Sunday School Camp "Leaving and Returning"The Sunday school camp “Leaving and Returning” was organized by Church of God in Mansourieh for the kids that attend Sunday school as well as the kids of Nabaa. Gaby was the leader with a great team that included Louis, Samia, Joumana, Rein, Anwar, Elie, Young Shim, Rymco, Noura, Hadi and Simonda. Noura cooked all meals! The camp took place from August 24th till the 27th in Ajaltoun. About 30 kids, ages 8-15, had a chance to learn about God’s great love through the story of the Prodigal Son. That was the goal of the camp.The kids watched and discussed a series of short movies produced by Hadi, Louis, Anwar, Elie, Rein and Simonda.
There were also lots of fun games such as “Find a Princess”, etc. Check the pictures!
Slideshow (If you don't see all pictures right away, please, give it some time to load)
Gaby, Hadi, Samia, Christelle, Rachelle, Louis, Anwar, Young Shim, and Samar got back just few days ago. They were in Bekaa Valley, Deir El Ahmar area, in Btedhi village... June 29 - July 4 there was a camp called "Tutty Frutty" organized by a Catholic Church to teach the kids about the spiritual gifts. People from our Church were asked to come and train young camp leaders. There were about 100 people. The children - 4 -13 years old, the camp leaders - 13 - 19 years old and our folks. Children were primarily from a Catholic background. However, there were also Muslims and Maronites.The camp was great! The weather was beautiful and the activities were a lot of fun. You can see the pictures as they are worth more than a thousand words! Slideshow 1 (If you don't see some pictures in the slideshow, please, be patient,- it may need a little time to load)Slideshow 2(If you don't see some pictures in the slideshow, please, be patient, - it may need a little time to load)The most exciting of all, though is that many of these precious kids gave their lives to Jesus... Praise the Lord!
PRAISES- We finished Alpha 2008!!! It was great! We are overjoyed that some of our new friends have also become our new brothers and sisters in Christ! Praise the Lord! We are also very thankful for His provision for Alpha 2008!
- Pastor Said and Church of God worship team had a priviledge to participate in Revival meetings in the New Church in Ashrafieh. It was a wonderful experience.- Praise God, the situation in Lebanon got better, and Lebanon finally has a President and fully formed government. PRAYER REQUESTS- Please, continue praying for the peace in Lebanon, and it's leaders. - Please, pray for those who accepted Jesus during the Alpha, for their spiritual growth and protection.
- We'd like to start Alpha Course in Nabaa area with the parents of the kids who attend out "Spring of Life" Center. Please, pray for God's blessing upon this project and also for financial needs for it.- Our "Spring of Life" Center for children at risk always needs prayer. Please, pray for the children and the staff. Also, for God's guidance, wisdom and provision.- Please, pray for summer camps as well. There are supposed to be sunday school and junior youth camps in July.
UNION CHURCHES
Mutual Faith Ministries in Lebanon serves local community through media, conferences, evangelistic events and fellowship in Mansourieh. With a distinct but not exclusive focus on the Lebanese community, it also seeks to serve and present the Gospel to all.Lebanon is a very multicultural country. It has been home for people from all over the world. There are certain ehtnic groups that reside in Lebanon in significant numbers and formed their own communities. Mutual Faith Ministries Arabic have been serving these communities in various ways. It helped to start or have been supporting Churches within these communities, through media and leadership training.If you would like to find out more about one of these Churches or have any question about them, please, contact following leaders or Said Deeb (03-763744):Egyptian FellowshipPastor Milad Maurice03 221320Ethiopian Churches:El Shaddai Pastor Yorda03 476563Spring of Life NabaaSister Victoria70 177828Philippino ChurchesAshrafieh Sofil CenterSister Gloria Dumia03 749437Open Doors DauraSister Gloria03 034983Hillside Ministry MansouriehPastor Chris03 615071Sri-Lankan ChurchChurch of Christ/DauraBrother Lawrence03 019679Brother Anura70 186496Nigerian ChurchChrist's Victory/DauraPastor Robert03 741156Ghana ChurchChurch of PentecostPastor John03 947910Lebanese ChurchesFull Gospel ChurchPastor Joseph03 712863Rivers of Life NabaaPastor Samman03 235165Pastor Michel Abou Nassif03 627856
The Dinner will take place on September 5th at 8 pm at "Kasr El Sufara" restaurant (all details are on the ticket).
To purchase tickets, please, contact:Pastor Said: 03-763744orRola Issa: 70-969211You can also e-mail us at: info@cog-m.org
ABOUT "SPRING OF LIFE" NABAA CENTER FOR CHILDREN AT RISK
Mutual Faith Arabic Ministries has been supporting Church of God in Mansourieh in their ministry to Nabba people for a couple years. People from the Church had been going to this poor area of Beirut for a long time, before the center was founded and got deeply attached to their friends there and decided to help them as much as they could. It was obvious that kids in this community desperately needed help. So, 2 years ago Church of God in Mansourieh and Mutual Faith Arabic Ministries in partnership with Kids Alive founded "Spring of Life" Educational Center.
