SAT-7 has won a major award for innovative outreach from National Religious Broadcasters (NRB), the world’s largest association of Christian communicators. SAT-7 received NRB’s International Media Award for 2021. This is one of a slate of awards presented to Christian organisations that excel in their field and share the Gospel with the greatest effect.
The International Media award – one of several Media and Special Service awards presented annually by the US-based association – comes as SAT-7 marks its 25th year of broadcasting. SAT-7 is also looking to the future, with a new online streaming service and a big step forward in social media work.
“This is God’s season for the Middle East and North Africa,” said SAT-7 CEO Rita El-Mounayer, sharing about SAT-7’s impact. “People across the region are intrigued to see that God really does care about them. They’re asking: ‘Who is this Jesus?’ and our local Christian presenters and their guests make God’s love visible to them in ways they respond to.”
SAT-7 offering hope to seekers
As well as offering hope to seekers, a hallmark of the SAT-7 channels recognised by NRB is their work to encourage isolated Christians in places such as Iran and Algeria.
“SAT-7 is the Church for the thousands of isolated believers across the Middle East and North Africa who have to worship alone, in secret, in their homes,” said Rita El-Mounayer. “One viewer in Iran told us,
‘When you pray on the screen, I pray with you; when you worship on the screen, I worship with you.’”
During the pandemic, SAT-7 has seen a surge in responses from viewers in Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Algeria, Tunisia and other nations in the Middle East and North Africa. Now, SAT-7 will build on this growing engagement with developments in audience relations. This is to allow our Arabic-speaking viewers to receive more individualised support to meet their needs.
“When they see and hear local Christians in their own language describe how Jesus has given them peace, hope and love for others, many viewers are calling us and chatting with our team on social media, saying, ‘I want to experience that, too,” said El-Mounayer.
SAT-7 will be presented with the NRB’s International Media Award at the NRB convention in Grapevine, Texas, United States, in June 2021.