From Heart To Heart: Tears Flowing And Lives Changing

Marianne and Rawad Daou are doing something truly extraordinary. On From Heart to Heart, their live relationship-counselling programme on SAT-7 ARABIC, the couple exude radical vulnerability, empathy and love. For viewers who are hurting terribly – and who often have nowhere else to turn – this show is a catalyst for life-changing breakthroughs.

Rawad is committed to modelling vulnerability to viewers, so much so that he is willing to let his tears fall live on air. During one show, while Rawad reflected on his personal struggles and his wife’s support, the presenter broke down. This vulnerability, it turns out, is what viewers needed. “I saw that viewers want to see true, genuine people,” Rawad says, as he reveals the core value propelling this programme. “When we love God, we cannot be different on TV to how we are in private. We must be transparent and share all our weaknesses.”

“I FEEL SO ENCOURAGED”

In a region where emotional suffering is often met with stigma, this space to breathe is life-changing. Over the show’s two seasons, many viewers have shared their own breakthroughs. “The purity that shines through you encourages me to be transparent,” one viewer says. “God has been healing my heart from all its wounds… I feel so encouraged, watching this show, to overcome my fear.”

YOUTH NEED LOVE

The show’s recent second season focused on youth. For Middle Easterners growing up with the pressures of social media and internet pornography, building healthy relationships can feel impossible. Rawad’s own story gives him a deep compassion for young people. “I have been on a long journey in my life,” Rawad says. “I experienced many things before I knew Jesus, and through this, He gave me empathy, a loving heart. I don’t judge.”

When tackling taboo issues, such as sexual sin, Rawad and Marianne avoid the language of condemnation. Rawad says of young people: “They need love. They need a big brother or sister to talk with them, to give them time. Today, even parents don’t have time for their children. In Lebanon, many work double shifts to make ends meet.”

“I SAW THE LOVE OF GOD”

In one episode, young guests on the show watched some testimonies of healed relationships. “Suddenly, one girl started crying live on air,” Rawad remembers. “We asked her why she was crying, and she said, ‘Because I saw the love of God.’” The girl’s parents had shown her the same kind of love as she was watching in the testimonies. She said, “I’ve made so many mistakes in my life, but they love me so much.”

As these words indicate, Marianne and Rawad are ultimately pointing viewers to Jesus. “We want to show that even though we pass through very hard times sometimes, with the strength of God, you can show [your spouse] unconditional love,” says Marianne. “And we want to show people that with God – only with God – this is possible.”