Over a year since the Hamas-led attack on Israel, conflict in the Middle East has continued to escalate, leaving around 2 million people displaced. But despite the ongoing conflicts, SAT-7 continues to broadcast messages of hope to the region – and viewers keep getting in touch with stories of God at work in their lives. In this month’s Briefing, we’ll hear how Lebanese Christians are responding to the call to serve their neighbours, how SAT-7 KIDS is supporting children caught up in war, and how the SAT-7 team in Beirut are continuing to broadcast God’s love despite the dangers.
Click here to listen to the 7-minute audio version of the Briefing
In Lebanon, Hezbollah has been weakened by the death of its long-term leader, Hassan Nasrallah, and a number of other top commanders. Nevertheless, it continues to fire missiles into Israel, as Israeli bombs pound sites across the south and east of the country and southern Beirut. Ancient cities such as Tyre and Baalbek have not been spared, prompting concern for UNESCO-listed heritage sites like Baalbek’s Ancient Roman Temple of Bacchus. Three Christian villages in the south are among 27 that have received Israeli orders to evacuate.
Over 3,000 people in Lebanon have lost their lives in the last year, with over 1.2 million displaced and between 200,000 to 300,000 Syrians and some Lebanese crossing the border into Syria. The widescale destruction of towns in the south is also set to cause long-term displacement and risks increasing communal tensions between different groups, as more Shi’a Muslims are forced to move into Christian, Sunni and Druze populated areas.
Serving like Jesus
Meanwhile, Pastor Souheil Saoud, from the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Beirut, told SAT-7 how his church has been preparing to launch supply packages to help displaced Lebanese families. He asked for prayer for church leaders in Lebanon, as they open their doors to those fleeing the intensifying violence.
Many Christian communities are also giving shelter to displaced families. In Deir El-Ahmar, an area with a high Maronite Catholic population in the Bekaa region, Archbishop Hanna Rahmé told Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that, “Each of the Christian families in the villages has welcomed three or four displaced families, that is, between 30 and 60 people!” He said some 2,300 people have been taken in by educational establishments. Five thousand others have been put up in private homes and a further 1,500 in churches and convents. Many church schools have also opened their doors, although one agency reported that Hezbollah and Amal militias have forcibly occupied at least one school. In other cases, it found church institutions trying to screen out any militia men who might be a danger to them.
In Beirut, where the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary is sheltering over 200 people, teacher George Sleimann said Christians are being challenged to follow Jesus’ example of servant kingship. “We are presented with a situation where people desperately need our service. How do we apply Christ’s towel? It starts with love in our hearts towards those who left their homes, lost their houses, let go of their memories, and laid loved ones to rest.”
Lebanon is home to more than 30 SAT-7 staff and their families, but amidst the violence the team continue to broadcast live from Beirut. Rita El-Mounayer, SAT-7 International’s CEO, spoke of her colleagues in Lebanon saying: “they say they are okay, and that they are used to it by now. But I know deep down, they are not. Just imagine hearing bombs all night long. Even though they are in safe places, they get no sleep… they insist on going to work in the studio because they believe… it is our role as Christians to bring hope to people without hope.”
There were growing hopes of a ceasefire in Lebanon last month when Israeli sources reported that negotiations had reached an advanced stage and Iran and the new Hezbollah leader, Sheikh Naim Quassem, both expressed willingness to decouple the conflict from the war in Gaza. Please pray that a peace agreement will be reached shortly.
Comforting viewers in Gaza
Tragically, there appears to be little optimism in the Gaza strip which has been largely flattened by more than a year of bombing. One ray of light has been several days of daytime ceasefires in order to facilitate the second stage of the polio vaccination effort for children in the north where the destruction has been most severe. However, it seems unlikely that aid will reach the northern districts of Jabalia, Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun. Residents were ordered to evacuate these areas in early October and those remaining – an estimated 100,000 people – have now been cut off from outside help for over a month. The situation was described by UN agencies as “apocalyptic” and the US has said that Israel is “seriously failing” to address the dire humanitarian situation.
But amid the fear and chaos of war, SAT-7 KIDS is reaching out to young viewers with songs, dramas, and prayers to bring comfort and hope in the face of uncertainty. “In times of war, fear, and uncertainty, SAT-7 KIDS becomes more than just a TV channel,” says Channel Manager Andrea El-Mounayer. “It becomes a refuge, a source of comfort, through the laughter, stories, and prayers shared on SAT-7 KIDS, we try to soothe their fears, giving them something to hold onto, something to believe in beyond the darkness around them.”
It remains to be seen how the return of Donald Trump as USA president in January will affect the conflict. In the past he has promised to help end the war in Gaza, as well as offering his support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Hopeful news from Afghanistan
The SAT-7 PARS channel received encouraging news from neighbouring Afghanistan. Despite increasing restrictions against women and girls, a friend of the channel who helps Afghans inside the country reported that the internet is working well in many areas. As a result, regular Zoom teaching sessions are allowing older girls to continue their education in secret. It also appears that the draconian rules issued by the Taliban are not always closely followed by local officials. Meanwhile, workers among Afghan refugees in the Mediterranean report that hundreds of Afghans are watching Christian programmes in Iran and Afghanistan, with many coming to faith. Jamil a Christian in Afghanistan, spoke to SAT-7 saying that a discipleship group launched on Zoom last year is proving to be a great support for isolated believers like himself. He said: “I thank God for you at SAT-7 who are thinking of us and are providing these classes for us. We have no one here in Afghanistan apart from you.”
Rebuilding lives in Türkiye
Parts of southern Türkiye, such as Hatay, are still struggling to rebuild after last year’s devastating earthquakes. Hundreds of thousands of people in the region are still living in makeshift homes, as people try to rebuild their lives. But despite these difficult times, SAT-7 TÜRK continues to uncover and share stories of hope to support viewers. Our viewer support teams are always on hand to speak with viewers via our social media pages, live phone-ins, and instant messaging. One young viewer wrote: “[in] difficult times, my prayer is to always hold on to your faith in Jesus. He will give you the strength to go on, and I encourage you to never stop praying, because it has been my only refuge.”
Meanwhile, a new country-wide survey of religious practice suggested that faith could be declining in Türkiye. A report by the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey released earlier this year suggested that the proportion of those who did not know their (Sunni Muslim) faith had grown from 59 to 71 per cent. Despite these findings however, 85 per cent of people still feel that religion is important to them. In a country where less than 1 per cent of the population are Christian, many still face discrimination for their faith.
Finally, October saw the “Count it Right” Festival, held in Egypt. The festival brought together thousands of young people and families in a vibrant celebration of faith, worship, and community, in what has been described as a “transformative desert experience”. For three days, the Evangelical Church in Egypt hosted the event that brimmed with music and interactive activities designed to uplift and unite attendees, with this year’s theme being “hand in hand we succeed together”.
As well as broadcasting the event, a SAT-7 team attended the festival speaking to attendees, listening to their stories and praying with them. Upon hearing about SAT-7’S digital platform, SAT-7 PLUS, one young attendee decided to volunteer to help the SAT-7 team, at the end of the day described the whole occasion as a life-changing experience. Give thanks to God for the “Count it Right” Festival and how it has strengthened faith and provided opportunities for people to worship together. Pray that SAT-7’s broadcast of the event, will share the joy of the festival with even more viewers.
