Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian on a Visit to MECC in Beirut:
Martyrdom is part of the salvation that God has granted us, and we have to consolidate the concept of salvation through the various fields in which we work
Incarnation is important in the MECC testimony,
especially as the Council prepares for its 50-Year Jubilee
Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs:
The biggest challenge lies in the MECC sustainability to fulfill its mission as a source for interaction and togetherness between Churches and other components of our societies
As part of his follow up to the work of the Middle East Council of Churches, Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, MECC President for the Evangelical Family, President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East, and President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, visited the offices of the MECC General Secretariat in Beirut, on Wednesday 8 February 2023. He was received by the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, alongside the MECC team from the various departments.
Firstly, Dr. Abs welcomed Reverend Dr. Haidostian, and thanked him for his constant support and continuous cooperation in order to coordinate together to achieve the desired Ecumenical and humanitarian goals. He also mentioned that the biggest challenge lies in the MECC sustainability to fulfill its mission as a source for interaction and togetherness between Churches and other components of our societies. Moreover, Dr. Abs praised the work and testimony of the institutions affiliated to the Armenian Evangelical Church, in addition to its service and Pastoral role throughout history.
Moreover, Dr. Abs briefed Reverend Dr. Haidostian on the latest developments of the MECC work, especially in promoting the intellectual spirit through the programs and seminars it implements in order to build a network which brings together experts and specialists from different fields.
From his end, Reverend Dr. Haidostian emphasized the MECC role in building bridges between Churches, and stressed the importance of the incarnation, especially in the MECC testimony which is making since its establishment and through the many social crises that impregnated it with the concept of incarnation and relief spirit. Hence, Dr. Haidostian indicated that martyrdom is part of the salvation that God has granted us, and we have to consolidate the concept of salvation through the various fields in which we work.
Reverend Haidostian also discussed the MECC 50-Year Jubilee, for which preparations began towards its celebration in 2024. He stressed the importance of this occasion, especially in reviving the MECC memory and precising its new goals to continue the Christian and Ecumenical witness.
The meeting also included an introduction session between Reverend Haidostian and the MECC team, during which they discussed how each of MECC and the Armenian Evangelical Churches have directly responded to the emergency due to the earthquake that struck the north of the Middle East. They also discussed MECC issues and its Ecumenical mission, in addition to its role in bridging distances and supporting the neediest.
At the end, Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian offered the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, many intellectual and cultural publications which revolve around several humanitarian and historical issues, issued by Haigazian University and in cooperation with several humanitarian organizations.
