The video presents a highlight about the Fourth General Assembly of the ACT Alliance International Organization, which was held in Indonesia, as well as an overview about the activities of the ACT Youth Pre Assembly, in addition to interviews with the General Secretary of ACT Alliance Mr. Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, and the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Reverend Professor Dr. Jerry Pillay.

Photo: Albin Hillert/ ACT

Word of the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs at the launching of the Media Production Center “The Platform of the Word”, at the Middle East Council of Churches in partnership with Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel.

He who was in the beginning,

And became flesh,

dwelt among us,

And wrote for us the Book of Love,

He who loved His enemies and blessed those who cursed Him,

And defended Himself with resounding silence,

He Who thanked His executioners and forgave them,

He whose blood flowed and watered the soil of the Holy Mountain,

And with Him began the New Testament,

He who drew for humanity the path of salvation from its sin and hypocrisy,

He is the Word!…

This report presents an overview about the activities of the ACT Alliance General Assembly, which was held under the theme “Hope in Action, Together for Justice,” between October 28 and November 1, 2024, in the Yogyakarta region - Indonesia.

Photo: Albin Hillert/ACT

In the presence of ACT Alliance General Secretary Mr. Rudelmar Bueno de Faria and the World Council of Churches General Secretary Reverend Professor Dr. Jerry Pillay, the General Assembly of ACT Alliance elected a new Governing Board. It includes representatives from different regions and continents around the world, among them Eng. Samer Laham, the nominee of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and Director of its Department of Diakonia and Social Service.

Photo: Albin Hillert/ACT

The issue of climate justice was the focus of many activities during the activities of the Youth Pre Assembly and the 4^th General Assembly of the global ACT Alliance in Indonesia, so what are the details?

This report presents some clarifications!

Photo: Albin Hillert/ACT

What Are Its Details?

Youth hopes for a better future. In this report, you can find an overview about the Youth Pre Assembly held by the international ACT Alliance in Yogyakarta - Indonesia, in addition to interviews with some of the participants who emphasized the bond of love that unites them.

Photo: Albin Hillert/ACT

The General Secretary of the International ACT Alliance Mr. Rudelmar Bueno de Faria delivers a word via video on the occasion of the launching of “The Platform of the Word” at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in partnership with Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel.

The General Secretary of the World Council of Churches Reverend Professor Dr. Jerry Pillay delivers a word via video on the occasion of the launching of “The Platform of the Word” at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in partnership with Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel.

We meet today for a first gathering at "The Platform of the Word," colleagues and partners in ecumenical work, to celebrate the opening of the platform—a project equipped by Noursat for the Middle East Council of Churches—to advance ecumenical media in the Middle East and worldwide.

It was a blessed moment when Télé Lumière, through the tireless efforts of a struggling ecumenical media professional—our colleague in the Council and a veteran in Télé Lumière—decided to provide the oldest institution in ecumenical work in the region with modern and advanced means to spread the salvific message.

This initiative comes in the fiftieth year since the establishment of the Middle East Council of Churches in 1974, and in the ninety-fifth year since the establishment of the Near East Christian Council in 1929, the foundational nucleus of our Council.

However, this initiative, in addition to the efforts to achieve it by those concerned, did not come from a vacuum. There is a strong bond between Noursat and the Middle East Council of Churches due to decades of interaction, as well as the shared goal of common Christian work—that is, ecumenism.

An astute observer of the work of these two institutions might ask why they are not a single institution, not only because of their goals but also due to the homogeneity in approach and methodology. In this platform, the two institutions have become one in working to raise the lamp high in the dome of the sky, to illuminate the path for humanity.

You may find the full video of the opening of the Media Production Center “The Platform of the Word,” which was launched by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in partnership with Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel, in an official ceremony held on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at the Platform’s headquarters in the offices of the MECC General Secretariat in Beirut.

The MECC Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs: “we have taken new administrative and technical measures and procedures in order to strengthen the role of Ecumenical media in the Council, especially at the level of advocacy and awareness”

Stemming from the importance of the media in advocacy, awareness, and promoting human values, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) is launching a new phase for its media work, seeking to be a crying voice in the wilderness and a source of hope amidst all difficulties.

After months of preparations, the MECC regional media team held, on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, a coordination meeting in the presence of the MECC Secretary General, Professor Dr. Michel Abs, and Father Rifaat Bader, the Head of the Catholic Center for Studies and Media, Publisher of Abouna Website, and Media Consultant on behalf of the MECC Executive Committee, who participated online from Amman.

Participants were also colleagues in Lebanon’s office who participated in person from the MECC Headquarters in Beirut, and colleagues in Syria’s office who participated online via Zoom. They exchanged ideas and opinions in order to develop the mechanism of work among them and launch an updated work plan for the coming period using the advanced technologies and new equipment.

