Dr. Michel Abs, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) welcomed at the Council's headquarters in Beirut, the priest of the parish Mar Behnam & Sarah for Syriac Catholic, Father David Melki. Father melki offered Dr. Abs a copy of the documentary “Roots don’t die”, while he was accompanied by a team of the media committee, Johnny Karam, Raffi Sayegh, Leah Adel Meemary and Tony Azar. After the team offered their gift and congratulated Dr. Abs for his new position as Secretary General for the MECC, Melki explained the reasons that pushed him to prepare this documentary; Which studied the Biography of Mor Ephram the Syriac, in coincidence with the Saint's centenary and his declaration as a Saint for the whole church in 1920.

Con el fin de difundir la educación para la salud entre el mayor número posible de miembros de la sociedad, el Consejo de Iglesias de Oriente Medio (MECC) organizó una jornada de formación sobre concienciación sanitaria, en la que participaron veinte mujeres en Damasco y Damasco Rural. Durante los seis días de formación, los participantes conocieron las enfermedades más virales de la sociedad, sus causas, tratamiento y precauciones a tomar. Además de aprender cómo medir la presión arterial y un entrenamiento básico en primeros auxilios. Se dedicaron dos días más al apoyo psicológico, durante el cual las damas aprendieron sobre las habilidades de comunicación efectiva, el discernimiento, el pensamiento positivo, el manejo de los desafíos y el establecimiento de una meta y un plan para lograrlo.

The catastrophe that hit the heart of the capital Beirut on the 4th of August, at a time where the country was drowning in an endless cycle of political, economic and health crises. On that day, the scale was tipped, during which the Lebanese people lived horrifying and difficult hours in a tragic black cloud. But the very next day, the Lebanese rushed to the streets of the destroyed capital, and before scenes of massive destruction, they stood in solidarity to save their injured capital, in complete absence of the government. The Lebanese people, especially youth, refused to have their dreams buried in these streets, that turned into war-like zones; rather they wanted to saw hope to rebuild their Beirut.

Télé Lumière - Noursat dedicated a weekly segment for the Middle East Council of Churches every Thursday in "Al Nour Maana" show, to discuss the latest updates regarding the MECC appeal as well its relief and development projects in Beirut.

The families of the victims and those affected are revolting

Although at a smaller scale, demonstrations once again erupted in the capital, calling for justice transparency and the truth. Till today, not one low or high level employee, or political figure has been sacked, revealing the degree of accountability in the country. Laughably, the government during the beginning of the month, mourned the death of a Kuwaiti ruler when it continuously failed to honor those that fell in Beirut, by delivering swift justice. Yet again, our political elite sucked up to our wealthier neighbors hoping to receive some petty cash. As for the matter of those that had fallen, knowing Lebanon’s history and political climate, they may join a long roster of casualties that were forgotten across the ages.

With the aim of spreading health education among the largest possible number of society members, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) organized a training session about health awareness, in which twenty women participated in Damascus and Rural Damascus. During the six days training, the participants learned about the most viral diseases in society, their causes, treatment and precautions to take. In addition to learning the right ways to measure blood pressure and basic first aid training. An extra two days were dedicated to psychological support; During which the ladies learned more about effective communication skills, discernment, positive thinking, dealing with challenges and setting a goal, and a plan to achieve it.

Así como Su Beatitud el Patriarca John X Yazigi de Antioquía y de todo el Oriente me honró con su agradecimiento y me llenó con su amor al encargarme y nominarme para el cargo de Secretario General del Consejo de Iglesias de Oriente Medio, y como ustedes mismos han aceptado amablemente esta nominación, permítanme expresarles mi más profundo agradecimiento por haberme confiado este precioso talento.Permítanme compartir con ustedes, además, la firme convicción que tengo con respecto a un talento del que seré responsable, ya que se deposita en mi una confianza en este histórico momento presente que todos atravesamos y que estamos sumidos en peligros y que no ha conocido precedentes.

La UNIFIL interviene

Esta semana, la UNIFIL envió sus fuerzas al puerto de Beirut para apoyar a las autoridades con la remoción de escombros y apoyar los esfuerzos de construcción luego de la devastadora explosión del puerto del 4 de agosto. Los equipos de la ONU lo harán en tres fases, para permitir que las operaciones en el puerto se reanuden lo antes posible, ya que la economía del país también está en ruinas y se necesita cada centavo. Sin embargo, no hay duda de que este esfuerzo es una buena señal de que el Líbano es una de las principales preocupaciones de la comunidad internacional. Tal vez, esta sea una buena señal de que la intervención extranjera en la construcción aumentará con el tiempo y pondrá de rodillas a los responsables de la tragedia o de la corrupción en el Líbano.

