Hearing women’s stories
March 2019When I think of women in my country and in the Arab world, and when I examine myself in hindsight, I feel ashamed at how smug and arrogant I have been. I always felt that discrimination against women was something that happened to other people, not to me, and not to “us.” Belonging to a Coptic Christian family, I […]
The Magi: kings, priests or enemy agents?
December 2018Omeed 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 […]
Crossing borders, joining hearts
November 2018When 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 IRANIAN ART OF CONVERSATION
September 2018When Iranians meet, the time we spend greeting and exchanging polite pleasantries can seem excessive – especially to someone from a European culture. Then when we are saying goodbye on the doorstep the whole process repeats itself and whole new conversations on brand new topics are enjoyed well into the night. I write as one born in the “old country” […]
A year after Palm Sunday attacks, joy returns to Egypt
April 2018Lindsay Shaw reflects on a visit to Egypt over Eastern Palm Sunday Last Saturday I stood on the spot where 18 people lost their lives to a suicide bomb just one year ago. I was in the gateway of St Mark’s Coptic Cathedral in Alexandria, with local SAT-7 colleagues and three UK journalists. We had come to see SAT-7’s work […]
My God, why have you forsaken me?
March 2018As part of our Lent ‘Hear My Voice’ series, SAT-7 Founder and International CEO Dr Terence Ascott reflects on Jesus’ words on the cross – “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” – and asks, what is God’s reply for the Middle East today? Like believers around the world, the Christians of the Middle East and North Africa often […]
Following Jesus’ voice in Beirut
March 2018Resurrection Church Beirut (RCB) has become well-known to SAT-7 viewers since we began broadcasting live weekly worship and teaching from there in October 2016. In common with a number of Lebanese congregations, its ministry has mushroomed as it has reached out and welcomed refugees and migrants from across the region. Today, Lily Malky, the church’s Director of Communications, explains how […]
Bethlehem Blog: Releasing women for service and theological training
March 2018As I reach for my pen this evening, I am reminded by the many posts on social media that it is International Women’s day. Of course, for many, it is a day like any other. But in Bethlehem, we have taken the day off to remember the great achievements of women; to thank them for their ambitions and dreams, […]