Report: 1 to 15 November 2021

Several countries around the world have been hit with energy crises during the past month. This alone is indicative that the world must start to shift to cleaner forms of renewable energy. The Middle East is no stranger to what’s happening and has begun implementing some projects in some areas that aim to decrease dependency on fossil reserves.

The restoration of St. Elias center for elderly was completed. The Care Home was rehabilitated by MECC in cooperation with Kerk in Actie organization in Netherlands within the rehabilitation program that works on the restoration of social and religious establishments affected by Syrian crisis.

The new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches, presents details of the Congratulatory Visit to the Patriarch of Cilicia for the Armenian Catholics His Beatitude Raphaël Minassian, held by a delegation from the MECC General Secretariat headed by Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs. As for the weekly message of Dr. Abs, it was entitled “So that identity does not become a tool of devastation”.

Nothing is more precious to a person's heart than his identity.

It defines who he is, towards himself as well as towards others, towards his narrow surroundings or towards his community.

Identity becomes more complex and richer and more diverse as civilization progresses, and it becomes made up of sub-identities and layers of belongingness.

Modern man is no longer monolithic, and there is no longer a single dimension that expresses his identity, but multiple dimensions that combine and multiply and may sometimes contradict one another, depending on the surrounding social structure as well as on the personality of the individual.

H.E Bishop Paul Rouhana:

‘The Lord invited us to be a Church’

‘Love is a spiritual battle we fight to free ourselves from ego and anger. Without it, our journey together would fail’

Injustice, hate speech, corruption, unfairness... All these are expressions that have always dominated the global scene, especially the Levantine, at a time when societies are suffering from severe crises on every front: health, environmental, economic, cultural, and political. But does anyone hear the pain of those marginalized? Are there initiatives contributing to alleviating the crisis? What is the Church’s role in all of the above?

A delegation from the General Secretariat of the Middle East Council of Churches visited His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, the new Patriarch of Cilicia for the Armenian Catholics at the Patriarchate headquarters in Beirut. The delegation congratulated Minassian on his election as Patriarch and head of the Armenian Church, which has a remarkable role among the MECC member Churches.

The Middle East Council of Churches peruses its support to women who are facing many daily burdens and pressures due to the difficult living conditions in Lebanon through various vocational training sessions. Thus, the Service and Relief Department – Diakonia, Beirut office, implemented a sewing training program, at the Hebbaryeh municipality in South Lebanon.

The ACT Alliance Lebanon Forum held its annual meeting at the Middle East Council of Churches General Secretariat’s headquarters in Beirut on Tuesday, November 9, 2021, in the presence of the ACT Regional Representative – MENA Rachel Luce and the Regional Humanitarian Program Advisor – MENA George Majaj.

Under the patronage and presence of the Maronite Patriarchal Vicar of Sarba, H.E Bishop Paul Rouhana, former MECC Secretary General, the Council’s General Secretariat organized a spiritual retreat presided over by the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs. The retreat was held on Friday, November 5, 2021, at the Saint Paul Monastery - Patriarchal Maronite Diocese, Vicariate of Sarba, Keserwan - Lebanon, which is newly renovated.

Cuanto mayor es la corrupción de los grupos gobernantes, mayor es su hostilidad hacia quienes les confiaron la gestión de sus asuntos, y con sus propias vidas.

Cuanto más extremado sea el objetivo del gobernante, más feroz será en la protección de sus oscuros expedientes y «logros».

Sabe que el ojo de Dios le persigue hasta en su más recóndita intimidad, y el ojo de Dios es el ojo del pueblo. Es como el inseguro que casi dice: «llévame», porque el ojo del Creador, el Creador que distribuye los medios de vida y la riqueza, no deja de percibir nada.

The Service and Relief Department - Diakonia, Beirut office at the Middle East Council of Churches, implemented many health awareness sessions for a group of women in Our Lady Dispensary, affiliated to MECC and located in Sabtiyeh – Lebanon. The sessions aimed at empowering them and developing their capabilities.

The new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches, presents the news of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs’ participation as a guest in an episode entitled “You are the salt of the earth” as part of the TV program “La Takhaf” on Télé Lumière and Noursat, in addition to the full video of the episode. As for the weekly message of Dr. Abs, it was entitled “Starving and bringing to kneels to Avoid Accountability”.

The greater the corruption of the ruling groups, the greater is their hostility towards those who entrusted them with the management of their affairs, and with their very lives.

The more the ruler goes to extremes in his aim, the more ferocious he will be in protecting his dark files and "achievements".

He knows that God's eye is chasing him even in his most secluded privacy, and God's eye is the eye of the people. He is like the dubious one who almost says, “Take me,” because the eye of the Creator, the Creator who divides livelihoods and wealth, does not fail in noticing anything.

Report: 16 to 31 October 2021

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) stated that Middle East region is on track to economic recovery. Yet similarly to the World Bank, it claimed that rising social unrest and unemployment are slowing down progress. The IMF’s statement comes during a time countries are adopting a more cooperative approach with one another and are receiving inbound investments. Hopefully, governments will heed such remarks for the welfare of the average citizen.

Amidst the daily pressures and tense atmosphere in Lebanon and the Middle East, which are negatively affecting children’s lives, the Middle East Council of Churches continues to support this category, which has always been sensitive to the different problems and crises.

Therefore, the Service and Relief Department - Diakonia, Beirut office, has recently organized sessions aiming at enhencing the well-being of children and supporting them in restoring their mental health, especially since crippling anxiety has affected their usual activity.

Stemming from the importance of providing a healthy school environment for students and due to the negative effects of inappropriate WASH facilities, both physically and psychologically, on students, which may cause them to hate or dropout of school; MECC rehabilitated the WASH facilities in six schools in Aleppo, Homs and Rural Damascus Governorates.

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs was the guest of an episode entitled “You are the salt of the earth” as part of the TV program “La Takhaf” (which means “don’t be afraid”) on Monday, November 1, 2021, live on Télé Lumière and Noursat and the MECC Facebook page.

A delegation from the Mennonite Central Committee – MCC visited the headquarters of the Middle East Council of Churches in Beirut, on Thursday, October 28, 2021. The delegation included the Representative for Northeast Asia Chris Rice and the Legislative associate for the Middle East and US immigration policy Hannah Markey.

MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar and the Executive Assistant to the Secretary General Mrs. Seta Hadeshian welcomed the delegation.

The Evangelical Reformation Sunday, what Does it Symbolize?

It is an invitation to openness, to adhere to an open mind and accept others regardless of their belief, religion, or sect. It is the Evangelical Reformation, a call to achieve the best of each one of us, live God’s love with others, and change everything that hinders or contradicts this love: “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

The new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches, presents the news of the Ceremony of the Appointment of His Beatitude Catholicos Patriarch of Cilicia for the Armenian Catholics Raphael Bedros XXI. As for the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, it was entitled “You are the salt of the earth: trust, testimony, and role”.