SAT-7's highlights of 2021
2021: SAT-7'S 25TH YEAR
A NEW WITNESS TO TUNISIA
As the year begins, the first programmes by a new team based in Tunisia air on SAT-7 ARABIC. The Perpetua team’s first production in 2021 is the teaching programme Standard Talk, addressing topics from knowing God to family life, relationships, and social issues. The team will go on to produce The Gathering, a variety programme including testimonies of Tunisian believers.
SAT-7 PLUS STREAMS WORLDWIDE
SAT-7 PLUS, the Middle East’s first on-demand Christian video streaming service, goes online for the first time! Click here for more on this landmark development for SAT-7.
HOPE IN HEALTHCARE CRISIS
As Lebanon grapples with a devastating COVID-19 wave that completely overwhelms the healthcare system, a number of SAT-7 ARABIC programmes, including You Are Not Alone, address the issue, offering hope in God and sharing the voices of those affected.
SPEAKING PEACE INTO HOLY LAND CONFLICT
As violence in the Holy Land escalates, SAT-7 gives a platform to Christian leaders speaking messages of peace. SAT-7 ARABIC also sets up a crawl message on screen to encourage prayer among its millions of viewers. People respond by sharing their prayers, including Thomas, a boy from Egypt, who calls in to Allo Marianne to pray for protection for those suffering and for all perpetrators of the violence to know Jesus.
SUPPORTING WOMEN IN TURKEY
Thousands of women in Turkey protest the country’s formal exit, on 1 July, from the Istanbul Convention, an international treaty to prevent violence against women. Ministering to vulnerable women in a country with high rates of domestic violence, the SAT-7 TÜRK programme You Are Not Alone hears from lawyers, psychologists, and sociologists and provides practical information to support victims of domestic violence.
CRISIS RESPONSE IN AFGHANISTAN
As the Taliban takes control of Kabul on 15 August 2021, SAT-7 PARS immediately responds, offering spiritual support to Christians and seekers in Afghanistan through three special live programmes: Prayer for Afghanistan, In Pursuit of Hope, and a special episode of the regular Dari-language programme Secret of Life. The programmes allow viewers in Afghanistan to make their voices heard; raise awareness of the plight of women, Christians, and other minorities; and call for prayer.
A VOICE FOR PEACE IN BEIRUT
As tensions in Lebanon spill over into the worst street violence seen in Beirut since the country’s civil war, SAT-7 responds quickly to condemn violence and call for peace. Lucas, a schoolboy who was caught up in the outbreak, says to those perpetrating violence, “God will forgive you if you stop doing these things.”
MY SCHOOL REACHES REFUGEES’ CLASSROOMS
Through a new partnership between SAT-7 ACADEMY and the Lebanese organisation Heart for Lebanon, the primary education programme My School begins to be used in two centres for refugees. More than 100 children aged six to ten – who had never attended school before – are able to begin learning.
SAT-7 KIDS REVAMPS
SAT-7 KIDS introduces a raft of exciting and engaging new content for its young Arabic-speaking audiences, along with updated graphics and the news that programmes are now available in high definition (HD) on SAT-7 PLUS and all Arabic social media platforms.
SAT-7's highlights of 2021
2021: SAT-7'S 25TH YEAR
A NEW WITNESS TO TUNISIA
As the year begins, the first programmes by a new team based in Tunisia air on SAT-7 ARABIC. The Perpetua team’s first production in 2021 is the teaching programme Standard Talk, addressing topics from knowing God to family life, relationships, and social issues. The team will go on to produce The Gathering, a variety programme including testimonies of Tunisian believers.
SAT-7 PLUS STREAMS WORLDWIDE
SAT-7 PLUS, the Middle East’s first on-demand Christian video streaming service, goes online for the first time! See overleaf for more on this landmark development for SAT-7.
HOPE IN HEALTHCARE CRISIS
As Lebanon grapples with a devastating COVID-19 wave that completely overwhelms the healthcare system, a number of SAT-7 ARABIC programmes, including You Are Not Alone, address the issue, offering hope in God and sharing the voices of those affected.
SPEAKING PEACE INTO HOLY LAND CONFLICT
As violence in the Holy Land escalates, SAT-7 gives a platform to Christian leaders speaking messages of peace. SAT-7 ARABIC also sets up a crawl message on screen to encourage prayer among its millions of viewers. People respond by sharing their prayers, including Thomas, a boy from Egypt, who calls in to Allo Marianne to pray for protection for those suffering and for all perpetrators of the violence to know Jesus.
