Celebrating Christmas in Iran
December 2013An arduous journey and close surveillance faced the wise men who came seeking the birth of Jesus. Traditionally thought to be Persians, their challenges are echoed in the monitoring and risks faced by Iranians who celebrate Christ’s birth today. Everyone who has ever watched or taken part in a Nativity play knows that some of the first people to recognise […]
Christmas prayer – December 2013
Grace will write her next blog for January, but sent us some quick emails (and a photograph!) which we thought we’d share with you: 9/12: Bethlehem is seeing lots and lots of visitors! Unbelievable! Great atmosphere! Most visitors are from abroad, things are quiet at the moment so more and more people are visiting which is really good! May the […]
Lesson from the olive harvest – November 2013
November 2013Thousands of years ago David made this striking assertion: “But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever.” (Psalm 52: 8) The tabernacle (“house of God”) might seem a strange place to plant a tree, but David’s point is the source of his vigour and energy. […]
Despite Obstacles SAT-7 Airs Mega Youth Conference From Heart Of Egypt
October 2013A remarkable gathering of over 10,000 young Christians in Egypt went ahead from 26 to 28 September despite Egypt’s continuing precarious security and a wave of unprecedented violence against the Christian community a month before. And Middle East Christian broadcaster SAT-7 transmitted the three days of prayer, teaching and high-energy worship to millions more via live satellite TV, Youtube and […]
Juliana – TV producer makes impact for "the least"
October 2013Receiving an award from your industry peers is always going to be exciting. No more so than when that recognition is for your work in improving the lives of society’s most vulnerable. That’s what happened this summer for Juliana Sfeir, Special Projects Manager and Executive Producer of social impact programmes at SAT-7 Lebanon when the Lebanese Center for Human Rights […]
Iran’s Satellite Pastor
Rev Edward Hovsepian-Mehr pastored churches in Iran for 35 years. Since 2003 he has led the Iranian Church in London and is superintendent of a network of Iranian churches in the UK and Europe. He is one of the most influential teachers in the Iranian church and a regular broadcaster on SAT-7 PARS. We asked Edward how he became involved […]
The outlook for the church in Sudan
October 2013After two lengthy civil wars, Sudan’s Christian and animist southern states finally parted company with Khartoum’s Arab-Islamist government in July 2011. But the consequences for Christian witness in Sudan itself have been severe. Wissam al-Saliby, Development and Partner Relations Manager at Arab Baptist Theological Seminary (ABTS), Lebanon, unpacks these and explains why it remains vital to support Christian ministry there. […]
Women: at the heart of church growth in Iran
Women are playing a crucial role in what is one of the most unexpected stories of our generation: the growth of the Church in Iran. Dr Mojdeh Shirvanian from Elam Ministries has served the Church in Iran for over thirty years. Here she identifies three ways in which this is happening. Before the Iranian revolution in 1979 there were a […]