A Special Episode of the Program "Phenomena" on Télé Lumière and Noursat - Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at 10:30 pm

Watch with us an episode of “Zawaher” ("Phenomena") program on Télé Lumière and its satellite Channel Noursat entitled: "The Jubilee Journey of the Middle East Council of Churches…", with the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel E. Abs, and with the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations and Director of the Platform of the Word at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, on Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at 10:30 pm, and the replay on Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 2:30 pm, Beirut and Eastern Mediterranean time. With the greetings of the editor and presenter of the program "Phenomena" Charbel Zouein *Follow the episode LIVE via the live website on the Internet:

https://noursat.tv/tv/noursat/live

His Eminence Metropolitan Antonios Al Soury, Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Zahle, Baalbek and their Dependencies, and Member of the Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) delivers a word via video on the occasion of the launching of “The Platform of the Word” at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in partnership with Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel. He was interviewed by the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, Director of the Platform, and Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC).

Video - Hymn from the Romaion Rite

Father Charbel El Khoury, the Parish Priest of Our Lady - Amchit, Lebanon delivers a word via video on the occasion of the launching of “The Platform of the Word” at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in partnership with Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel. He was interviewed by the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, Responsible of the Platform, and Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC).

Dr. Jacqueline Ayoub, Professor of Clinical Psychology at the Lebanese University, delivers a word via video on the occasion of the launching of “The Platform of the Word” at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in partnership with Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel.

The video presents a highlight about the Fourth General Assembly of the ACT Alliance International Organization, which was held in Indonesia, as well as an overview about the activities of the ACT Youth Pre Assembly, in addition to interviews with the General Secretary of ACT Alliance Mr. Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, and the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Reverend Professor Dr. Jerry Pillay.

Photo: Albin Hillert/ ACT

Word of the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs at the launching of the Media Production Center “The Platform of the Word”, at the Middle East Council of Churches in partnership with Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel.

He who was in the beginning,

And became flesh,

dwelt among us,

And wrote for us the Book of Love,

He who loved His enemies and blessed those who cursed Him,

And defended Himself with resounding silence,

He Who thanked His executioners and forgave them,

He whose blood flowed and watered the soil of the Holy Mountain,

And with Him began the New Testament,

He who drew for humanity the path of salvation from its sin and hypocrisy,

He is the Word!…

This report presents an overview about the activities of the ACT Alliance General Assembly, which was held under the theme “Hope in Action, Together for Justice,” between October 28 and November 1, 2024, in the Yogyakarta region - Indonesia.

Photo: Albin Hillert/ACT

In the presence of ACT Alliance General Secretary Mr. Rudelmar Bueno de Faria and the World Council of Churches General Secretary Reverend Professor Dr. Jerry Pillay, the General Assembly of ACT Alliance elected a new Governing Board. It includes representatives from different regions and continents around the world, among them Eng. Samer Laham, the nominee of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and Director of its Department of Diakonia and Social Service.

Photo: Albin Hillert/ACT

The issue of climate justice was the focus of many activities during the activities of the Youth Pre Assembly and the 4^th General Assembly of the global ACT Alliance in Indonesia, so what are the details?

This report presents some clarifications!

Photo: Albin Hillert/ACT

What Are Its Details?

Youth hopes for a better future. In this report, you can find an overview about the Youth Pre Assembly held by the international ACT Alliance in Yogyakarta - Indonesia, in addition to interviews with some of the participants who emphasized the bond of love that unites them.

Photo: Albin Hillert/ACT

The General Secretary of the International ACT Alliance Mr. Rudelmar Bueno de Faria delivers a word via video on the occasion of the launching of “The Platform of the Word” at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in partnership with Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel.

The General Secretary of the World Council of Churches Reverend Professor Dr. Jerry Pillay delivers a word via video on the occasion of the launching of “The Platform of the Word” at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in partnership with Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel.

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