21 September 2022. The delegation was received by the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, along with the Executive Assistant to the Secretary General Mrs. Seta Hadeshian, and the Coordinator of the Beirut Service and Relief – Diakonia Department Ms. Nina Hallak.

Standing Together and Supporting the Most Vulnerable People

Homeless families, poor people, uprooted refugees... are living amidst daily ongoing pressures. Therefore, the programs of the Service and Relief - Diakonia Department of the Middle East Council of Churches have an important role in preserving human rights and dignity, and embracing the neediest. The service work stems from our firm Christian belief that Christ himself founded this service through His healing of physical and psychological diseases, calling on every believer to serve his fellow.

New Cooperation Towards the Support of the Most Vulnerable People

In response to the call of God the Creator to stand next to the most vulnerable and neediest, the Middle East Council of Churches has always sought, since its establishment, to accompany the most marginalized and affected people due to the difficult living conditions. MECC aims to preserve their rights and dignity, in various countries of the Middle East. Within this context, the MECC Jordan office is implementing many programs to support Syrian and Iraqi refugees as well as vulnerable people from Jordanian host communities.

In this framework, the MECC Jordan’s Office, represented by its Director Mrs. Wafaa El Ghousous, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) – Amman, represented by the Associations’ President Mrs. Hania Kakish. The MoU aimed at strengthening the cooperation towards the implementation of various training courses. It was signed on Wednesday 14 September 2022, at the headquarters of the Association.

Miles y miles de refugiados huyeron de sus países debido a los graves impactos de las guerras y los conflictos, buscando un refugio seguro en un país que protegiera a sus familias con dignidad. Sin embargo, los refugiados del Líbano sufren hoy, como todos los libaneses, unas condiciones de vida difíciles. También fueron privados de sus derechos básicos y se enfrentan a un futuro desconocido. De ahí que las mujeres se hayan convertido en los grupos más afectados y vulnerables, ya que se enfrentan a muchas dificultades, sobre todo a nivel económico, para hacerse cargo de sus hijos y familias.

En medio de todo el estrés de la vida diaria, las mujeres refugiadas se enfrentan a muchas presiones psicológicas que les afectan desde todos los ámbitos de la vida. Por lo tanto, el Departamento de Servicio y Ayuda - Diakonia, Oficina de Beirut, en el Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio, busca durante todo el año, acompañarlas y apoyarlas para superar sus desafíos, a través de diversos programas.

Thousands and thousands of refugees fled their countries due to the serious impacts of wars and conflicts, searching for a safe shelter in a country that would protect their families with dignity. However, the refugees in Lebanon are suffering today, as all Lebanese, from difficult living conditions. They were also deprived of their basic rights and are facing an unknown future. Hence, women have become the most affected and vulnerable groups, as they face a lot of difficulties, especially on the financial level, in taking caring of their children and families.

Amidst all the stress of daily life, refugee women are facing many psychological pressures that impacted them from all walks of life. Therefore, the Service and Relief Department - Diakonia, Beirut’s Office, at the Middle East Council of Churches, is seeking throughout the year, to accompany and support them in order to overcome their challenges, through various programs.

The MECC General Secretariat Prays for Creation

Teach us, O Lord, to contemplate your creation, and listen for the voice of each creature declaring your glory!

The international “Season of Creation” 2022 has started in the Middle East and its theme for this year is “Listen to the Voice of Creation”. The Season begins on September 1 and ends on October 4 of each year. Hence, the Season invites us this year to listen to the voice of creation, which is suffering due to many factors. So we unite in prayer, thanking God for all His blessings and glorifying His Holy Name, “faith comes from hearing.” We also unite and share a common call to care for our Lord’s creation. We are co-creatures, and part of all that God has made. Our wellbeing is interwoven with the wellbeing of the Earth.

On the occasion, members of the MECC General Secretariat’s family who were present in Beirut, gathered and prayed for God the Creator, on Thursday 1st of September 2022, at the MECC headquarters in Beirut. MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs and a delegation of Directors were absent due to their participation in the WCC 11th General Assembly taking place in Karlsruhe, Germany, as well as others were busy due to many conferences.