Middle East Briefing: Discovering hope in Christ
As we begin our journey through Lent this month, ongoing conflicts and shifting political landscapes continue to pose significant challenges in the Middle East and North Africa. In this month’s briefing, we’ll explore how Syrian and Sudanese Christians are holding fast to their faith in the face of violence, hear about the women across the MENA who are opening their hearts to Jesus, and discover how the building of a new church on the banks of the River Jordan is bringing hope to Christians throughout the region. As we hear how God is at work in the Middle East and North Africa, we invite you to pray with us this Lent for our brothers and sisters in Christ.
7-Minute Briefing: Discovering Hope in Christ
Meanwhile, in the Holy Land, Israel has resumed large-scale airstrikes across the Gaza strip this week. Reports suggest that over 300 people have been killed so far, including some high-ranking Hamas officials and civilians. The airstrikes have ended a delicate ceasefire which came into effect in January.
In the run-up to the resumption of violence, Hamas remained unwilling to extend the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, while Israel was pushing for the release of more hostages before moving to phase two. In light of this impasse, Israel blocked the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, as well as cutting the supply of electricity in an effort to put pressure on Hamas. As the violence resumes, there are growing international concerns of a serious hunger crisis developing in Gaza, all against the backdrop of European nations expressing their support for a plan to rebuild the area that would avoid displacing people from their homes.
VIOLENCE IN SYRIA
In Syria, violent clashes at the beginning of the month between Assad loyalists and government security forces have claimed over 1,500 lives, reportedly including Christians and people from other minorities, in the worst violence in the country since the Assad regime was overthrown at the end of 2024.
The violence is linked to suspected revenge killings, as gunmen loyal to the new government have been accused of targeting members of the minority Alawite sect for summary executions. With ex-president Assad belonging to the Alawite sect, concerns are growing about sectarian divides in the country. The UN has welcomed the interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s promise to set-up an independent committee to investigate the violence and hold those responsible to account.
As the violence broke out on the west coast last Thursday (6 March) and intensified over the weekend, SAT-7 ARABIC called for prayer for the escalating situation in Syria. A Facebook post received over 1,800 reactions and more than 600 comments as viewers responded with a flood of their own prayers.
“In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we pray for protection over Syria and for the suffering to end. Lord, hear our prayers and answer,” wrote one viewer. Another said, “Lord, our country needs You and the touch of Your Spirit… Speak a word, Lord, and heal our land so that peace may fill it.” And another declared: “We have full trust and faith in our Holy God, who sees all things and for whom nothing is impossible. We rely on the mighty arm of the Lord Jesus and His protection.”
SAT-7 CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
As International Women’s Day was celebrated earlier this month on 8 March, SAT-7 International’s CEO Rita El-Mounayer shared her reflections on the experience of women in the Middle East and North Africa. She highlighted women in Afghanistan, who in recent years have seen their rights and freedoms eroded and now cannot even make their voices heard in public. Elsewhere, in Iraq a new law has been passed that could allow girls as young as nine to be married, while women in Iran face arrests, fines and lashings for failing to cover their heads. Elika, a Christian woman from Iran, told SAT-7:
“We have freedom in Christianity regarding how we dress, but my family is struggling to make ends meet, so I have to comply with the law to avoid being fined.”
At SAT-7 we hear from many women like Elika who have found freedom in Christ and yet are also feeling the pressure of everyday life in restrictive societies. But despite the immense challenges faced by many women in the region, SAT-7 is hearing story after story from women who have encountered the transformative love of Christ. As they enter into relationship with God, many are finding the hope and freedom they have longed for. SAT-7 ARABIC’s Audience Relations Manager, Marianne Awaraji, shared with us how she has seen a “surge in engagement” from women in the region, which reflects “a growing hunger among women to know the love and truth of the God who sees”.
CHURCH ATTACKED IN SUDAN
In North Africa, as Sudan’s continuing civil war approaches its 2-year anniversary, members of the armed group the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched an attack on a church service in Al Jazirah state, seriously injuring worshipping Christians, including children.
In the Sudanese Church of Christ (SCOC) in Al Hasaheisa, almost 200 Christians were praying for the end of the civil war when armed members of the RSF attacked, destroying property and beating church members on suspicion of supporting the SAF. Please pray for the 14 Christians who were seriously injured in the attack, many of whom were left in a critical condition.
