Reverend Dr. Rima Nasrallah Installed as Pastor of the National Evangelical Church in Beirut

And President of the National Evangelical Union in Lebanon

The MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs Participates in the Installation Service

Reverend Dr. Habib Badr: “After 41 years, I hand over the responsibility, marking the beginning of a new chapter of renewal and continuity”

The National Evangelical Church in Beirut held the Installation Service of Reverend Dr. Rima Nasrallah as its ordained Senior Pastor, consecrated for ministry under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The celebration was attended by the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, and his wife Dr. Frida Haddad Abs; Reverend Wilbert Van Saane, Reverend Rima's husband, and their family; alongside many Pastors, including Reverend Dr. Uwe Gräbe, Head of the Middle East Unit of the Evangelical Mission in Solidarity (EMS), Ms. Kirsten Auken, Regional Director of Danmission in the Middle East, Directors of institutions affiliated with the National Evangelical Church, Coordinator of Church Relations and Media at MECC Lea Adel Maamary, Members of the Church Board of Elders, and believers.

The MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs Participates in the Celebration

In recognition of their distinguished journey and many years of Church ministry, a ceremony was held to honor Reverend Dr. Habib Badr, President of the National Evangelical Union in Lebanon, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), and his wife Mrs. Wadia Badr. The event was attended by Leaders from Evangelical Churches in the Middle East, Representatives of Church Families, Ecumenical Partners, His Eminence Archbishop Mor Clemis Daniel Kourieh, Syriac Orthodox Archbishop of Beirut, and Delegate of the Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) to the Diakonia and Social Service Department, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, and his wife Dr. Frida Haddad. It took place on Friday, June 26, 2026, at the National Evangelical Church in Beirut.

As part of its ongoing efforts to support students in continuing their academic achievement, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), through its Diakonia and Social Service Department – Syria’s Office, implemented remedial classes for 9th grade certificate students in the city of Jaramana and its surrounding areas.

The remedial classes included providing students with the essential information they need in their curriculum, with the aim of improving their academic level and enabling them to successfully pass the final certificate exam. The students also received hygiene and school kits.

مرصد فلسطين – تقرير الاثنين 29 حزيران/ يونيو 2026

In light of the worsening humanitarian and social conditions in the region due to the escalation of security operations, the Middle East Council of Churches presents a weekly report entitled "Palestine Monitor," which includes the latest developments in Palestine, especially amid the deteriorating living, social, and security conditions in the country. Some texts will be in Arabic, and some others in English, depending on the source.

في ظلّ تفاقم الظروف الإنسانيّة والاجتماعيّة في المنطقة جرّاء تصاعد العمليّات الأمنيّة فيها، يقدّم مجلس كنائس الشرق الأوسط تقريرًا أسبوعيًّا بعنوان "مرصد فلسطين" حيث يتضمّن آخر المستجدّات الّتي تشهدها فلسطين خصوصًا وسط تدهور الظروف المعيشيّة والاجتماعيّة والأمنيّة في البلاد. ستكون بعض النصوص باللغة العربية، وبعضها الآخر باللّغة الإنكليزيّة، وذلك حسب المصدر.

Receives the MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs

and a Delegation from the General Secretariat

A Meeting that Emphasizes the Importance of Martyrdom in the Church and Strengthening the Ecumenical Spirit

His Beatitude Patriarch Mor Ignatius Joseph III Younan, Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), received the MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs, at the head of a delegation from the General Secretariat, on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at the Patriarchal Residence in Mathaf, Beirut.

Attendees from the Patriarchate were Member of the MECC Executive Committee Chorbishop Habib Mrad, and Father Karim Kalash.

The MECC delegation included Associate Secretary General Mrs. Seta Hadeshian, Director of the Lebanon’ Office in the Diakonia and Social Service Department Ms. Nina Hallak, Finance Director Dr. Laudy El Khoury, Coordinator of the Dialogue, Social Cohesion, and Human Dignity Rehabilitation Programs Professor Laure Abi Khalil, Coordinator of Media and Church Relations Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, Senior Human Resources Officer Mrs. Caroline Haddad, Procurement Officer Richard Sassine, Executive Assistant to the Secretary General Mrs. Maha Samaan, IT Officer Rabih Abou Rjeili, Social Media Officer Johnny Anton, and Communication and Media Officer Elia Nasrallah…

What Are the Details?

“… Upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it”

(Matthew 16:18)

Media of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) 

The Commemoration of Saints Peter and Paul is a special date in the history of the Church and the consolidation of Christianity over the decades. The Church celebrate their Commemoration on June 29, and believers ask for their intercession to Christ to grant peace to the world and mercy to our souls.

They are the Founders of the Antiochian See and they were given many titles: Leaders of the apostles, founders of the Church, first in line for the apostolate sees, and teachers of the world... Peter was the first to admit that Jesus is the Son of the living God according to the Gospel of Matthew 16:16. He then denied Christ three times and repented, so the Lord forgave him accordingly. Paul’s name was Saul. The Lord appeared to him on his way to Damascus, where he wanted to kill Christians... He took Paul's name after his baptism at the hands of Jesus to convert and preach the name of Jesus Christ throughout the world.

