When SAT-7 first launched in 1996, a Christian viewer in Egypt was so startled to see an Arab presenter wearing a cross on TV, he called the channel straight away. “Mish Ma’oul! This is unbelievable!” he said. For more than 21 years, SAT-7 has been committed to being a voice for Christians and for many others who often go unheard in the Middle East and North Africa.
Since those first days, SAT-7 has given the region’s Christians the ability to go out from behind church walls (the only place where many MENA states legally permit them to teach and preach) to share God’s love wherever people live and are watching.
It also enables them to speak up for the equal value of women and children in patriarchal societies, to give support to people with disabilities in countries where disability is often associated with shame, and to promote dialogue and reconciliation across divided communities.
Parents sometimes don’t give children a voice to explain that ‘I need to be respected; I need to be cared for; I need to be talked to in a positive manner and I will listen.’
“For 800 years Christianity was destroyed in Afghanistan. Now the church is growing rapidly. From a handful of Christians 20 years ago, today we have thousands. Afghanistan doesn’t permit official churches. They meet in pockets of small groups and most are under 25 years old. They are the hope of the country that they will build the church.”
An array of programmes for women seeks to show them their God-given value. Semsa Deniz, presenter of Homemade, says, “the correct image of a normal Christian woman does not exist in Turkey. This programme wants to show a modern but ethically strong Turkish Christian woman.” Programmes like Insiders for viewers in Iran, Needle and Thread and Start from Here for Arabic speakers do a similar job of inspiring women and grappling with the challenges they face – from pressure to marry to domestic abuse.
SAT-7 has tackled the burden of stigma attached to disability in various ways, from a game show where able and disabled children competed together through to Obstacle Overcomers, a series that counters negative stereotypes by telling the stories and achievements of individuals with a range of impairments.
Programmes like Arabic current affairs show Bridges frequently spotlight cases of discrimination and persecution of Christian believers. But the show also invites representatives of different churches and faiths and various political and civil society leaders to offer a range of perspectives so that viewers can be better informed. The SAT-7 TÜRK Haber news programme is a unique TV news service for Turkish viewers, sharing worldwide news from the Body of Christ.
Pastor Ramazan Arkan leads two congregations in Antalya, southern Turkey, just 12 miles from where Paul and Barnabas planted a church in New Testament times. He shares his own journey to Christ and how a growing church is reaching out to many young seekers in this city of two million people. Like most people, Ramazan Arkan is often faced with […]
As this year’s World Refugee Day arrives (20 June), the Middle East retains the unenviable record of being both source and host of the largest number of displaced people in the world. But amidst their hardships, large numbers of refugees who have been shown practical love by Christians are finding a new relationship with God. In Greater Amman, Jordan, SAT-7 […]
Children affected by conflict in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) can feel miserably lonely and vulnerable. With Family of Jesus, a new live prayer and worship show, SAT-7 KIDS shows these and other isolated young people that with Christ, they never have to be alone. Across the MENA, childhoods are in crisis. Conflicts in Yemen, Syria, and Iraq […]
Live calls to SAT-7 children’s shows are usually to answer quiz questions or to participate in games and contests. But David, a ten-year-old Iranian boy, called in to Persian kid’s show Golpand to pray for SAT-7 and its staff. David and his family are currently living in Turkey – the decision on their asylum claim is pending. Following Jesus while living […]
SAT-7 PARS children’s programme A Girl’s World recently asked children to share their hopes and dreams in pictures. The drawings give a fascinating insight into the lives of Persian-speaking children and the challenges they face. “I dream about a world with happiness for kids and their parents, a world without war, hunger, and without any fears for all children,” one young girl wrote […]
SAT-7 UK has launched an online video portal featuring a wealth of Arabic and Farsi programme clips to help those who are working with people from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in their local communities. The video clips are presented by Arab and Iranian theologians and answer some fundamental questions of the Christian faith, such as, “Who is […]
15 May 2018 The launch of SAT-7’s Persian television channel on a second satellite has seen the overall number of viewers contacting the channel double within its first year, including a surge in responses from Afghans. On 15 May 2017, SAT-7 PARS significantly expanded its audience reach by launching on the Yahsat satellite and, in doing so, became the only […]
An Egyptian widow was plunged into despair by her son’s sudden death. But in her darkest moments, Jesus comforted her in the most powerful way. Sharing her story with SAT-7 ARABIC viewers, the woman revealed how God turned her sorrow and struggle to joy and fulfilment. The brave speaker, who did not give her name, is from Zagazig, near Cairo. […]
Over the last year, SAT-7’s Persian channel has seen a significant surge in responses from viewers in Afghanistan wanting to know more about the Christian faith. The huge increase in viewer responses came after the channel launched on a second satellite platform, Yahsat, a year ago. Compared to Hotbird, the satellite platform SAT-7 PARS has been broadcasting on since 2006, […]
