August 2025

A heavenly hero: how God turned my childhood pain into purpose

Sometimes I wonder how I made it through. A little girl, growing up in Lebanon’s civil war, holding on to a dream, a hope, a future, blurred by the sounds of gunfire and the weight of hatred.

I grew up in a Christian family in Lebanon in the 1970s. My mum passed away when I was five and my sister was seven. My dad was part of the militia, fighting for what he believed in.

As a child, I saw things no child should ever see. I saw people killed right in front of me. I remember how often we had to run, moving from one shelter to another, trying to escape soldiers who targeted people just because of what they believed.

And honestly, I don’t remember feeling scared all the time. Maybe my memory has softened, or maybe I blocked parts of it out. But I do remember this: when my dad was at home, I felt safe. My dad was my hero, my everything. In my little world, heroes didn’t die. They were always there, standing tall, protecting their little girls.

But when he went off to fight, the nights became heavy. I would lie there, heart racing – afraid that this time, my hero wouldn’t come back.

My safe space was the television. That little screen became my escape. I loved superheroes because they reminded me of my dad. I was drawn to characters like Jack the Giant Killer, Wonder Woman and Superman.

I would stand in front of the mirror for hours, acting out scenes, sometimes even performing in front of a static television, imagining an audience watching me. But of course, that little world didn’t last forever.

When puberty arrived, reality hit hard. I started realising that I wasn’t the hero I had pretended to be. I was just watching from the sidelines. That’s when the questions began to pour in. Who am I? Why am I here? What’s my purpose?

I was desperate for answers and kept telling myself, when I turn 18, everything will change. But thankfully, something much bigger happened before I reached that age.

Nothing outside changed. It was the same small house, same war, same shelters, same worn-out clothes. But inside, everything shifted.

I met a new hero, a Heavenly Father. A God whose love overwhelmed me and spoke to my heart. His Word told me: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Some people try to forget their childhood trauma. Not me. I never want to forget. Yes, God healed me, and yes, I learned to forgive. But I want to remember, so that when I meet someone walking through what I once walked through, I can offer the love, the peace, and the comfort God gave me.

Coming from a small country, one many people don’t even know exists, I needed a way to share my story. I wanted to tell others who were hurting just like I had that there is hope, there is a way, and we can face it together, even if we are different.

That’s what SAT-7 became for me. It gave me a space where I could take my story, my pain, and my healing and turn it into something living, something that speaks right into the hearts of children today – kids who are going through the same fears and losses I once lived.

With SAT-7 KIDS, I’m part of a team creating programmes filled with laughter, creativity, and deep faith, always praying they will touch children’s lives in a lasting way.

I think of Hagar, a young Kurdish girl who fled the war in Syria. She found her way to SAT-7 KIDS, first through a game show, and later through a short film we produced about her life. Her journey, her strength, and her faith moved all of us. I remember her saying, “Jesus makes my dreams come true.” That kind of moment stays with you and reminds me every day why this work matters.

But it’s not just the big stories. It’s the small, quiet moments that shine.

Like Angela, a little girl who called in during a live show asking for prayer before her school exam. The presenters stopped everything and prayed with her. A week later, she called back, joyful and excited, celebrating that she got full marks on her test. These are the moments where children feel heard, seen, and lifted up. And they are the quiet miracles that happen every week.

That’s the beauty of SAT-7 KIDS. We don’t just create programmes that bring hope. We create a loving, interactive space where children feel valued and supported.

Whether they come from Christian families or non-Christian backgrounds, the heart of what we do is the same. We help them meet Jesus, not as a distant figure, but as a loving friend who is always near and always listening.

I’m no longer that little girl sitting in front of the TV, waiting and longing for her hero to come home. Now, I get to stand on the other side, helping bring the love and peace I found – the love that saved me – to children across the Middle East and North Africa.

And that gives me hope for the future, because even in the hardest places, God’s love can reach a child’s heart and change everything.

Together, we can keep showing children across this region that they are seen, they are loved, and they are never, ever alone.

Bio: Andrea El Mounayer has worked at SAT-7 since it was founded in 1996, starting as an editor and progressing to become a director and producer. She is now the Channel Manager at SAT-7 KIDS. Andrea holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications Arts from the American Lebanese University. She currently lives in Beirut, Lebanon.