National Evangelical Church of Beirut

Thanksgiving Day

Helping Hand Society organized the celebration of Thanksgiving Day in our church on Friday, Nov. 17, 2017. "What a wonderful thing when you count your many blessings", Said Mrs Wadia Badr, "they are in everyday". The people participated also in giving thanks to God in short testimony of something they want to share from their personal life. Then, they sang few songs together and Rev. Badr said, "I think we should create a news station called: GNN. That is 'Good News Network', to talk only about the good things God gives us and happen with us everyday." Then the youth of our church played and sang few hymns and people praised the Lord with them.

Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin in Arabic

On Nov. 11, 2017 the Near East School of Theology (NEST) in Beirut celebrated its 85th anniversary by launching the first ARABIC version of "Institutes of the Christian Religion" by John Calvin. أسس الدين المسيحي. The book is one of the most important classical writings of Reformation in the 16th century. The Arabic translation is now an important work for the Arabic library and for the Evangelical Churches in the Middle East.

The work translated from English (McNeill edition) into Arabic by Rev. Adib Awad, Rev. Walid Harmoush and Rev. Dr. Victor Makari. Revised the Arabic language Dr. Souhel Sleiman. And the editor was Dr. George Sabra, president of NEST who considered the book as the first Evangelical systematic theology-book that emerged to help the church at that time to build its spirituality and piety. One can regard the work as summa theologia, but for Calvin it was summa pietatis (the whole sum of piety and whatever is necessary to know about the doctrine of salvation).

This translation work was supported from the beginning by Fondation pour l'aide au protestantisme réformé (FAP) in France and GZB in Holland. POSTER (IN ARABIC)

The 500th Jubilee of the Reformation in Lebanon

On the occasion of the 500th Jubilee of Reformation, tha National Evangelical Church of Beirut (NECB) hosted a joint worship service for all Evangelical churches in Lebanon on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, organized by "Reformation Sunday Committee". The head of the Supreme Council of the Evangelical Churches in Syria and Lebanon, Rev. Dr. Salim Sahyouni, mentioned that the service of this year is of dual importance. It comes on the 500th anniversary of the Reformation Movement, with its all positive and negative impacts, the challenges it faced during these long years, and the significant achievements on the ecumenical level. 

Furthermore, it comes with two important events. The visit of Pope Francis to Lund (Sweden) in order to inaugurate the Year of the Jubilee in which a joint communiqué was issued with the President of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Bishop Munib Younan, and the meeting of Pope Francis with the Patriarch Kirill of Moscow in Cuba and their joint statement. Rev. Sahyouni stressed the uniqueness of the ecumenical developments that we are witnessing. He implored God to grant His church the trust to preserve the blessings of Reformation and its legacy.

After a short video entitled "History Witnesses", Rev. Nabil Mamarbashi delivered the opening prayer on behalf of Rev. Dr. Habib Badr the senior pastor of NECB. The meditation given by the Rev. Dr. Ghassan Khalaf was entitled "The Constant Jesus-Revolution", in which he presented the profound implications of the Protestant Movement and its achievements worldwide on theological, ethical, social, political and scientific levels.

Refreshments followed the event and Rev. Sahyouni was honored by the Committee.  

See the PROGRAM HERE

The BROCHURE HERE

Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra Plays the Reformation

On Friday, Oct. 20, 2017 and on the occasion of the 500th Jubilee of the Reformation, the conductor Fouad Fakhouri form our church (NECB) directed the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra at St. Joseph Jesuit church in Monot, Beirut, in two symphonic pieces: Mendelssohn's "Reformation" symphony and Beethoven symphony No.5. 

Rev. Habib Badr, head of the Celebration Committee of the Reformation, thanked Mr. Fakhouri who came from USA especially for this event, and Dr. Walid Musalam head of the Lebanese Conservatory. Also Rev. Badr welcomed the distinguished guests, the German Ambassador to Lebanon Mr. Martin Huth, the Ambassador of the European Union Christina Lassen, The Bishop of Hanover Ralf Meister and many local Evangelical pastors and multitude of people who came to celebrate this event.