SUPPORTING WOMEN IN TURKEY
Thousands of women in Turkey protest the country’s formal exit, on 1 July, from the Istanbul Convention, an international treaty to prevent violence against women. Ministering to vulnerable women in a country with high rates of domestic violence, the SAT-7 TÜRK programme You Are Not Alone hears from lawyers, psychologists, and sociologists and provides practical information to support victims of domestic violence.
CRISIS RESPONSE IN AFGHANISTAN
As the Taliban takes control of Kabul on 15 August 2021, SAT-7 PARS immediately responds, offering spiritual support to Christians and seekers in Afghanistan through three special live programmes: Prayer for Afghanistan, In Pursuit of Hope, and a special episode of the regular Dari-language programme Secret of Life. The programmes allow viewers in Afghanistan to make their voices heard; raise awareness of the plight of women, Christians, and other minorities; and call for prayer.
A VOICE FOR PEACE IN BEIRUT
As tensions in Lebanon spill over into the worst street violence seen in Beirut since the country’s civil war, SAT-7 responds quickly to condemn violence and call for peace. Lucas, a schoolboy who was caught up in the outbreak, says to those perpetrating violence, “God will forgive you if you stop doing these things.”
MY SCHOOL REACHES REFUGEES’ CLASSROOMS
Through a new partnership between SAT-7 ACADEMY and the Lebanese organisation Heart for Lebanon, the primary education programme My School begins to be used in two centres for refugees. More than 100 children aged six to ten – who had never attended school before – are able to begin learning.
SAT-7 KIDS REVAMPS
SAT-7 KIDS introduces a raft of exciting and engaging new content for its young Arabic-speaking audiences, along with updated graphics and the news that programmes are now available in high definition (HD) on SAT-7 PLUS and all Arabic social media platforms.
SAT-7 PLUS THRIVES IN ITS FIRST YEAR
"More viewers than ever have an unprecedented opportunity to watch our content and experience God’s love."
Jan Ørskov
SAT-7 PLUS, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)’s first Christian video-on-demand and live-streaming platform, launched in February 2021 and went on to surpass expectations in its first year.
More than 37,000 people watched SAT-7 programming through SAT-7 PLUS in 2021, overtaking the platform’s first-year target of 25,000 individual users after just ten months. The platform allows users to watch SAT-7 content for all ages in Arabic, Farsi, and Turkish, both on demand and through a high-definition live stream.
“The launch of SAT-7 PLUS is the most significant development in SAT-7’s recent history. Digital outreach is the future for reaching young people in the MENA, an audience it is imperative for us to connect with,” said Rita El-Mounayer, SAT-7 CEO.
Meanwhile, SAT-7 ARABIC’s YouTube channel has refocused on short clips, and has grown to become the largest YouTube presence of any Christian satellite channel in the Arab World, with 296,000 subscribers.
In 2022, every SAT-7 channel plans to produce content exclusively tailored for SAT-7 PLUS, including dramas. The platform will also launch an instant chat feature to allow viewers to connect directly with viewer support teams.
“Please keep praying for SAT-7 PLUS, which is part of the exciting new digital branch of our ministry,” says Jan Ørskov, Chief Operations Officer. “More viewers than ever have an unprecedented opportunity, through our video-on-demand platform, to watch our content and experience God’s love and care.”
SUPPORTING VIEWERS
"I wanted to call you today to say thank you because I have finally found peace. I had told you about how I thought of suicide often, and you told me about the Bible and helped me understand how much God loves me. After these talks, I realised that God is right here with me and has great plans for me. After that, I came to Christ."
SIBEL, TURKEY
"A thousand thanks to God that from the time I have been in contact with you, my faith has grown stronger every day. Thank you for continuing to stand with me."
AFARIN, AFGHANISTAN
"My daughter Yara, aged 9, has been watching the My School programme since we were in Iraq, and this is why she is excelling, thanks to your teachers. She has already learned from My School all the topics she is studying at school now."
RENALDA, FROM IRAQ,
NOW LIVING IN LEBANON
SUPPORTING VIEWERS
"I am very grateful to SAT-7. You have been a source of blessing and hope in the middle of darkness and sickness."
FARID, EGYPT
"I'm watching Let's Talk. I'm not a Christian. I have always had fear and anxiety. But on day when I was praying, I said, 'Jesus please hear me.' And then I came across your channel. I'm literally in a life-changing moment right now and my eyes are tearing up."
UMUT, TURKEY
"My daughter Yara, aged 9, has been watching the My School programme since we were in Iraq, and this is why she is excelling, thanks to your teachers. She has already learned from My School all the topics she is studying at school now."
RENALDA, FROM IRAQ,
NOW LIVING IN LEBANON
These are just some of SAT-7's highlights from 2021! Click below to read the full report.
For a full breakdown of SAT-7 UK's 2021 accounts, click here.