Sharing personal experiences on revamped youth programme
A revamped youth programme on SAT-7 ARABIC has been helping young adults to explore difficult issues that affect their development and spiritual growth.
What’s Up is the updated name for Catalyst and the revised programme, aimed at 18 to 24-year-olds, has been taking young viewers deeper into their emotions and encouraging them to help and support each other.
“We decided to make a shift in What’s Up by inviting youth to share their personal experiences. These heart-to-heart conversations not only touch young viewers but also give them space to think and reach their own decisions instead of being told in a step-by-step method what to do in certain situations,” said What’s Up producer, Rafik George.
Each episode tackles difficult emotions such as fear, pain, confusion, regret, and depression, and helps viewers to explore relevant biblical teachings.
LOSS AND PAIN
One particularly powerful episode covered the challenging subject of loss and pain. The last year has seen several devastating wars raging in the region, leaving young people questioning: where is God amid all the suffering around them – and in their own lives?
A short clip from the episode, called “Is God present in the midst of the painful trials in our lives?”, was shared on Facebook, attracting over 150,000 views.
Young participants shared candidly about their own painful experiences. “I feel pain because of all that is happening around me,” said Monika.
“I don’t like to focus on my pain,” shared Kerolos. “I know that my back hurts but if I focus on it, how can life go on? I make music playlists, I change the apps that make me sad, and I move forward with life. I don’t dwell on pain or sadness.”
Marina Ashraf, a guest on the programme, advised that being there for the person who is in pain is the most important thing. She also explained that God allows pain in our lives, but only for a certain time, and that He uses difficult experiences to help us to grow in faith.