Christians in Sudan continue to be subject to discrimination, violence and intense pressure to convert, as church buildings are targeted and many Sudanese Christians in areas controlled by the RSF are subject to regular human rights violations. The SAF has also been attacking places of worship during the conflict: at the end of 2024 11 people, including eight children, were killed when the SAF launched an airstrike on the Al Ezba Baptist Church and its nursery in the city of Khartoum Bahri. Please pray urgently for Christians in Sudan, that they will be strengthened and encouraged in their faith in these desperate times.
HELPING CHILDREN TO GROW IN FAITH THIS NOWRUZ
As well as the season of Lent, March also sees the celebration of Nowruz, or Persian New Year. Nowruz, which means ‘new day’ in Persian, is celebrated by many people across the region, from Iran to Tajikistan. Celebrated this year on 20 March, SAT-7 PARS will release a one-off special episode marking the festival, which is a celebration of renewal and marks the beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere. In preparation for Nowruz, many people lay seven symbolic items on a table which symbolise life and prosperity –all of which begin with the Persian letter ‘s’. Dishes on the haft-seen or ‘seven s’s’ might include vinegar, apples, garlic, painted eggs, candles and mirrors.
Meanwhile, SAT-7 PARS’ live social media programme, Church4Kids, is returning for a new season, using interactive Bible studies and games to help children across the Persian world connect with their heavenly Father. “The more we read the words of the Bible the better we know Jesus,” shared host Maryam Rassouli. Her heart for young viewers to know the God of the Bible shines through every broadcast. Give thanks for shows like Church4Kids and pray that the Lord will continue to use SAT-7 KIDS to touch viewers’ hearts and encourage them to grow in their faith.
SAT-7’S JULIANA MEETS POPE FRANCIS
Last month Juliana Sfeir, SAT-7’s Academy Brand Manager, met with His Holiness Pope Francis in Rome, when she represented SAT-7 at the Jubilee of the World of Communications. She was invited to the Vatican to take part in the event which gathers professional communicators from around the world to share their experiences. As a panelist, Juliana shared her insights into creative communication in the context of crisis and poverty, drawing on SAT-7’s recently completed project Lebanon, Our Story (LOS). When speaking with the Pope, Juliana asked him to pray for her home country of Lebanon and the MENA region as a whole, and shared how participating in the event was a “humbling experience”.
NEW CHURCH OPENS ON THE RIVER JORDAN
Finally, the opening of a brand-new church on the banks of the River Jordan was broadcast on SAT-7 ARABIC’s Good Morning Beirut. The inauguration ceremony brought Christians together in prayers for peace in what is now one of the largest churches in the Middle East. The event’s spokesperson, Father Dr Rifaat Bader, told Good Morning Beirut that the new church is a “sign of hope, not just for Jordanians, but for all Christians in the Middle East.” The building of the church at Al-Maghtas is believed to be at the site of Jesus’ baptism and took 15 years to complete.
The occasion had special significance for Rami Al-Halaseh, SAT-7’s Arabic Channels Executive Director: “As a Christian Jordanian, my whole being has always been captured with awe every time… I step down to that very spot where our Lord Jesus was baptised.” Rami said that the Christian presence in the region had been dramatically impacted by crises over many decades, but Middle Eastern believers are holding onto their faith and its historical roots, adding: “the inauguration of the new church building is further evidence of this steadfast legacy, and of the unwavering commitment to being the salt of the earth and light of the world.”
Please Pray:
- For wisdom for leaders in Syria and the Holy Land, that they may have a heart for unity, reconciliation and peace. Pray for those affected by the latest violence, those whose homes have been destroyed, those who have lost loved ones, and for those who have suffered injury and trauma, that they will be able to find hope for the future.
- Give thanks for the faithfulness and witness of the Church in Sudan and ask for the Lord’s protection and blessing for those suffering the effects of war and persecution. Pray for an immediate end to the conflict in Sudan and for the safety of those who have been displaced from their homes.
- Pray for women across the Middle East and North Africa to continue opening their hearts to Jesus and experiencing His transformative love. Pray for SAT-7’s Viewer Support team as they minister to women behind closed doors, offering hope, encouragement, and the message of salvation.
- Please pray for those celebrating Nowruz, that our programmes may touch viewers’ hearts and encourage and strengthen isolated believers across the MENA region.
