On Thursday 12 September Christian satellite TV channel SAT-7 PARS celebrates 11 years of broadcasting biblical truth in the Farsi language to Iran.
Since it first aired in 2002 SAT-7 PARS has broadcast a variety of programmes including women’s shows, drama, discipleship courses, feature films, teaching and shows specifically for children, to the Farsi-speaking audience in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and to the diaspora in Europe.
SAT-7 PARS exists to provide biblical teaching to Christians who face many pressures and attacks on their faith, and to share the gospel of Christ with non-Christians who are seeking truth.
For many isolated believers SAT-7 PARS is their main source of Christian teaching, worship and fellowship. One viewer wrote recently “Your channel is my church and my pastor.”
An Iranian pastor also wrote “Many are gathering around their TVs and using the broadcasts as a weekly church meeting. They even stand during the songs and take up an offering. You can’t imagine how encouraging this is for these believers. Thank you!”
Live broadcasts form an important part of the schedule as viewers can contact the presenters with their questions. One programme, Dandelion, answers questions from teenagers who often don’t have anywhere else to turn to talk through issues affecting them.
Another key component of the channel is Seminary of the Air, a comprehensive resource of biblical training which helps those seeking the truth as well as providing discipleship for new Christians and leadership training.
For two hours each day SAT-7 PARS also broadcasts programmes in the Dari language which is spoken by 50% of the population of Afghanistan.
Rachel Fadipe, the CEO of SAT-7’s UK office, said “It’s incredible to think that SAT-7 PARS has been able to consistently broadcast the life changing message of Jesus into such a closed country as Iran for eleven years despite the authorities trying their best to hinder Iranians watching the channel. We receive messages from people almost daily saying how our programmes are radically impacting their lives. It’s miraculous!”
There will be a special live 1.5 hour show from the London studio on Thursday to mark the occasion with special guests. Viewers will be invited to share why they value SAT-7 PARS and the show will celebrate the audience who has supported them over these 11 years.
SAT-7 PARS is one of five SAT-7 channels broadcasting 24 hours a day from studios in Cyprus, Lebanon, Egypt, Turkey and London across the whole of the Middle East and North Africa.