A recent survey about SAT-7 PARS shows that large numbers of viewers are growing in their personal relationship with God by watching the channel. Almost one in four viewers said they had committed to following Jesus, and over 60 per cent said that SAT-7 PARS helped them grow in their faith.*
“We bypass censorship and borders to present God’s life-changing message,” shares SAT-7 PARS Executive Director, Panayiotis Keenan. “We know that although we only represent one thread in people’s journey to faith, we are an important part of the great story that God is weaving in people’s lives.”
“The majority of respondents to the survey were from Iran and Afghanistan, where access to Christian teaching is severely limited,” he added. “Their responses are encouraging for our team because it shows our programmes are successfully helping viewers draw closer to God.”
VALUABLE SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE
Moreover, the survey showed that SAT-7 PARS is providing valuable spiritual guidance for viewers at every stage of their faith journey. Overall, SAT-7 PARS’ most substantial impact was spiritual growth: over 60 per cent of viewers reported having a better understanding of Christianity, and over half felt more confident in their faith. Nearly 40 per cent of viewers communicated that SAT-7 PARS helps them feel connected to God and other Christians – many of them do not have access to local churches. Viewers also chose teaching programmes as their favourite genre and asked for more to be shown on the channel due to the lack of local Christian resources in their own languages.
“The results suggest that SAT-7 PARS is playing an important role in challenging misconceptions about Christianity, as well as supporting isolated believers,” says Keenan.
“A RAY OF HOPE”
Naturally, the survey secured the opinions of only a very small portion of the channel’s audience and therefore does not necessarily represent the opinions and experience of all SAT-7 PARS viewers. However, it offers valuable insight into some of the positive effects of the channel.
One viewer from Iran wrote: “Every day the programmes give me energy, strengthen my faith, and bless me – especially the teachings such great people provide. They give me a ray of hope in this darkness.”
*Out of 883 respondents, 376 were viewers of SAT-7 PARS. 288 viewers answered the question about how SAT-7 PARS had impacted their life; 66 said they committed to following Jesus as a result of watching the channel.
PRAY
- Praise God for the one in four survey respondents who made a decision to follow Jesus after watching SAT-7!
- Pray that SAT-7 will be able to reach and connect even more isolated viewers, so they don’t have to feel alone.
- “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” (Romans 10:14) Thank God that SAT-7 is proclaiming His name across the Middle East, so that people have the opportunity to hear and believe in Him.