National Evangelical Church of Beirut

Culture of the Word

On the occasion of celebrating the 150^th 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. 

Doctor Anise Freiha

The Helping Hand held its monthly meeting in Charles Saad hall on Fri. 27th of April at 3:30 pm. The guest speaker was Dr. George Freiha, the former director of OCP of the American University of Beirut. He was asked to talk about the late Dr.Anise Freiha, a member of our church, who was a linguist, a writer and a university professor. Anise Freiha was known for his love for the Lebanese village and wrote about it and it's traditions so that it doesn't fade away. He left to the Arabic reader so many books the most famous is اسمع يا رضا. 

Documentary on Wadi3 Philisteen

The Helping Hand Association hosted in Mach 7, 2019 a special event to view a half hour documentary that tells the story of how the famous Egyption journalist, author and literary critic Wadi3 Philisteen donated his extremely valuable library and personal correspondence to his former student Mrs Selma Mirshaq Sleem. Selma is a member of Helping Hand and our church. It's worth noting that Wadi3, who is now 98, belongs to the Evangelical church in Egypt.

Dr. Ayoub Tabet

The “Helping Hand Society” held its monthly meeting on Friday, Nov. 24, at the Charles Saad Hall.  Mrs. Badr began the meeting with a word of prayer then she introduced the guest, the author/poet/journalist Joseph Abi Daher who spoke about the Lebanese Protestant politician Dr. Ayoub Tabet. Dr. Tabet was the president of Lebanon in 1943 and served as a cabinet minister several times. He was also the secretary of the "Beirut Reform Movement" that sought independence from Ottoman rule. Abi Daher talked also about Tabet's poetical “Zajal” writings, his impeccable moral reputation and his faithfulness to a strict work ethic. 

Mr. Abi Daher emphasized the importance of Dr. Tabet's unusual personal qualities as a politician, his writings, reputation and dedication to work. He was born in a humble house in Bhamdoun, Lebanon in 1875. His father Gerges was a butcher, but in spite of that he received a good education. He had 11 brothers and sisters, but non of them lived except Elisabeth, Rachel and Ayoub himself. He came to Beirut at the age of 10. He lived there and studied at the Syrian Protestant College. Then he traveled to Texas where he founded Syria-Mount Lebanon League of Liberation with Jebran Khalil Jebran and Michael Naimeh. Later he returned back to Beirut with MD degree, but he shifted to political writings to lead a political reformation in Lebanon when the Ottoman authority where chasing and hanging many of people from that Movement.

Rev. Badr had earlier been asked to explain the main principles of the Reformation, particularly the idea of the "priesthood of all believers." Coffee, tea and cakes were served at the end of the meeting...presented by Rev. and Mrs. Badr in celebration of the birth of their granddaughter.