Cartas de felicitación de organizaciones internacionales, iglesias miembros de MECC y amigos al Dr. Michel Abs, luego de ser elegido como Secretario General de MECC por los próximos cuatro años, deseándole un camino exitoso y bendecido en medio de las difíciles circunstancias por las que atraviesan Oriente Medio y sus iglesias.

El Departamento de DSPR representado por la Sra. Sylvia Haddad le deseó suerte a la Secretaria General Honoraria, Dra. Souraya Bechealany, en sus esfuerzos futuros y su misión futura. Le dieron un regalo: una bufanda hecha a mano de “Enaach”, un taller en el campamento palestino en el Líbano.

Syria and Lebanon

Humanitarian Update

Reporting period: from 28 September to 5 October 2020

As His Beatitude Patriarch John X Yazigi of Antioch and all the East honored me with his appreciation and overwhelmed me with his love by commissioning me and nominating me to the office of the General Secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches,

And as You yourselves have graciously accepted this nomination,

Allow me to express to You my deepest gratitude as you have entrusted to my care this most precious talent.

Let me furthermore share with you the firm belief that I have concerning a talent for which I shall be accountable as it is put in my trust in the present historical moment we are all passing through and as we are engulfed in dangers that know no precedent.

Dr. Michel Abs received congratulations letters from international organizations, MECC member churches and friends, after being elected as MECC Secretary General for the next four years, wishing him a successful and blessed journey amid the difficult circumstances the Middle East and its churches are going through.

The DSPR Department represented by Mrs. Sylvia Haddad wished the Honorary Secretary General Dr. Souraya Bechealany luck in her future endeavors and her future mission. They presented her with a gift; a handmade scarf from “Enaach” a workshop in the Palestinian Camp in Lebanon.

The family of the General Secretariat of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) gathered in Beirut for an amicable lunch, in recognition of the Honorary General Secretary, Dr. Souraya Bechealany, who left her position as Secretary General of the Council and handed it over to the new Secretary General, Dr. Michel Abs.

A meeting was held today at the headquarters of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in the presence of the MECC team with the Honorary Secretary General, Dr. Souraya Bechealany and the Tearfund committee director of Lebanon, Jordan and Yemen Karen Soerensen along with the regional director of the Middle East, Martin Leacm. The meeting took place to finalize the details and to set a starting date for an Emergency Humanitarian project between both partners.

The Theological and Ecumenical Department of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), organized a Trauma Healing and Spiritual Counseling program in partnership and cooperation with the Youth office and the Patriarchal Seminary of the Greek Melkite Catholic Churh - Rabwa. This program targeted a group of young people from different member churches, scout and religious movements. It aims at supporting the participants psychologically and spiritually, so that they can in turn, help others the same way.

After the 4th of August, the words "explosion, port disaster, Beirut does not die, victims, destruction, funerals, injured, transparent international investigation, corruption,…” are dominating the Lebanese scene and all Lebanese conversations. Moreover, pain and sadness are at a greater depth in the Lebanese hearts; and with every sun rise the effects of the hideous crime that hit the capital are revealed further. Everyone is still under shock. Adults and young people are suffering from psychological symptoms and depression in addition to permanent health problems. How do people recuperate their wellbeing, how do they heal from such traumatic symptoms?

The UNIFIL intervenes

This week, the UNIFIL dispatched its forces to the Beirut port to support authorities with the clearing of debris and construction efforts in the aftermath of the devastating Aug. 4 port explosion. UN teams will do so in three phases, to allow operations at the port to resume as soon as possible, seeing that the country’s economy is also in ruins and every penny is needed. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that this endeavor is a good sign that Lebanon is one of the international community’s primary concern. Maybe, this is a good sign that constructive foreign intervention will increase over time, and put those who were responsible for the tragedy or for the corruption in Lebanon on their knees.

Dr. Michel Abs , the new Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches, was the guest in a special episode on Télé Lumière and Noursat, during which he discussed periods of the Council’s history through which he was present. In addition he highlighted the challenges that the Council is facing today and revealed its plan for the future.