Department of Diakonia and Ecumenical Relief

Since its establishment, the Middle East Council of Churches has sought to protect the neediest and most vulnerable groups, preserving their rights and dignity through its various humanitarian programs that include relief and development, justice, peace, human rights and advocacy, migrants and refugees. The following video, entitled “A Story of Success”, emphasizes the MECC relief work through the Diakonia Department and the Ecumenical Relief Program, and the most prominent humanitarian programs and activities which are being implemented by the Department in various countries of the Middle East, which is suffering under the weight of social, economic, health and security crises...

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches you can find the message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, which was entitled this week “Child Labor and Afflicted Humanity”, coinciding with the World Day Against Child Labour on June 12.

The issue also presents an interview with the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs on MTV Lebanon, during which he was accompanied by the Director of the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department Mrs. Huguette Salameh, to shed light on the activities of the MECC 12th General Assembly. This is in addition to another interview with Dr. Abs on Radio Liban Libre, about the General Assembly and the Christian presence in the region.

The twelfth of June is the Day against Child Labor. This is how it was delimited by the United Nations, which, through its various institutions, is considered as a spearhead in the fight against this scourge that wounds humanity to its core.

The statistics included on the United Nations website dealing with this topic consider that during the year 2020, ten percent of children 5 years and above participated in child labor worldwide, or a total of 160 million children, sixty percent of whom were boys.

This phenomenon is not new and should not surprise the reader.

Entitled by Pope Francis “Listening with the Ear of the Heart”

The world is celebrating the International Day of Social Media in its 56th edition this year, which is scheduled on June 30 of each year, aiming at enhancing awareness and spreading knowledge about the social media platforms to be used in a better way, especially in spreading and consolidating human values ​​based on peace, love and brotherhood, avoiding hate speech and conflicts.

The MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs was the guest of “Azamat Wa Kadaya” program (which means “Crises and Issues”) on Radio Liban Libre with Houda Eid, on Saturday, June 4, 2022. During the interview, Dr. Abs pointed out the activities of the MECC 12th General Assembly and its objectives, as well as, the Christian presence in the region and the importance of the Christians’ role, especially in overcoming all their challenges.

The MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs was the guest of MTV Lebanon, on Sunday, June 5, 2022, in "With Jesus" segment during the morning show “Alive” with Elie Ahwash, in order to shed light on the MECC 12th General Assembly event and the post General Assembly activities. Dr. Abs tackled the importance of the General Assembly, its objectives and the framework of its convening, highlighting its theme "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid" (Matthew 14: 27), agenda and activities, especially the visit of the Heads of the Eastern Churches to the President of the Arabic Republic of Egypt Mr. Abdel Fattah El Sisi.

Le courage de la vérité,

du témoignage et du patrimoine séculaire

Ecrit par Professeur Antoine Messarra, Chaire Unesco-USJ, Liban

Cet article a été publié sur le site web de “L’Orient Le Jour”

La 12e Assemblée générale du Conseil des Eglises du Moyen-Orient (MECC-CEMO), tenue au Centre papal Anba Bishop à Wadi el-Natrun en Egypte, les 16-20 mai 2022, avec la participation de plus de cent des plus hauts représentants de toutes les églises du Moyen-Orient, constitue une étape renouvelée pour le Conseil dont la fondation remonte à 1974. La 12e Assemblée, organisée par le secrétaire général, Dr. Michel Abs et l’équipe du CEMO, offre en effet un panorama global de la situation régionale actuelle et détermine les grandes priorités d’avenir.

Within the framework of the “Restoration Fund for Rehabilitation of Faith-based Social Services & Religious Infrastructure Damaged During the Crisis in Syria” program which is implemented by MECC with the support of Kerk in Actie in Netherlands, in various Syrian governorates, you can find a new documentary entitled “The Missakian Cultural Center for the Armenian Protestant Community is Back to Life”. The documentary sheds lights on the restoration and rehabilitation work that brought life back to the Missakian Center located in Kessab town in the Latakia Governorate, which was victim of the destruction caused by terrorist attacks due to the Syrian war.

Report: May 2022

In spite of the receding global economy as detailed by the IMF, the Middle East is standing firm behind pre-approved projects being implemented. For every challenge that might arise as a result of events surrounding the region, most local governments are standing firm behind well-tailored policies. Unfortunately, others are still lagging behind in terms of tangible progress, due to shadowing state-corruption that is burdening societies at large.

