When the largest of Algeria’s Protestant churches was closed by the authorities five years ago, the senior pastor made a moving and powerful statement: “You can seal our churches – but not our hearts”. His words have proved true since then as believers have persevered in faith and continued to serve. The Full Gospel Church of Tizi Ouzou was sealed […]
The churches in Algeria may have closed down – but it hasn’t stopped God’s plans! We recently spoke to SAT-7 producer Samia Kessai, who told us more about SAT-7’s programmes for the Amazigh people and how God is at work in the country. In 2017, Algerian authorities started closing down the Protestant churches. Out of 47 churches, now only one […]
While the Holy Land and Sudan continued to suffer ruinous wars this month, Iran had elections with record low turnouts as it prepared to celebrate Nowruz, the Persian new year. Unrelenting conflicts in Gaza and Sudan have brought both countries to a new level of suffering. Many of the 300,000 Palestinians still living in the north of Gaza have been […]
A year on from the two devastating earthquakes that hit Türkiye and Syria, the repercussions are still being felt for many people who live in the two countries. Elsewhere, the new World Watch List highlights the dangers facing Christians the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and conflict in the Holy Land continues to deepen, bringing stronger calls from international […]
Eighteen countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) feature in the 2024 World Watch List that highlights the 50 most difficult places in the world for Christians. SAT-7 is strengthening believers across the region as they face persecution and oppression, through discipleship programmes on satellite TV and social media, and by offering prayer and pastoral support. Nine countries […]
The Middle East and North Africa begins the new year dominated by the war in Gaza and an under-reported conflict in Sudan. The Gaza Strip has been devastated by over 100 days of war with Israel. A displaced and starving population has been squeezed into ever smaller pockets of land while fighting between Hamas and Israeli forces intensifies. In Sudan, […]
“In our community, we agreed that our daughter will marry our neighbour once she’s mature. But when I saw the early marriage clip, and I remembered what happened to me, I gained a little bit of strength to fight for my daughter and stop what happened to me happening to her.” This comment from Yolande, a viewer in Algeria, highlights […]
Celebrating Christmas is difficult for many Christian children who live in the predominantly non-Christian countries of the Middle East and North Africa. Especially so in countries such as Iran, Afghanistan and Algeria, where believers are facing increased pressure at this time. For children and adults alike SAT-7’s Christmas schedules this month offer them the transforming message of “God with us” […]
It was UK Prime Minister Harold Macmillan who, in 1958, tweaked a Winston Churchill statement to say “jaw-jaw is better than war-war”. Happily, this month sees some examples – though not enough – of renewed dialogue bringing hope of peace and democracy to parts of the Middle East. News that US President Joe Biden is set to visit Saudi Arabia […]
Last weekend (15 May) citizens of Lebanon voted in parliamentary elections, for the first time since the 2019 “17 October Protests” over economic mismanagement and the unaccountability of political elites. There was much uncertainty over this election despite the wholesale anger with sitting politicians who are blamed for Lebanon’s economic crisis and its 2020 Beirut explosion. Former Prime Minister Saad […]
