Holidays’ Exhibitions Enhance the Lebanese’ Capacities and Expertise

During the month of December and on the occasion of Christmas, beneficiaries from the Middle East Council of Churches’ “Homemade goods” program participated in four exhibitions with the help of the MECC Service and Relief – Diakonia Department, Beirut’s Office. Under the umbrella Andaket Pro, Bazbina and Shadra cooperatives, beneficiaries displayed their products while hoisting MECC banners. Two of the events they attended occurred in Beirut where they displaced a variety of homemade goods such as Jam, olives, fermented vegetables, and Zaatar and sold them at affordable prices.  Similarly, they attended the exhibitions held in Jbeil and Kobayyat, where they received customers hoping to purchase all-natural products untainted by factory chemicals.

“I will be your God throughout your lifetime -- until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you (Isaiah 46:4).

As the Lebanese economy continues its downward trajectory, many citizens are losing their sources of income. As a result, the elderly who still depend on younger generations for livelihood, are finding it increasingly difficult to secure financial resources to pay for all expenses related to food, health, electricity etc…

While many organizations are reporting donor fatigue due to the protracted crisis in the region, the Middle East Council of Churches is still able to assist the elderly, albeit limited resources.

At the end of 2022, it seems that the Middle East is breathing its last breath due to the exacerbation of the economic, social and living crises... and the ME people are being exhausted due to the daily pressures. Hence, the Middle East Council of Churches is keen to preserve human dignity, and seeks to sow hope in the hearts of the exhausted people through its various humanitarian programs. MECC is trying to support the most vulnerable groups in order to empower them and convince them that the will of life is stronger.

The MECC’s office in Jordan organized several programs related to various social sectors. The Council implemented a training course on the art of sewing, which it had launched in cooperation with the Rum Orthodox Church.

A crutch and a smartphone are all that is left to comfort loneliness for the majority of elderlies after the war in Syria. The sons and daughters of many families had to leave the country and their old mothers and fathers became alone with no one to provide them the needed care, making the wrinkles of sorrow and sadness appear on their faces.

According to the “Syrian Committee for Family and Population Affairs in Syria”, the percentage of persons above 60 years old constitutes more than 6% of the Syrian population and it is expected to increase to 10% by 2025.

During a time when Lebanon is suffering from economic hardship and the collapse of the health sector, ordinary citizens are unable to afford basic health coverage and medication. To make matters worse, organizations that used to provide medical assistance to those in need are unable to tend to the growing needs in Lebanon.

Luckily, the Middle East Council of Churches is still capable of being at the forefront of such a struggle. The MECC Service and Relief – Diakonia Department, Beirut’s Office, was able, during the month of November 2022, to carry out medicine distribution to people from different walks of life.

“UNITE to End Violence Against Women” is the campaign leaded annually by the United Nations aiming at protecting women and reducing the risks which they may face.

Hence, the Middle East Council of Churches continues, this year, its participation with ACT Alliance in the campaign, stressing the need to preserve women’s dignity, especially since they have an essential role in building societies.

Beirut, November 29, 2022

The Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches held a face-to-face meeting, for the first time after the end of the Corona pandemic, on Monday 28 and Tuesday 29 November 2022 at the Monastery of Notre-Dame du Puits in Bkennaya, Lebanon. The meeting was chaired by His Eminence Anba Anthonios, Metropolitan of Jerusalem and the Near East for the Coptic Orthodox and the President of the MECC for the Eastern Orthodox Family, His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and the President of the MECC for the Orthodox Family, represented by His Eminence Metropolitan Saba Esber, Metropolitan of Busra Houran and Jabal Al-Arab, His Eminence Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of the Federation of Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East and President of the MECC for the Evangelical Family, His Beatitude Patriarch Raphael Bedros XXI Minassian, Catholicos of the House of Cilicia for the Armenian Catholics and President of the MECC for the Catholic Family, with the participation of members of the Executive Committee from Lebanon Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan and Cyprus, representing 21 churches of the Middle East, the Secretary-General of the MECC Dr. Michel Abs, the two Associate General Secretaries Reverend Refaat Fikry and Father Nicolas Bustros, the Executive Secretary of the Association of Theology Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME), Reverend Michael Kanbar, in addition to the General Secretariat team of department directors and administrators.

The Middle East Council of Churches continues its participation with ACT Alliance in the UN international campaign “UNITE to End Violence Against Women Campaign” during 16 days of activism, though pictures that aims to raise awareness about the negative impacts of violence and call for serious action to face it.

“UNITE to End Violence Against Women Campaign”

The Middle East Council of Churches is participating with ACT Alliance in the UN international campaign “UNITE to End Violence Against Women Campaign” during 16 days of activism. The campaign includes photos and slogans prepared specially for the campaign by the ACT member organizations.

MECC also stands in solidarity with all women who are victims of violence and calls on all concerned parties to take the necessary measures which aims to end this violence.

Business Rehabilitation with the Service and Relief – Diakonia Department

The Beirut Port Blast was a fatal blow to the Lebanese, who lost everything they owned, especially in the Beirut regions. Owners of businesses lost their dreams and also faced the disaster’s huge repercussions in their shops and businesses which were destroyed. The Middle East Council of Churches, sought through the Service and Relief – Diakonia Department, Beirut’s Office, to restore hope to their lives and joy to their hearts, by implementing the Business Rehabilitation program.

Under the title "Recovering from the Blast", the video presents a brief overview about the program’s results and its impact on the beneficiaries, as well as some testimonies confirming that hope is back again.

