Middle East Socioeconomic Overview

Report: January 2025

2025 begins with massive changes that will forever change the Middle East and the world. From the easing of tensions to the emergence of leaders with different perspectives, there is no doubt that the year will be witnessing changes unlike any other preceding years. While it is still uncertain what will happen geopolitically in certain arenas, in others, there will be further cooperation in so many aspects including energy, and the Levantine Middle East will not be a stranger to this. Hopefully, things will transpire cordially and there will be no further escalation between global powers.

Details in this Report!

A report that sheds light on the workshop organized by the Diakonia and Social Service Department – Lebanon’s Office, at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), in partnership with the TearFund organization, entitled "Connecting Hearts and Minds", with the participation of a group of workers in the humanitarian and social fields from different Church Families and Lebanese regions, on 23 to 25 January 2025.

A report that sheds light on the Prayer that was held on the occasion of the closing of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2025, entitled “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26), at the First Armenian Evangelical Church - Kantari, Beirut, hosted by Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE), President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Evangelical Family, with the participation of the Heads of the Churches, and the presence of the MECC Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs.

The Closing Prayer was held under the title “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26), on Saturday 25 January 2025, at the First Armenian Evangelical Church - Kantari, Beirut.

The Closing Prayer was held under the title “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26), on Saturday 25 January 2025, at the First Armenian Evangelical Church - Kantari, Beirut.

You can find in the video the word delivered by His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, during the closing Prayer of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity", which was held on Saturday 25 January 2025, at the First Armenian Evangelical Church - Kantari, Beirut.

You can find in the video the word delivered by Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE), President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Evangelical Family, during the closing Prayer of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity", which was held on Saturday 25 January 2025, at the First Armenian Evangelical Church - Kantari, Beirut.

Father Rifaat Bader, the Head of the Catholic Center for Studies and Media, Publisher of Abouna Website, and Media Consultant on behalf of the Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), met with His Holiness Pope Francis in the Vatican, where he offered him an illustration of the Baptism Church and presented to him an overview about the upcoming Jordan Exhibition in the Vatican.

On Suboro TV

The Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, the Media Officer at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the Director of the Platform of the Word, and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC, was the guest in an episode of “Kel Yom Bi Yawmo” (“Everyday”) program on Suboro TV, to talk about the Media’s Role in Christian Unity, within the framework of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2025 entitled “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26).

On Suboro TV

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs was the guest in an episode of “Kel Yom Bi Yawmo” (“Everyday”) program on Suboro TV, to talk about the activities of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) within the framework of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2025 entitled “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26).

On Mariam TV

In the video, you can find a Church News Bulletin on Mariam TV, prepared and presented by the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, the Media Officer at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the Director of “The Platform of the Word”, and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC.

This report presents an overview about the visit of the Head of the Catholic Information Center in Lebanon Monsignor Abdo Abu Kasm, to the headquarters of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in Ras Beirut, on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.

The of Service and Relief - Diakonia Department at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Syria’s Office, holds health and psychological awareness sessions for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers in three governorates which are Damascus and its Countryside, Aleppo and Daraa.

Details in this report!

You can find the Prayer of the eighth day of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2025, included in its booklet, and which you may publish and distribute.

The theme of this year’s Week of Prayer is “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26).

You can find the Prayer of the seventh day of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2025, included in its booklet, and which you may publish and distribute.

The theme of this year’s Week of Prayer is “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26).

You can find the Prayer of the sixth day of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2025, included in its booklet, and which you may publish and distribute.

The theme of this year’s Week of Prayer is “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26).

the Media Officer at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the Director of “The Platform of the Word”, and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC

In an Episode About the Media’s Role in Christian Unity

On Suboro TV

Watch with us the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, the Media Officer at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the Director of the Platform of the Word, and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC, in an episode of “Kel Yom Bi Yawmo” (“Everyday”) program on Suboro TV, today, Wednesday, January 21, 2025, at 5:30 Beirut time, to talk about the Media’s Role in Christian Unity, within the framework of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2025 entitled “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26).

What Are the Details?

This report sheds light on the Ecumenical Prayer that was held by the Churches of Qamishli on the occasion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025 under the title “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26), with the blessing of the Bishops and Priests of the Churches in the city of Qamishli, and through the organization of the Christian Youth Meetings Committee.

Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE), President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Evangelical Family, was the guest of the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, the Media Officer at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the Director of the Platform of the Word, and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC, in a special episode from “The Platform of the Word” at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC).

The episode, which you can watch in the video, focused on the most important meanings of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity”, in addition to explanations about the theme that was chosen for this year, which is “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26). In addition, the episode highlighted the Prayer Service that will be held on the occasion of the closing of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2025, in celebration of the conclusion of the Fiftieth Year of the MECC Founding, as well as the announcement of the launch of the 1700th Year of the Council of Nicaea. The Prayer will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at 6:00 pm Beirut Time, at the First Armenian Evangelical Church - Kantari, Beirut.