SAT-7 viewers were shocked – and some directly affected – by the bomb blast that claimed the lives of 24 Christians at worship in a church next to Cairo’s main Coptic Cathedral on Sunday morning (11 December). This latest attack on Egypt’s Christian community eclipsed even the 2011 New Year’s Day bombing of a church in Alexandria in its number […]
Syrian overcomes fears to co-present new series
Popular women’s chat show Needle and Thread is back for a new series with a new presenter providing a fresh perspective to increase the programme’s appeal across the Middle East. Riham Jarjour lives in Egypt where the now-named Needle and New Thread series is filmed but comes from Syria and will present in the Syrian Arabic dialect. Riham, who is […]
SAT-7 reaches out to children suffering from cancer
“When you come to the hospital you give the children a dose of oxygen and a breath of life that encourages them to endure their pains.” This is how Amani Ibrahim, volunteer at the Children’s Cancer Hospital in Cairo, described the impact of a series of visits by SAT-7 producer and presenter Mounir Zakhary. In keeping with his role on […]
New survey shows record number of SAT-7 viewers
SAT-7, the leading Christian television broadcaster in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), is announcing record viewership numbers for its Arabic-language channels. With 21.5 million viewers, its audience has increased by 76 percent in the past five years. “The research shows remarkable growth for SAT-7 audiences in the MENA region. It is very encouraging, especially at a time when […]
Displaced Iraqi Christians gather for “return festival”
Displaced Iraqi Christians gathered for a major prayer and worship event to mark the liberation of towns and villages in the Nineveh Plain from so-called Islamic State (IS). The Christ Day event in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, on 18 November was broadcast live on SAT-7 to millions across the Middle East and North Africa. The gathering of Christians from various denominations […]
Up to fifty thousand Iraqi Christians to gather in prayer for Iraq this Friday
Tens of thousands of displaced Iraqi Christians in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan are expected to attend a massive prayer gathering this Friday (18 December). Christ Day Erbil is the climax of 50 days of prayer and will gather Christians of all denominations to pray for the Church and nation. The six-hour event is being organised by Life Agape with the support […]
Beirut church shares love of refugees across Arab world
A Beirut church that has learnt to love its refugee neighbours is now testifying to that love to audiences across the Arab world through SAT-7. Broadcasts of live Sunday services from Resurrection Church, Beirut (RCBeirut) began last month. The church is situated close to parts of the city that have become home to many Syrians and Iraqis fleeing conflict. Recognising […]
Reaching out to young women with new ‘Girl’s World’ show
Throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), gender discrimination is rife. Women are considered to have lower status and value than men; there are limited education and employment opportunities for girls and women, and they are often subject to injustice and abuse. This starts from a young age. In Iran, girls from poor families are at risk of being […]
Jesus, The Good Samaritan for Refugee Children
I really feel like the man on the road [in the story of the Good Samaritan].” This is how nine-year-old Sylvana described her experience as a refugee, having fled war-torn Syria. She was one of a number of children from the House of Hope School in Lebanon to take part in a special episode of live worship programme Let’s Sing […]
“They called me ‘faithless’ but I don’t care about that”
Salma’s story Persecution comes in many forms but it can be particularly harsh when your persecutors are your closest family. Salma knows how tough life can be when you follow Jesus in Morocco. Family life had always been difficult. Her father was very tough and her parent’s relationship suffered as a result. This inevitably affected the whole family and left […]