THE BRIEFING – DECEMBER 2018
December 2018As we approach the end of 2018, we take our annual look back over the last twelve months. Two themes stand out: each year since the 2011 Middle East uprisings has seen new shifts of power and a crumbling of the old order, and every year the faithfulness of the region’s Church continued to inspire. One of the most striking […]
Bible commentary is a landmark for the Arab world
December 2018What does the Bible have to say about the specific experiences of people living today in the Arab world? What guidance does it offer to Christians in Arab societies? These are some of the questions tackled by a unique new Bible commentary whose Cairo launch event was screened recently on SAT-7. The Arabic Contemporary Commentary on the Bible (ACCB) is […]
The Magi: kings, priests or enemy agents?
Omeed Jouyandé explains why Herod and “all Jerusalem” had good reason to be alarmed by the arrival of a group of Magi from Parthia. But their mission was not as Herod feared – and their faith and identity remains an inspiration for Iranian Christians today. Danial from Iran describes how believers celebrate Christmas in his homeland: “Christmas is very […]
An Egyptian Christmas
December 2018During the festive season in Egypt, most Egyptians are just getting on with their day to day lives. They don’t really notice the Christians celebrating. But some hotels and shops display Christmas decorations, and Christmas trees are very popular – they often sell out before Christmas! This time of year can be cold – we even had snow in […]
An Iranian Christmas
November 2018Many Iranians enjoy Christmas as a festive season. In the capital, Tehran, Christian pastry shops, usually owned by Armenians, are well-lit and well-stocked with Christmas trees, gifts and cards. Even businesses owned by non-Christians will sell trees and flowers for Christmas. In some parts of the city you will see Christmas trees in the windows, and in Isfahan, a city […]
Prayer and counsel for bus attack survivors
November 2018As Egypt’s Christians mourned a deadly gun attack on Coptic Christian pilgrims, SAT-7’s Arabic channels led believers in prayer and offered counselling through its live Speak Up programme. One of the viewers who called in to the Speak Up broadcast was affected directly: “The events caused pain for all of us and those who saw the pictures and saw the […]
Crossing borders, joining hearts
When George Makeen found himself in a sticky situation during an Egypt-Algeria football match, it revealed to him the power of Jesus to bring people together. In his latest blog post, the SAT-7 ARABIC Programming Director shares his joy over how SAT-7’s North African programmes are doing the same for lonely believers. Having grown up in Egypt, I knew little about North […]
The Briefing – November 2018
It has been a month of high pressure for two major players in the region – with Saudi Arabia facing diplomatic censure and Iran experiencing a new economic squeeze. The Christians of Egypt, meanwhile, were grieving after another terror attack that security forces were unable to prevent. The fallout from the brutal murder of Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi continues. […]