We meet today for a first gathering at "The Platform of the Word," colleagues and partners in ecumenical work, to celebrate the opening of the platform—a project equipped by Noursat for the Middle East Council of Churches—to advance ecumenical media in the Middle East and worldwide.

It was a blessed moment when Télé Lumière, through the tireless efforts of a struggling ecumenical media professional—our colleague in the Council and a veteran in Télé Lumière—decided to provide the oldest institution in ecumenical work in the region with modern and advanced means to spread the salvific message.

This initiative comes in the fiftieth year since the establishment of the Middle East Council of Churches in 1974, and in the ninety-fifth year since the establishment of the Near East Christian Council in 1929, the foundational nucleus of our Council.

However, this initiative, in addition to the efforts to achieve it by those concerned, did not come from a vacuum. There is a strong bond between Noursat and the Middle East Council of Churches due to decades of interaction, as well as the shared goal of common Christian work—that is, ecumenism.

An astute observer of the work of these two institutions might ask why they are not a single institution, not only because of their goals but also due to the homogeneity in approach and methodology. In this platform, the two institutions have become one in working to raise the lamp high in the dome of the sky, to illuminate the path for humanity.

You may find the full video of the opening of the Media Production Center “The Platform of the Word,” which was launched by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in partnership with Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel, in an official ceremony held on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at the Platform’s headquarters in the offices of the MECC General Secretariat in Beirut.

The MECC Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs: “we have taken new administrative and technical measures and procedures in order to strengthen the role of Ecumenical media in the Council, especially at the level of advocacy and awareness”

Stemming from the importance of the media in advocacy, awareness, and promoting human values, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) is launching a new phase for its media work, seeking to be a crying voice in the wilderness and a source of hope amidst all difficulties.

After months of preparations, the MECC regional media team held, on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, a coordination meeting in the presence of the MECC Secretary General, Professor Dr. Michel Abs, and Father Rifaat Bader, the Head of the Catholic Center for Studies and Media, Publisher of Abouna Website, and Media Consultant on behalf of the MECC Executive Committee, who participated online from Amman.

Participants were also colleagues in Lebanon’s office who participated in person from the MECC Headquarters in Beirut, and colleagues in Syria’s office who participated online via Zoom. They exchanged ideas and opinions in order to develop the mechanism of work among them and launch an updated work plan for the coming period using the advanced technologies and new equipment.

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and Télé Lumière - Noursat launched a New Media Ccenter entitled “The Platform of the Word,” in an official ceremony held on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at the Center’s headquarters in the offices of the MECC General Secretariat in Beirut.

Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs: "Through the documents we intend to produce, we will address—from an Ecumenical Christian perspective—all phenomena that concern modern humans”

Under the slogan "The Word Became Flesh," and on the occasion of its fiftieth anniversary, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), in partnership with Télé Lumière and Noursat TV station, launched a new Media Production Center titled "The Platform of the Word." The official ceremony was held on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at the platform's headquarters in the offices of the General Secretariat of the Middle East Council of Churches in Beirut, in the presence of Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs.

Participants in the celebration included:

• Dr. Marie-Thérèse Kreidy, Director of Programs at Télé Lumière and Noursat, representing the station

• Ms. Marutzella Abboud, representing the Near East School of Theology (NEST)

• Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, Responsible of the Platform and Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at the Council

• Dr. Laure Abi Khalil, Coordinator of the Social Capital Rehabilitation Project at the Council

• The team of the General Secretariat from various departments

Under the theme: "The Word Became Flesh", and on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of its founding, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), in partnership with Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel, launches the Media Production Center “The Platform of the Word", as an Ecumenical media message from the Middle East to the World.

Watch with us this video, which presents an overview about the the center based on the words of the MECC Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs.

On Mariam TV

The Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, Responsible of “The Platform of the Word” and Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), was the guest of “On Time” program, to talk about “The Platform of the Word,” the new Media Production Center launched by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in partnership with Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel.

With the announcement of the canonization of the Massabki Brothers, you may find a special episode entitled “The Massabki Brothers: Martyrdom and Holiness,” prepared and presented by the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), and produced by Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel.

This video presents a reflection entitled “Lebanon Is in Turmoil”. Through its words and scenes, it sheds light on the tragic situation that Lebanon is passing through, asking God, the God of justice and peace, to grant peace in the country and the entire world.

Stemming from its belief in the importance of serving with dignity, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) launched a new platform for homecare services in Lebanon, enabling service seekers to identify certified caregivers who have undergone extensive health training with Saint George Hospital University Medical Center (Beirut, Mount Lebanon, and Tripoli) and Khoury General Hospital (Zahle, Lebanon). Hence, the platform offers a variety of home services related to elderly care, mothers and newborn care, as well as babysitting and childcare.

In this context, the video sheds light on how this platform works and the details of its services. You may also click here to visit the platform’s website.

MECC, Télé Lumière - Noursat, and NEST

Towards Strengthening the Ecumenical Spirit and Spreading the Word of Christ Throughout the Earth

As part of the activities of the Fiftieth Year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), and in an ecumenical media step aiming at consolidating the Christian Faith and spreading human values ​​through the media, a memorandum of media cooperation was signed between the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Télé Lumière - Noursat TV channel, and the Near East School of Theology (NEST).