It took a lot of effort and dedication to repair rented place and make it ready for the children. Now we have 3 sufficiently equipped small classrooms and a meeting room.
We have about 50 kids, ages 5-15, that attend the Center. They are quite an international group: Lebanese, Egyptian, Sudanese, Iraqis, Kurdish, Syrian, and Armenian. The majority is from Muslim backgrounds, but we also have Catholics, Maronites and few Evangelicals.
We believe that this ministry is extremely important, because more than a half of these children are not able to attend regular schools in Lebanon. "Spring of Life" Center gives them an opportunity to get some education, learn some social and practical skills. It also saves them from life on the streets.
Most of the children come from very difficult backgrounds and are very poor. Many of them are illegal in the country and come from dysfunctional families. The majority of kids' parents aren't educated, often illiterate and unable to assist their children in their homework. In fact, many parents simply don't care.
"Spring of Life" Center offers a morning program, which includes following: Arabic, English, Art, Math, Science (once a week), Chapel with Bible Study and worship. Children have lunch as well at the Center.
The afternoon program is focused on helping kids with their homework. For this part we have both, - those that attend only our school and those that attend regular schools, but their parents are unable to assist them.
Friday is a special day for all children in the area. We have a club that is open for all kids to attend. It's from 5 to 6 pm and includes quite a few fun activities, such as games, gifts, worship and Bible Study.We have only 3 full time teachers: Louis Daou, Noura Boustany and Christine Botros.
Gaby Lattouf (Director) and his wife Samia.
We also have ladies meeting on Friday mornings with Samia Lattouf. Nabaa women found a great friend in Samia and heartwarming fellowship in "Spring of Life" Center.If you'd like to get involved, feel free to contact us, we have lots of needs! Such as:
- Teachers. Especially: PE and Art Teachers;
- Psychologist;
- Video room equipment;
- Drinking water dispenser;
- Clothes. Especially: winter shoes;
- School van;
- Finances (to pay rent, salaries to the teachers and we'd also like to start giving breakfast to the children, because many of them come to school hungry).
You can also help one child individually in whatever way God may lead you. We had an amazing testimony of kindness recently. A 14 year old boy had an exciting thing happen to him. His sister was carrying a bucket of water that was so big and heavy that it drew attention of a passing by man. He felt very compassionate for her. He went with her to her home and saw how miserable it's condition was. Few days later he made arrangements to provide this home with running drinking water. On the top of that, he gave a computer and a cell phone to the boy!
I've never met the man, but I went to speak with the boy. I am going to call him Sam in our conversation. Here's how he answered some of my questions:
Y: Hey Sam! I want to write to my friends about this Center and it's students. Would you mind if I wrote about you?Sam: No.Y: Can I ask you few questions then, so I and my friends could get to know you better?Sam: Ok.Y: Sam, are you Lebanese?Sam: No, I'm Syrian.Y: How long have you lived in Lebanon?Sam: I was born here.Y: Have you been to Syria?Sam: No, never.Y: Would you like to go?Sam: No.Y: Do you have any relatives there?Sam: Yes, but I don't like them.Y: How and why did your family come to Lebanon?Sam: I don't know.Y: How big is your family?Sam: I have Mom, Dad, 5 sisters and 3 brothers.Y: Wow! You have a very big family! I have only 1 sister. Do you have your own room at home?Sam: No!!! We all live together! I wish!Y: What do your Mom and Dad do?Sam: Nothing. Mom takes care of the kids, some of them are very little. Dad... he's always drunk.Y: So, no one works?Sam: I'm the only one who works.Y: Are you the oldest?Sam: No. I have an older brother, 20, he's in the army, his twin, she's married and another sister, she's 16, she's married too.Y: Sam, what is the best thing that ever happened to you?Sam: It's very recent. I got a computer and a cell phone. Right before that I was praying and asking God if He really exists. It convinced me that God is alive.Y: And what is the worst thing that happened to you?Sam: I ... didn't study anywhere.Y: Is this the only school you ever attended?Sam: Yes.Y: Do you like it?Sam: Yes! It's my 2nd year here and I enjoy it even more than the 1st, because we have more subjects. I like studying.Y: Do you have a favorite subject?Sam: I like English and drawing.Y: I know that you heard about Jesus here. Who is He for you?Sam: He's my God. He heals. He cares. He loves us.Y: Sam, you still didn't tell me about the worst thing that ever happened to you. Do you mind?Sam: Hmm... Yeah, it was when my Dad beated my Mom really badly. She just gave a birth to my youngest sister. She did cesarean and still had stitches. My Dad was drunk and beat her up in front of our eyes so badly that the cesarean cut was opened...Y: That's awful! I'm sorry. Lets talk about something good now. Do you have a dream?Sam: Yes. I want to have a good house and change our lifestyle. I also wish I could meet Wael Houri (famous Lebanese singer).Y: Thank you, Sam, for speaking with me. I'll be praying for you and I'll ask my friends to pray for you as well.Please, pray for Sam and all other kids of Nabaa!You can also send us an e-mail at: info@cog-m.org
