ARAB CHRISTIANS SING NICENE CREED IN MESSAGE OF UNITY
A new musical recording of the Nicene Creed features in a special SAT-7 programme called We Believe, sharing a vital message of unity in a divided region.
Showcasing two large choirs, a range of well-known Lebanese media personalities, multiple creative segments crafted for the occasion by the SAT-7 team in Lebanon, and plenty more, the show promises to reach a large audience. It will be broadcast throughout the first week of June to mark SAT-7’s 27th anniversary.
In a region divided by disagreements and ravaged by conflict, SAT-7 has long sought to make God’s love visible and promote peaceful co-existence. In recent years, SAT-7’s programming and initiatives such as Lebanon, Our Story have increasingly reminded viewers to focus on what unites them rather than what divides them.
Central message
Central to the programme is a new musical recording of the Nicene Creed, the summary of the Christian faith that all mainstream churches have held in common since the 4th century. George Makeen, Executive Director of SAT-7 ARABIC, says, “As believers in Christ, we have this common ground. Our differences, our church traditions, are catalysts for creative expressions of this one faith.” He says this new recording sends the clear message that SAT-7 has been and will continue to be a network for Christians of all denominations and backgrounds.
Aswell as stressing the importance of unity in the Church, Makeen says We Believe will champion the need for solidarity and harmony across society – among members of different socio-economic groups, religions, and nations of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
Wide appeal
We Believe is presented by Eli Ahoush, host and producer at MTV Lebanon, one of the best-known secular TV networks in the Arab world. Eli is a committed Christian and has previously hosted documentaries highlighting the Christian presence in Lebanon. He will be joined by SAT-7 board members Bishop Paul Sayah and Dr Martin Accad; Lebanese actress and activist Tekla Shamoun; and well-known orchestra conductor Sister Marana. It is hoped that the programme will appeal to a wide range of people and even attract new long-term viewers.
SAT-7 will celebrate its 27-year anniversary with many friends and ministry partners in the MENA. “SAT-7 was the first and only Christian satellite channel for Christians in the region,” says Makeen. “After 27 years of service, we are celebrating the fact that we are accompanied by many other Christian satellite networks and many other Christian producers who produce for satellites or social media.”
Big task
The task to unify people under a common cause in the MENA is as urgent as it is difficult. George believes there is only one way forward. “We believe in a God of relationships, who is willing to give abundant life to those who accept His love that was offered to us in Jesus Christ.”
The ultimate goal, he says, is nothing less than a transformed world. “It has been said that it is crazy to try to change the world, but it is evil not to try. We choose to be the crazy ones, who believe in the impossible.”