This cooperation comes after Brother Nour, Founder and Director of Télé Lumière and Noursat, and with his generous gesture, offered all the capabilities and technicalities of his esteemed media institution to the service of the MECC media work. As well as, after the Near East School of Theology hosted this work in its own studio, stemming from its belief in the importance of enhancing the ecumenical spirit through the media, so it can be a modern mean of conveying the Good News.

On this occasion, a special meeting was held to sign the memorandum in the presence of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, the NEST President Dr. George Sabra, the Representative of Brother Nour and Télé Lumière our colleague and Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, the team of the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department, and MECC colleagues. It took place on Wednesday 19 June 2024, at the offices of the MECC General Secretariat in Beirut. As well as, Father Rifaat Bader, the Head of the Catholic Center for Studies and Media and Publisher of Abouna Website, and MECC Member of the Executive Committee, and its representative for communication and media affairs.

With the League of the Lebanese Christian Publishers Affiliated to the Bible Society Association

Within the framework of capacity building and skills development, the League of the Lebanese Christian Publishers affiliated to the Bible Society Association, organized its third training as part of its training program, with the participation of the team of the Communication and Public Relations’ Department at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), alongside 36 colleagues representing 16 publishing houses in Lebanon. The training was held on Tuesday 21 November 2023, at the Bible Society headquarters in Beirut.

The training was presented by Dr. Mike Bassous, Secretary General and CEO of the Bible Society, and focused on marketing and its various types, in addition to Push vs Pull marketing, and its ways of implementation, stressing on its importance especially in our time today. During the session, Dr. Bassous gave his explanations and shared his expertise and experiences with the attendees, answering the participants’ questions and inquiries, as they applied together many exercises in order to consolidate the acquired information.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Middle East Council of Churches, Communication and Public Relations Department, you can find the joint statement issued by the Greek Orthodox and Syriac Orthodox Patriarchates of Antioch and All the East on the 10th yearly commemoration of the abduction of the Archbishops of Aleppo, His Eminence Metropolitan Boulos Yaziji and His Eminence Metropolitan Gregorios Youhanna Ibrahim. As for the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, it is entitled “Behind the Screen of Hate”. It was the speech that Dr. Abs delivered at the seminar organized by MECC, on the commemoration of the abduction of the two Archbishops of Aleppo, on Monday 24 April 2023.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Middle East Council of Churches, Communication and Public Relations Department, you can find the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, which title is “Antiochians despite the destructions!”. Dr. Abs spoke about the tour held by His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and MECC President for the Orthodox Family, in Antioch, following the earthquake that struck this region. Dr. Abs also called this tour “a tour of hope”, “because our alphabet is Antiochian”.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Middle East Council of Churches, Communication and Public Relations Department, you can find the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, which title is “Dignity for the afflicted person”. It was the speech he delivered during the last monthly webinar organized by MECC, on Thursday 30 March 2023, and in which he talked about the human dignity and the vulnerable people.

The issue also includes details about this monthly webinar which centered around the dignity for the afflicted people. It was also broadcasted on the MECC Facebook page (Part 1 – Part 2). Noting that this webinar was part of the “Human Dignity Project” - “Dialogue and Social Cohesion-Social Capital Rehabilitation”, which MECC is implementing consecutively.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Middle East Council of Churches, Communication and Public Relations Department, you can find the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, which title is “Religious Events and the Sharing in Common Life”. Dr. Abs highlighted the Ramadan experience that people live in Beirut, as in all the capitals of Arab countries. He mentioned that this experience reconciles hearts and strengthens the bond between people. Dr. Abs also stresses the importance of sharing a common life, removing psychological barriers between people, and encouraging them to get acquainted with mutual traditions, and even beliefs.

The Middle East Council of Churches, Communication and Public Relations Department, have now issued its online Ecumenical calendar for the month of April 2023. 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.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Middle East Council of Churches, Communication and Public Relations Department, you can find the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, which title is “The Feast of the Annunciation and the Unity of Humankind in Mary”. Dr. Abs centered his message around the act of the Annunciation which in itself constitutes a unique event in the course of the Christian faith as well as in the course of human salvation. He also talked about the Virgin Mary, the mother, the intercessor of tortured humanity and the symbol that brings people together.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Middle East Council of Churches, Communication and Public Relations Department, you can find a news about the meeting of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs and an MECC delegation with His Holiness Pope Francis, after the General Audience of His Holiness in the Vatican. You can also find the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, which title is “The Antiochian Levant of Life”. In his message, Dr. Abs talked about the tragedies that the people in the East have always suffered from, the East of Christianity, where the disciples were first called Christians. He also condemned all divisions, conflicts and crises, hoping that our Christianity, in the image and likeness of our Christ, is unshakable.

Report: February, 2023

1. Introduction

During February, a catastrophe in the form of an earthquake occurred in Turkey and Syria causing at least 46,400 casualties. As images of the horrifying news spread across television sets and other forms of mass media, one cannot help but wonder: Can the region bear any more calamities? Already, the region’s economy is hanging by a thread and its inhabitants have seen enough death and destruction. Although Turkey’s economy might be in a better spot to handle the earthquake’s ramification, Syria’s war-burdened economy will be unable to handle rehabilitation expenses.