National Evangelical Church of Beirut

The National Evangelical Church of Beirut (NEC) is the first native Arabic Protestant congregation in the Middle East.

National Evangelical Church of Beirut
Religion
AffiliationProtestant
Year consecrated1870
Statusactive
Location
LocationBeirut, Lebanon
The church shown within Beirut
Geographic coordinates33.894710°N 35.501477°E / 33.894710; 35.501477
Specifications
Direction of façadeNorth
MaterialsSandstone, limestone

History

Established in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, in 1848 by Congregational and Presbyterian American missionaries, the NEC is the oldest and the largest of nine congregations situated outside Beirut in the towns of Abeih, Aramoun, Khaldeh, Kafarshima, Hadath, Dbayyeh, Jdeideh and Dhour el-Shweir.

The National Evangelical Church of Beirut is the headquarters and administrative centre of these nine churches which operate under the name of the National Evangelical Union of Lebanon (NEUL).

In 1870, the first Evangelical Church was built to house the Arabic and English speaking congregations. During the next hundred years, the church was the centre for all the activities and celebrations of both communities. Then during the Lebanese civil war (1975–1990) it was totally destroyed except for the bell tower and its congregation consequently scattered.

Since its reconstruction in 1998, the National Evangelical Church of Beirut has been standing again in the heart of Beirut's Central District, re-gathering its people with its worship services presided by Rev. Dr. Habib Badr as well as with its many socio-cultural and educational activities.

On 4 August 2020, the church was badly damaged in the Beirut explosion, when all of its stained glass windows were blown out.[1]

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See also
  • Protestantism in Lebanon

References
  1. Chandler, Diana (5 August 2020). "Beirut blast prompts prayer from Messianic believers". The Baptist Messenger of Oklahoma. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
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