Psychological and Spiritual Support Sessions Instill Renewed Hope

A Trauma Healing and Spiritual Counseling (THSC) workshop was held in Jordan, from June 20–26, 2026, bringing together 22 church ministers from Jordan and the Holy Lands for a meaningful week of healing, renewal, and personal growth.

The program was organized by the Theological and Ecumenical Department of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC). Designed for ordained ministers, lay assistants, people who work at Church, social workers, and individuals working directly with traumatized communities, the workshop offered participants a valuable opportunity to rest, rejuvenate, and strengthen their capacity to accompany others on their healing journeys.

Supported by a team of spiritual counselors and psychologists, the workshop provided a holistic approach that integrated psychological care with spiritual accompaniment. Each day began with sports activities for those who wanted to do, followed by meditation, reflection, and Prayer, creating an atmosphere of peace and serenity before the start of the training sessions.

From the Holy Family Monastery in Abrine, Lebanon – Tomb of the Blessed Patriarch Elias Howayek – the Media of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) presents this video, which it filmed.

‏Hymn "Man of Providence" (Patriarch Elias Howayek), sung by Mounir Khalifeh.

Land of Holiness 1 - Saint Rafqa Hemlaya, Lebanon

“Living Water”

Carrying the theme “Living Water” and the symbol “Immersion in Living Water,” inspired by Ezekiel 47:9 and 12, the Ecumenical Family in the Middle East and around the world unites to celebrate the “Season of Creation” 2026. This season constitutes an Ecumenical, Christian, and environmental station to contemplate and care for our common home, the Oikos of God.

Each year, the Season’s celebrations begin on September 1, the day that many Church Families celebrate as the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, and others celebrate as the Feast of Creation. It ends on October 4, with the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of ecology.

In this context, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), which is a Member of the Season of Creation Ecumenical Steering Committee, issues the guide for the “Season of Creation” 2026 in Arabic, after the MECC Theological and Ecumenical Department translated into Arabic, as is customary annually.

“With Freedom of Conscience and Sincere Faith”

The Apostle Paul contrasts slavery and freedom. Slavery, which is sometimes described as servitude or bondage, is also a central theme in Galatians chapters 4–5.

When the obligation of the Old Testament Law, or any law, is used as the primary means of justification before God and humanity, it becomes a heavy yoke that keeps people in both inward and outward bondage. This was the issue surrounding circumcision that troubled the earliest Christians. What constituted Christian sufficiency: the written law, or something more?

The Apostle’s teaching was clear: if religion presents itself merely as a set of obligations defined by law, or as submission to forms and rituals, then faith is emptied of its spirit. Belief is reduced to a list of things to be performed.

In Christ, believers are no longer children under guardians and trustees, but sons and daughters of God through sincere faith in Christ (Gal. 4:1–7). This is why Apostle Paul declares, “Christ has set us free” (Gal. 5:1). This freedom is first and foremost liberation from the condemnation of sin, from the compulsion to earn salvation through good works, and from every human effort to seek righteousness apart from the grace of God.

Upon this foundation evangelical theology has emphasized the freedom of the Christian conscience…

MECC Participates in the Celebration

On the occasion of the 180th Anniversary of the founding of the Armenian Evangelical Church, the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE) held a celebratory Worship Service under the theme “Freedom of Conscience and the Responsible Faith” (Galatians 5.1), on Sunday, June 21, 2026, at the First Armenian Evangelical Church in Beirut.

Attendees were His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Catholicos Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church of Cilicia, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Catholic Family; the Representative of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches; the Representative of His Eminence Archbishop Hosam Naoum, Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem and Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East, and Member of the Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches; and the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Professor Michel Abs.

The celebration brought also together Representatives of various Church Families, as well as official, Religious, cultural, intellectual, and social figures.

Together Towards Strengthening the Ecumenical Spirit and the Media Mission!

At the invitation of the Communication Department of the World Council of Churches (WCC), an online Ecumenical meeting was held on Monday, June 22, bringing together communication and media colleagues from various global Ecumenical organizations, with the participation of the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC).

Discussions centered around the most prominent current Ecumenical and media-related issues and topics. Participants provided updates on their work and activities, each according to their respective programs. They also shared their concerns and aspirations regarding both the Ecumenical and media spheres in the coming period.

The gathering served as a platform for exchanging expertise and perspectives, as well as strengthening cooperation among Ecumenical Church and humanitarian organizations, with the aim of developing a shared media mission.

As part of its efforts to develop capacities and enhance skills, colleagues from the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) participated in a training workshop entitled “Time Management and the Four Management Personalities”, led by the trainer Mr. Samir Costantine, Director and Founder of “Wazanat”. The workshop was organized by the Christian Publisher League (CPLL) at the Bible Society in Lebanon, on Friday, June 19, 2026, at the Society’s headquarters in Beirut.

This workshop was the eighth session in the training series “Effective Christian Publishing and Its Methods,” which brings together representatives from various organizations and publishing houses with the aim of enhancing professional competence and developing the skills of those working in the field of Christian publishing.