Celebrating 17 Years of Faithful Service

Since 2006, Sawsan Tannoury has faithfully served as publishing director of Dar Manhal al Hayat (DMAH). She has given her heart and soul to DMAH’s vision of seeing the Arab world transformed through a holistic understanding of the Gospel. After 17 years of faithful leadership, she will move on to other opportunities and pass the baton to her steadfast team. To celebrate her long legacy, we’d like to share with you her impact over the years.

Sawsan worked for many years with Trans World Radio and Clarion Publishing House before joining DMAH. She brought both expertise and passion, spending thousands of hours in developing Christian resources that reached the whole MENA region. As the major evangelical publishing house in Lebanon, she took her responsibility seriously and ensured every book published was scripturally-sound. She knew that books should be both content-rich and beautiful, and she meticulously managed the whole publishing journey of book. Notably, DMAH updated the design of books to be more visually appealing and easy-to-read – a practice that many other publishers in the region followed. Recently, Sawsan and the DMAH team received a prestigious MAI Global Award for their “perseverance in creating quality Christian content for the Lebanese people during this period of great economic need and socio-political upheaval in the nation.”

The publishing community will remember her for her charisma and stage presence. Sawsan is a born public speaker, who always brings energy and joy to her talks. She initiated the first book launching events for DMAH, bringing more awareness and engagement between the author and community. None of this would be possible without the wide network of publishing partners, seminaries, and theologians that have come alongside DMAH and its mission. Sawsan listened and learned from their wisdom, but most importantly, she welcomed these partners as friends first, and colleagues second.

Her team will remember her best for her genuine care. She is humble and collaborative, always aiming to do what was best for DMAH. This is a care she also bestows on many new and potential authors, steering them in the publishing process. We trust she will continue to empower writers in the journey from their minds to the printed page.

Outside of work, she also teaches and organizes meetings for the women’s ministry at her church. This gives her insight into what resources women need to mature in their walk with Christ. Sawsan is passionate about training women in how to become better writers and published authors. Indeed, throughout her time at the publishing house, the team has been blessed to increase the number of titles for and by Arab women. This year, DMAH launched A Voice for Arab Women project—a three-year project that seeks to elevate the stories of women throughout the Arab world.

We are grateful for Sawsan’s faithful legacy, and trust wholeheartedly that God will continue the work He started with her team. To carry on the mission, Sandra El Hajj Baz will step into the role as DMAH’s new publishing leader, alongside a seasoned team.

With 15 years of experience and a Ph.D. in translation, Sandra built a rewarding career at internationally accredited higher institutions, such as AUB and LAU. Sandra co-founded a translation and copywriting agency, “The Write Solutions” and also frequently shares her vocal talents through her “Life of Praise” worship ministry. After joining DMAH and LSESD as communications officer, her vision and enthusiasm has already sparked new partnerships and events for the publishing ministry.

We look forward to seeing how God will work through Sandra to expand upon the foundation Sawsan has faithfully prepared. May God use this team to proclaim Christ, equip the Church, and encourage Gospel-shaped living across the Arab World.