Remembering Lebanon

CCM prays for the victims and offer a sign of solidarity.

Right at the outset of military hostilities between Israel and the Hezbollah fighters on the soil of Lebanon, churches around the world have rallied their voices to unequivocally call for the immediate cessation of violence and the intervention of a peace-keeping UN force in Lebanon.

The Pope made a passionate appeal to his faithful and peace-lovers around the world, to choose the path of peaceful negotiation rather than violence in resolving hostilities in the Middle East.

The international community needs “to take bold and novel actions to uphold international law and break the vicious cycle of violence, said the General Secretary of the WCC, Rev. Dr. Sam Kobia, in a letter addressed to the United Nations, the United States, the European Union and Russia.

From the beginning of the conflict, the CCM has been receiving daily reports (through emails) of the extreme and unaccepted toll on civilian lives of the Lebanese and Israeli people. Relief workers working from relief centers spoke of the desperate conditions and unimaginable sufferings incurred by those who have lost love ones, or, have been forced to flee bombing raids.

Churches mobilized themselves in spite of all the odds, and have done what they could do to help victims and refugees.

The International Christian Relief Agency, Actions by Churches Together (ACT) have been in constant touch with church leaders and others of the Middle East Council of Churches, mobilizing the much needed funds to sustain the relief effort.

The CCM, in a press release on 25 July 2006 appeal to the churches in the country to pray and take special offerings for the relief work.

Churches are making special intercessions during the worship services on Sundays.

On the evening of the 13 August, the CCM held a small Prayer Rally, to symbolically and spiritually to connect in solidarity with those who are suffering in Lebanon.

Messages from the WCC, Vatican and the Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem were read during the worship. Candles were lit at the altar. In the background were projected pictures showing destruction, death and despair of the Lebanon people.

The CCM Executive Committee plans to send a personal letter to the Heads of Churches in Jerusalem and Lebanon, with the intent of conveying to the Christians and all Lebanese, that the churches here are in solidarity with the plight of thousands.

The CCM support the Malaysian government’s stance to press for cessation of the conflict and for the deployment of an international peace keeping force under the control of the United Nations.

The churches in Malaysia will continue to pray and take up special offerings until the situation normalizes in Lebanon.