Behind the scenes at the SAT-7 PARS studio
September 2019Behind an unremarkable door on a nondescript industrial estate in North London, something amazing is taking place. This is where SAT-7’s Persian-language channel, SAT-7 PARS, films and broadcasts live TV shows, which are making God’s love visible in Iran and beyond. Alison Bird (below, seated centre), a SAT-7 supporter from Maidenhead, recently visited the SAT-7 PARS studio with a group […]
A new heart for Iranian believers
April 2019It is not long since we celebrated the birth of Jesus and now we are fast approaching Easter. I don’t know about you, but I find that unless I take the time to deliberate on Christ’s work on the cross it is possible that the celebration of Easter may become a mere tradition. It is amazing to dwell on […]
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 […]