Summer Camp 2016
More than 60 boys and girls from our church participated in the Summer Camp for kids at Schneller School in Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, from 14th of July to the 18th, 2016. The theme was "Following Jesus the Light of the World". This year 4 young people joined us from Germany and Nederland.
The General Assembly of the MECC
The four families of the Middle East Council of Churches (Orthodox, Oriental, Catholic and Evangelical) gathered in Amman for its 11th General Assembly from 6th to 8th of October 2016. The General Assembly was hosted by Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem and was supported by the welcoming of King Abdullah II of Jordan.
The Assembly has elected Rev. Badr as president of MECC on behalf of the Evangelical Family. He will serve a 4-year term along with Patriarchs Youhanna X Yaziji of the Orthodox (Antiochene) Family, Ignatius Aphrem II of the Oriental (Syrian) Orthodox Family and Louis Roufael Sako of the (Chaldean) Catholic Family. Father Michel Jalkh (far right) was elected General Secretary of MECC for a second term.
The Council reasserted the unity of the churches and called to strengthen the relationship between them and the Churches in the West, having in mind particularly the mass Christian immigration from the Middle East to the West, which has escalated and reached dangerous limits in the last 5 years. However, "we are not hopeless.. because Christ is in our midst".
See the Final Communique (ARABIC)
(Left: Bp. Munib Younan, Patr. Yussef Younan, Rev. Dr. Habib Badr, Patr. Afrem Karim, Patr. Theophilos, Patr. Youhanna Yaziji, Catholicos Aram Keshishian, Fr. Michel Jalkh)
Culture of the Word
On the occasion of celebrating the 150th anniversary of the founding the American University of Beirut (The Syrian Protestant College) Rev. Habib Badr participated in the celebration organized by Abey-Ain Drafil municipality at the old Evangelical seminary in the town, at the cradle of AUB. The ceremony took place on Monday, October 3, 2016. President of AUB, Dr. Fadlo Khouri unveiled a memorial plaque for the occasion. The ceremony included speeches by Rev. Badr, Dr. Khouri, Mr. Ghassan Hamze (Mayer of Abey), and Mr. Mounir Hamze (Association for Revival of Abey Heritage). Music by Ihab Jamal also accompanied the event.
“The Evangelical ethos is based in the culture of the "Word" ”, said Rev. Badr, “therefore, the educating and learning process is an integral part of the Evangelical church since the beginning of the Reformation”. Rev. Badr also encouraged educational institutions in Lebanon to train their students to resolve the conflicts in peaceful and constructive ways.
Memorial Service for Kenneth Bailey
Kenneth E. Bailey is a Biblical scholar, professor, author, Presbyterian missionary and international lecturer. He passed away on 23 May, 2016. The Near East School of Theology (NEST), family and friends who loved Kenneth and his teaching remembered him on Sunday 9th of Oct. 2016 at special memorial service at NEST.
"Many of us who new Kenneth," said Rev. Badr in his words of comfort, "his steadfast faith, his contentedness in life, his penetrating way of thinking specially as a teacher and Biblical exeget, as well as his creative artistic work... all these show his lasting effect on many of us." Rev. Badr mentioned also the cross that Kenneth made from the nails of the Old Mission Compound in Downtown of Beirut which is still in the National Evangelical Church. He (and Dr. George Sabra) mentioned about another cross made by Kenneth from two big pieces of wood taken from Dhour Shweir (Mount Lebanon) and is placed in the small chapel of NEST, and is still there. Dr. Kenneth was indeed a source of strength and inspiration. May Kenneth's memory live eternally!
You may see the service on YouTube