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and Télé Lumière - Noursat launched a New Media Ccenter entitled “The Platform of the Word,” in an official ceremony held on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at the Center’s headquarters in the offices of the MECC General Secretariat in Beirut.

Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs: "Through the documents we intend to produce, we will address—from an Ecumenical Christian perspective—all phenomena that concern modern humans”

Under the slogan "The Word Became Flesh," and on the occasion of its fiftieth anniversary, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), in partnership with Télé Lumière and Noursat TV station, launched a new Media Production Center titled "The Platform of the Word." The official ceremony was held on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at the platform's headquarters in the offices of the General Secretariat of the Middle East Council of Churches in Beirut, in the presence of Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs.

Participants in the celebration included:

• Dr. Marie-Thérèse Kreidy, Director of Programs at Télé Lumière and Noursat, representing the station

• Ms. Marutzella Abboud, representing the Near East School of Theology (NEST)

• Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, Responsible of the Platform and Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at the Council

• Dr. Laure Abi Khalil, Coordinator of the Social Capital Rehabilitation Project at the Council

• The team of the General Secretariat from various departments

Under the theme: "The Word Became Flesh", and on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of its founding, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), in partnership with Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel, launches the Media Production Center “The Platform of the Word", as an Ecumenical media message from the Middle East to the World.

Watch with us this video, which presents an overview about the the center based on the words of the MECC Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs.

On Mariam TV

The Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, Responsible of “The Platform of the Word” and Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), was the guest of “On Time” program, to talk about “The Platform of the Word,” the new Media Production Center launched by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in partnership with Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel.

With the announcement of the canonization of the Massabki Brothers, you may find a special episode entitled “The Massabki Brothers: Martyrdom and Holiness,” prepared and presented by the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), and produced by Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel.

This video presents a reflection entitled “Lebanon Is in Turmoil”. Through its words and scenes, it sheds light on the tragic situation that Lebanon is passing through, asking God, the God of justice and peace, to grant peace in the country and the entire world.

Stemming from its belief in the importance of serving with dignity, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) launched a new platform for homecare services in Lebanon, enabling service seekers to identify certified caregivers who have undergone extensive health training with Saint George Hospital University Medical Center (Beirut, Mount Lebanon, and Tripoli) and Khoury General Hospital (Zahle, Lebanon). Hence, the platform offers a variety of home services related to elderly care, mothers and newborn care, as well as babysitting and childcare.

In this context, the video sheds light on how this platform works and the details of its services. You may also click here to visit the platform’s website.

MECC, Télé Lumière - Noursat, and NEST

Towards Strengthening the Ecumenical Spirit and Spreading the Word of Christ Throughout the Earth

As part of the activities of the Fiftieth Year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), and in an ecumenical media step aiming at consolidating the Christian Faith and spreading human values ​​through the media, a memorandum of media cooperation was signed between the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Télé Lumière - Noursat TV channel, and the Near East School of Theology (NEST).

This cooperation comes after Brother Nour, Founder and Director of Télé Lumière and Noursat, and with his generous gesture, offered all the capabilities and technicalities of his esteemed media institution to the service of the MECC media work. As well as, after the Near East School of Theology hosted this work in its own studio, stemming from its belief in the importance of enhancing the ecumenical spirit through the media, so it can be a modern mean of conveying the Good News.

On this occasion, a special meeting was held to sign the memorandum in the presence of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, the NEST President Dr. George Sabra, the Representative of Brother Nour and Télé Lumière our colleague and Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, the team of the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department, and MECC colleagues. It took place on Wednesday 19 June 2024, at the offices of the MECC General Secretariat in Beirut. As well as, Father Rifaat Bader, the Head of the Catholic Center for Studies and Media and Publisher of Abouna Website, and MECC Member of the Executive Committee, and its representative for communication and media affairs.

With the League of the Lebanese Christian Publishers Affiliated to the Bible Society Association

Within the framework of capacity building and skills development, the League of the Lebanese Christian Publishers affiliated to the Bible Society Association, organized its third training as part of its training program, with the participation of the team of the Communication and Public Relations’ Department at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), alongside 36 colleagues representing 16 publishing houses in Lebanon. The training was held on Tuesday 21 November 2023, at the Bible Society headquarters in Beirut.

The training was presented by Dr. Mike Bassous, Secretary General and CEO of the Bible Society, and focused on marketing and its various types, in addition to Push vs Pull marketing, and its ways of implementation, stressing on its importance especially in our time today. During the session, Dr. Bassous gave his explanations and shared his expertise and experiences with the attendees, answering the participants’ questions and inquiries, as they applied together many exercises in order to consolidate the acquired information.