With us in the war “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.” In the run-up to Christmas, these well-known words from Isaiah 9 will be spoken aloud in churches around the world. But what’s the story behind the prophesy? George Makeen, Director of SAT-7’s Arabic channels, explains the chaotic context into which God spoke […]
Advent: Your Kingdom Come 10 December
Your kingdom come The Taliban’s swift takeover of Afghanistan earlier this year left the world reeling with shock and fear. In response, Afghan pastor and SAT-7 presenter Shoaib Ebadi turned to the Lord’s Prayer for his country and its Church. Today, simply join him in his prayer: Our Heavenly Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. We praise You, Lord. You […]
Advent: God’s Gift to Us 14 December
God’s gift to us SAT-7 presenter Louise Mokhof left Iran 32 years ago, but still tirelessly ministers to the Iranian Church. Here, she reflects on the true meaning of Christmas – God’s gift to us: I was once in a meeting where the speaker asked: “What is Christmas to us?” For most people, Advent is a busy time and a […]
Advent: The Scent of Saffron 15 December
The Scent of Saffron For one week in late autumn, the crocus fields of Iran turn pale purple, heralding the arrival of the saffron harvest. Per gram, the fragrant flower’s saffron threads are worth more than pure gold. Mehrad, a viewer of SAT-7’s Persian channel, feels his senses heighten in anticipation during this change in seasons – it’s a sign […]
Advent: Witnesses in the Land 17 December
Witnesses in the land The Middle East is a region marked by conflict. Archbishop Youssef Soueif, the Maronite Archbishop of Tripoli in Lebanon, calls on the Middle Eastern Church – and all of us – to embrace the opportunity to be Christ’s peacemakers in a broken world: Christianity was born in the Middle East, yet here we struggle and suffer […]
Advent: The Maronite Church 16 December
The Maronite Church The Maronite Church is the largest denomination in Lebanon. Since it was founded by St Maroun in the fifth century, the indigenous Maronite Christians have remained faithful to Christ through invasion, occupation, war and persecution. In the six Sundays leading up to Christmas Day, Maronites celebrate the “Season of Announcements”. The season culminates in nine days of […]
Advent: Christmas Comes Home 22 December
Christmas comes home After an unusual Christmas last year, many of us are longing to celebrate with our church family again this year. Here, SAT-7 TÜRK’s Annamaria Cedolin reflects on discovering the real essence of Christmas: Last year, we celebrated Christmas at home. Our film crew bravely volunteered to film the Christmas mass, so that everyone could still watch. SAT-7 […]
Advent: Still Waiting For Peace 23 December
Still waiting for peace At the time of Jesus’ birth, the Jewish people were living under Roman occupation, desperately awaiting their promised Messiah, the “Prince of Peace”. But how do we reconcile this promise of peace with the broken world around us? Rita Elmounayer, SAT-7 International CEO, ponders on the source of hope for a weary, waiting world: “For to […]
Advent: Lift Up Your Heads 21 December
Lift up your heads Lebanon’s people are enduring the hardest period since their civil war and an estimated 78% have fallen into poverty. Into this hopelessness, Father Ramzi Jreij, host of Is it Important to Be Christian?, shares an encouragement from Jesus’ words about a time of great tribulation: In the Bible, Jesus tells us about difficult times: “The stars […]
Advent: Teaching the Way 20 December
Teaching the way Renowned Egyptian apologist and theologian Dr Maher Samuel shares his love for teaching on SAT-7, and his prayer for the Middle Eastern Church: Throughout the past 25 years, SAT-7 has had a great role in teaching Christians about each other. We as evangelicals were unfamiliar to a large portion of Christian society in Egypt until SAT-7 began […]