Through its programmes and dedicated viewer support teams, SAT-7’s Persian-language channel SAT-7 PARS has been serving viewers in Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan for over 15 years. Laleh*, an Iranian viewer of SAT-7 PARS, recently described how the channel has helped her grow in faith and find peace in Christ: “Greetings to all the beloved at SAT-7 PARS. I wanted to […]
This Easter, three Abrahamic faiths overlapped in celebrations of Ramadan, Passover and Easter. Different religious calendars aligned, and shared roots, lands and heritages became clear. Yet, the same week saw a fresh cycle of violence on the Temple Mount and Al-Azhar compound in Jerusalem. Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli police clashed in scenes that saw rocks thrown at Jewish worshippers from […]
The images of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine have shocked us all. Footage of indiscriminate bombings of apartment blocks, hospitals and critical infrastructure, such as water and electricity hubs, assail us like flashbacks of recent events in the Middle East. What we are witnessing in Ukraine is a continuation of the devastating attacks Russia made on civilian areas of Syria […]
SAT-7 PARS’ live women’s programme Insiders is challenging culturally accepted actions and behaviour that restrict women’s rights and lives in Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan, and reinforce the notion of women as second-class citizens. A special episode of Insiders broadcast on Women’s Day, 8 March, will highlight the role of women as heads of households and as breadwinners. Women in Persian […]
The month has been marked both by diplomacy and power struggles on an international level. Away from the headlines, Middle East churches continued to work and pray for peace and freedom. Hopeful diplomatic moves continue across the region. President Erdogan of Turkey has been warmly welcomed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a marked change from the tensions that have […]
Thirteen-year-old Bijan from Iran recently got in touch with Persian children’s show Hashtag, asking to give his life to Jesus. Here, he shares his story of faith – ending with a beautiful prayer that blessed the whole team… I am thirteen years old, and I started to believe in Jesus about two years ago. My parents have been believers for […]
From 1 January, the year 2022 has looked very different in contrasting corners of the Middle East and North Africa – from wealthy Gulf nations to countries in crisis like Afghanistan and Yemen. As we look ahead, our Middle East analyst sees some hopeful signs of nations beating swords into ploughshares (Isaiah 2:4), but too few leaders using their power, […]
A SAT-7 series is producing new worship songs for the suffering Iranian Church – written by a martyr’s son in collaboration with Iranian Christian refugees in Turkey. Gilbert Hovsepian was only 17 when his father, Revd Haik Hovsepian Mehr, the President of the Council of Protestant Churches in Iran and a courageous spokesman for freedom of religion, was kidnapped and […]
SAT-7 viewers will enjoy a feast of hope-filled Christmas programmes in Arabic, Turkish, and Persian over the festival period. From broadcasts showing gifts and Bibles being taken to isolated villagers, a Christmas visit to children in an orphanage and support given to impoverished families, to live church services, musical concerts and special episodes of regular talk shows, the joyful message […]
21 December 2021 SAT-7’s Persian language television channel, SAT-7 PARS, last weekend marked 15 years of broadcasting the Gospel into the Persian world. In a special video message for viewers, respected pastors, Bible teachers, worship leaders and other presenters reflected on the significance of the channel and the privilege of ministering to a growing Persian Church. Watch presenters’ messages in […]