Thank you from the Heart!

Wearing their white shirts and bright smiles, they spread life, hope and youth pulse at the Papal Logos Center in Wadi El Natrun during the activities of the MECC 12th General Assembly, hosted by the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt.

They are volunteers. Young women and men who took a break from their universities and jobs and came to serve the heads and leaders of the Eastern Churches, and friends from all over the world, in an event hosted by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II. They all translated their love to His Holiness by working hard and tirelessly, taking care of every detail from the smallest to the biggest one, aiming at making this historical event a great success.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches you can find thank you letters from the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs to the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt Mr. Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, and Reverend Dr. Andrea Zaki, following the MECC 12th General Assembly held with the hospitality of the Coptic Orthodox Church and with the support of the Evangelical Church in Egypt, at the Logos Papal Center in Wadi El Natrun. As for the message of Dr. Abs, it was entitled this week “General Assembly Sequential Outlook”.

The Communication and Public Relations Department at the Middle East Council of Churches have now issued its online Ecumenical calendar for the month of June 2022. It includes the Ecclesiastical and Liturgical feasts of the various families of Churches in the Middle East. In addition to international days identified by the United Nations, and which are related to the MECC identity and its spiritual and human mission. Noting that the remaining months of the year will be published consecutively.

On the occasion of the Feast of the Holy Family’s Entry into Egypt, which is celebrated by the Coptic Church on the first of June of each year, the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department presents a documentary entitled “From Egypt I Called My Son”, highlighting the most prominent historical stations of the Coptic Church, a history of martyrdom and Holiness. The documentary was screened for the first time during the opening ceremony of the MECC 12th General Assembly, which was held under the title "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid" (Matthew 14: 27) with the generous hospitality of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, at the Papal Logos Center in Wadi El Natrun in Egypt from 16 to 20 of May 2022.

A Thank you letter from the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs to Reverend Dr. Andrea Zaki, President of the Evangelical Churches in Egypt, the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services and the Fellowship, following the MECC 12th General Assembly which was held with the support of the Evangelical Church in Egypt, and with the hospitality of the Coptic Orthodox Church headed by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, at the Logos Papal Center in Wadi El Natrun in Egypt, under under the title of "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid" (Matthew 14: 27).

A Thank you letter from the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs to His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, who has hosted the MECC 12th General Assembly, at the Logos Papal Center in Wadi El Natrun in Egypt, under under the title of "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid" (Matthew 14: 27).

A Thank you letter from the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs to the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Mr. Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, following the MECC 12th General Assembly hosted by the Coptic Orthodox Church under the patronage of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, at the Logos Papal Center in Wadi El Natrun in Egypt, under under the title of "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid" (Matthew 14: 27).

Armenian Translation Available

The MECC Communication and Public Relations Department presents in cooperation with the Media Center affiliated to the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt C.O.C, a special interview with His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Cilicia, during the MECC 12th General Assembly held with the hospitality of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, at the Logos Papal Center in Wadi El Natrun in Egypt.

Watch a special interview with His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos, Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London and President of SAT-7, with the Media Center affiliated to the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt C.O.C, during the MECC 12th General Assembly held with the hospitality of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, at the Logos Papal Center in Wadi El Natrun in Egypt.

The Service and Relief Department- Diakonia, at the Middle East Council of Churches, Syria Office, implemented remedial classes for 9th-grade students in five institutes and schools in Rural Damascus. 600 students benefited from the program that aims at supporting students to continue their academic attainment.

The classes provided the needed information for the main subjects in order to promote the academic level of students and enable them to pass the final 9th-grade official exams successfully.

The 3-months training included psychosocial support sessions for 400 students entitled “Life skills - a journey with myself”.

One of the participants said, “the remedial classes played a major role in helping me to understand the curriculum as I became able to continue my studies alone. I used to face difficulties in studying math, science, English, and French. However, now my academic level has improved a lot”.

The MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs was the guest of “Al Nour Maana” program (which means “The Light is with Us”) with Lea Maamari, on Télé Lumiere and Noursat, on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. During the episode, Dr. Abs shed light on the activities of the MECC 12th General Assembly and its final statement, as well as, the projects and activities that will be implemented in the post General Assembly period.