Reformation: Collège Protestant of Beirut

On the occasion of the 500th Jubilee of the Reformation, an educational conference took place at the "Collège Protestant Français" on Oct. 19, 2017. Rev. Habib Badr with Rev. Pierre Lacoste (pastor of the French Protestant Church of Beirut) and Mr. Serge Tillmann (theologian) presented their historical and theological perspectives on the Protestant movement and its impacts on Europe, and later in the Middle East. Mr. Anis Nassif (President of the French Protestant Presence in Lebanon - PPFL) also presented a short history of the Collège Protestant in Lebanon.

Award to Rev. Klaus Schmidt

On the occasion of the last visit of Rev. Klaus Schmidt, the retiring Chairman of the Schneller Association in Germany (EVS) and Rev. Uwe Gräbe to our church, Rev. Badr decorated Rev. Schmidt the "Medals of Service" for his 55 years of continual ministry in Germany and Lebanon on behalf of EMS, EVS and the two Schneller Schools in Bekaa and Jordan.

The EVS also is hosting General Meeting at the Church of Nikodemus in Stuttgart Botnang on Sunday 22nd of October 2017. During this event, Rev. Schmidt will be awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany for his many years of commitment to Schneller work. Rev. Habib Badr will give the sermon on that occasion. (The last 2 photos are added later and taken during the 22nd celebration).   

We thank the Lord for Rev. Schmidt's faithful ministry and dedication.  

Chorals of Martin Luther

On the occasion of celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, and on Sunday Oct. 15, 2017, Klaus Schulten the organist from Germany performed on our church pipe organ several Chorals written and composed by Martin Luther:

Out of the depths I cry unto thee, O Lord - Psalm 130
(Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir)
Johann Sebastian Bach, Clavierübung (1739)  

Our Father Who art in Heaven
(Vater unser im Himmelreich)
George Böhm (1661-1733)

Praeludium in G
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809-1847) 

KLICK HERE to see the program
THE BROCHURE

Mrs. Schulten also decided to restore an old organ from a church in Scotland and arranged to bring it to Johann Ludwig Schneller school in Bekaa, Lebanon. The dream of the Schneller founder, Hermann Schneller, and school director, Rev. George Haddad will become true.    

Exploring the Love of God

Sunday school in our church started after the Summer break of 2017. More than 40 kids joined together in their newly renovated classes and spent a great time. They enjoyed their first day together with the magician and his tricks, games and puppet show. The theme was on "Exploring the Love of God".

From now on, every Sunday kids will have their own time of fun at the Sunday School at 10:30 AM.

KLICK HERE to see the brochure 

Confirmation Service 2017

On Sunday the 1st of October 2017 our church held a Confirmation Service for nine confirmands who have accomplished their preparation sessions for confirmation. After long meetings of reflecting, exploring and learning about what it means to be member of Christ's Body, the Church congregation welcomed the nine youths to take part in the Communion. The message of the worship service was delivered by Rev. Nabil Mamarbashi based on the Gospel of John 14:15-21, "Keep My Commandments". Then Rev. Habib Badr with Rev. Mamarbashi laid their hands on the confirmands as a sign of reaffirmation for their baptism and the reception of the gifts of the Holy Spirit that were given in Baptism. 

The Way Forward

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) will host a conference in Amman, Jordan to commemorate the 500 years' anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.

Rev. Habib Badr and Dr. George Sabra from our church will participate in that conference between 26-28th of Sep. 2017. Many students from the Near East School of Theology (NEST) with former NEST students will participate too in the conference. 

The title of the conference:

THE EVANGELICAL REFORMATION AND THE MIDDLE EAST: THE WAY FORWARD

And will address four points: 

1. To celebrate the contributions of the evangelical movement in the Middle East.

2. To discuss the future of the evangelical churches in the Middle East.

3. To deepen the fellowship and cooperation between the members of the Fellowship of Middle East Evangelical Churches.

4. Give an evangelical voice to the Arab societies today with the regards the challenges faced today.

To know more about the lectures kindly SEE THE PROGRAM (ENGLISH - ARABIC)