Alpha Course 2008 TestimoniesMireille: “Alpha helped me a lot. I learned many useful things and a lot about God. The most important and exciting for me was experiencing the Holy Spirit. During the weekend away I grew closer to God, thanks to Alpha team’s prayers. It is true that Church is not stones, but it’s alive. I’d like to thank Pastor Said and Cecile, but first of all God, because He allowed me to meet them. There is a reason for me to be here. I ask the Holy Spirit to touch every person’s life. I pray that Alpha Course would go on all over the world and will challenge people’s minds and change people’s hearts. I also pray that the number of Christian believers would increase. “ Lina: “I came to Alpha Course by coincidence through Milad the lawyer. I and my husband needed something like Alpha as we were going through some difficulties. We needed something refreshing in our lives that would help to renew our love and lift up our spirit. We just wanted to try Alpha, but the more we were coming the more we felt Jesus’ presence. We’ve heard about it, but for the first time we experienced His presence during the Alpha. Alpha helped us to find God. Nicole: “Firstly, I’d like to thank people who gave me an opportunity to be with all of you. I’d also like to say that every Alpha session was a message that indirectly reached my heart, washed me, and purified me, my soul. I cry every time when I think of it. I thank God that we are Christian believers, we have grace. Sometimes we don’t realize its value and sometimes we forget that Jesus is in our lives. We are Christians; we have Jesus in our lives.” Praise God for using Alpha project in these people's lives and blessing our efforts!Thanks to all who were on Alpha team!Special THANK YOU to Alpha Coordinator Rola Issa and Zgheib family for their hard work and faithfulness!
OCTOBER 2008
Conference in AlexandriaIn the end of October Pastor Said participated in the Mutual Faith Arabic Ministries Conference with Keith Hershey. Click here to see a short video.
Slideshow (If you can't see all pictures right away, please, give it some time to load)
Movie timeOn Saturday, October 25, we had a movie night in Church of God in Mansourieh. The movie "Luther" was related to the Reformation Day. It was also a neat opportunity for fellowship with various snacks that our youth kindly prepared for us.Slideshow (If you can't see all pictures right away, please, give it some time to load)
Baptism of Sri-LankansSlideshow (If you can't see all pictures right away, please, give it some time to load)
SEPTEMBER 2008
"Kermes" in Nabaa
The Youth of Church of God in Mansourieh together with the Youth of Full Gospel Church organized 3 exciting nights for the kids of Nabaa.
They prepared various fun activities and gifts for the children. Everyone ended up being a winner!
They also shared Bible Stories and brought in some snacks, such as sweet corn, manaish, pop-corn, etc.
It took place at "Spring of Life" Center on September 11, 12 and 13th from 6 pm to 11 pm.
It was lots of fun!
Great job, guys!!!
Slideshow (If you don't see all pictures right away, please, give it some time to load)I'll add more pictures to the slideshow next week ;)
Trip to Kazakhstan
Pastor Said just got back from Kazakhstan. He had a great trip and many opportunities to pray with and for people there. He loved the country and those he met. You can see the pictures!
FUNDRAISING DINNER FOR "SPRING OF LIFE"
We had a Fundraising Dinner!!! It took place on September 5th at Kasr El Assoufara Restaurant.
Lots of people came to support this ministry in a poor area of Beirut, Nabaa.
The dinner was just great. Over 150 came to participate. We watched a nice presentation about "Spring of Life" prepared by Hadi Jammoul and even had Lilian Hayek with us singing for the guests.
Check out the pictures!
Slideshow (If you can't see all pictures right away, please, give it some time to load)Click here to find out about "Spring of Life" Center for Children at Risk.
G 12We finished Alpha Course 2008 and we started G 12, homegroup topical Bible Study. Please, click here to read about G 12 if you've never heard of it.Here are some of the topics we are going to discuss in our meetings:- What does it mean to be born again?- Principles of Deliverance (The Truth will Set You Free)- How can I be sure of my Salvation?- The power of the Word of God- Know your Enemy
The schedule and the locations of the meetings:
Place: Broumana (Rolla's house)Leader: Hadi Jammoul (03-412911)Time: Friday, 7:30 pm
Place: Dekwaneh (Antoinette's &Charles' Zgheib house) Leader: Milad Maurice (03-221320)Time: Friday, 7:30 pm
Place: Fraiky (Aida's Shaiban's house)Leader: Gaby Lattouf (03-291836)Time: Tuesday, 8 pmPlace: Forn El Shebbak (Tony's and Lina's house) Leader: Said DeebTime: Friday, 8 pm