The Service and Relief - Diakonia Department, Beirut’s Office, Supports Lebanon’s Women

She is the source of life. She is the wife, mother, sister, and friend. She is the woman who always struggle in her life and make daily efforts for the happiness of her family and the comfort of everyone around her. She is also the one who, unfortunately, is exposed to many and many insults, racism, hate speech, and even she is the one who faces all kinds of violence, cultural isolation, and loneliness... All these factors are negatively affecting her life putting her in the most vulnerable categories. But does anyone hear her pain?

In fact, many women today suffer from mental health problems, as they are in dire need of psychosocial support to help them overcome the pressures which may surround them daily. Hence, the role of religious and humanitarian organizations is important to accompany and support women in order to sorrow hope in their hearts.

Here the Voice of Hope Rises Against War and Destruction

Whoever visits Aleppo and walks in its streets can notice the wars’ repercussions in this city, and can even hear its groaning and pain. But amidst all the destruction, we can witness the determination of Aleppo’s people to restore their city and lives as it was before the war. In fact, they are seeking God’s help, believing in His power and support to rebuild what was destroyed by the Evil’s hands and war.

The Middle East Council of Churches and “Kerk in Actie” organization in the Netherlands supported the Syrians and Aleppo’s people within the “Restoration Fund for Rehabilitation of Faith-based Social Services & Religious Infrastructure Damaged During the Crisis in Syria”. A program which aims to restore what was damaged by the war so that hope can revive in the lives of people who are essential part of their Church.

Nuestros niños, que son uno de los principales pilares de nuestra sociedad, nacen en este mundo con la esperanza de cosechar sus frutos. Desgraciadamente, los tiempos actuales no son tan reconfortantes y los niños quedan desamparados y necesitados.

Por suerte, el Departamento de Servicio y Ayuda - Diakonia, de la Oficina de Beirut, del Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio sigue organizando una serie de sesiones psicosociales continuas con el objetivo de promover el bienestar y la resiliencia de los niños. Se les involucraría a través de una serie de actividades recreativas que les ayudarían a lidiar con los desafíos emocionales, sociales y prácticos.

«Las mujeres son la mitad de la sociedad». Muchos países del mundo se esfuerzan por integrar a las mujeres en todos los sectores productivos y económicos. Sin embargo, las recientes condiciones de seguridad, políticas y sanitarias, así como el estallido de la pandemia de coronavirus, han afectado negativamente a sus vidas, especialmente en el Oriente Medio, que se hunde en una crisis cada vez mayor.

En el Reino Hachemita de Jordania, por ejemplo, el Departamento de Estadística mencionó que la tasa de desempleo femenino ha aumentado hasta el 31.5% en el primer trimestre del año en curso en comparación con el año pasado. Otro informe del país publicado en 2021 muestra que la participación económica de las mujeres ha disminuido en un 3.3%, después de haber registrado la tasa más alta del 17.3% en 2017.

Por lo tanto, el Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio está trabajando para mejorar el papel de la mujer en las sociedades a través de varios programas que implementa en muchos países de la región.

Together Building Bridges and Restoring Hope

The Middle East Council of Churches held its annual meeting with representatives of its partner organizations and institutions, in addition to a series of activities it implemented with them, between 2 and 5 November 2022. The video presents the point of views and aspirations of some of the MECC partners participating in the meeting. It is prepared and produced by the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department.

Our children, who are one of the main pillars of our society, are born into this world, hoping to reap its rewards. Unfortunately, present times are not that comforting and children are being left forsaken and in need.

Luckily, the Service and Relief – Diakonia Department, Beirut’s Office, at the Middle East Council of Churches is still organizing a series of ongoing Psychosocial sessions aiming to promote the well-being and resilience of children. They would be engage through a series of recreational activities that would help them deal with emotional, social, and practical challenges.

MECC Meets with Its International and Regional Partners

The Middle East Council of Churches met with its international and regional partners as part of a series of activities and meetings in Lebanon between 2 and 5 November 2022. What did the meetings include? And what did the attendees discuss? The video presents a brief overview of these meetings, activities, and the most important discussed topics. It is prepared and produced by the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department.

“Women are half the society”. Many countries in the world are making efforts aiming to integrate women into all productive and economic sectors. However, the recent security, political, health conditions, and the outbreak of the Corona pandemic, have negatively affected their lives, especially in the Middle East, which is sinking into escalating crises.

In the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, for example, the Department of Statistics mentioned that the female unemployment rate has increased to 31.5% in the first quarter of the current year compared to last year. Another country report issued in 2021 shows that women's economic participation has decrease by 3.3%, after it recorded the highest rate of 17.3% in 2017.

A Field Tour Held by MECC and “Kerk in Actie” in the Netherlands Delegation

Eleven years have passed since the outbreak of the severe war in Syria which have took the lives of thousands of Syrians. Not only people have been affected but also stones and buildings. The war has caused massive damage in infrastructure and impacted the economy. As well as, house, religious, educational and medical institutions have been destructed.

If stones in Syria could speak, it would talk about a history and civilization which goes back thousands of years, witnessing for a Christianity which was spread from this country to the world.

Amidst this deepening human crisis, the Church's first challenge was to shine a light in the darkness and sorrow hope in the midst of despair.

Towards Continuous Cooperation and a More Sustainable Role in the Region

Under the title “Partners Accompanying MECC in the Ecumenical Journey”, the Middle East Council of Churches’ General Secretariat resumed its annual meeting with the MECC partners from international and regional organizations and institutions, on its second day, Friday 4 November 2022, in Beirut.

Attendees were representatives of these partner organizations and institutions from all over the world such as USA, Canada, Europe and the Middle East… They exchanged views and experiences with the participation of the MECC team and the departments’ directors, headed by the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, along with the MECC Associate Secretaries General, and members of the Executive Committee.