A recent report says that persecution of Christians worldwide has “significantly worsened” over the past 12 months.[1] To mark the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church on 3 November, here are some first-hand accounts from SAT-7 viewers who are facing persecution. We also consider how SAT-7 is supporting believers in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in […]
In this month’s Country Briefing, we journey to the easternmost reaches of SAT-7’s satellite footprint: the Central Asian nation of Tajikistan. The presenter of a new Tajik women’s talk show shares with us the difficulties faced by Christians in Tajikistan, but also how God is using SAT-7 to build His Church there. Click here to listen to the 7-minute audio […]
“They put me in a 90×90 cm cell. Out of six months in prison, I spent 55 days in solitary confinement. I regard them as the best days of my life because in this place I was comforted and knew the Lord.” Pastor Nihad Hassan, a Kurdish man from Syria, had a long journey of coming to faith in Christ, […]
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 […]
Egypt was one of the first places to hear the Gospel, but centuries of persecution and upheaval have taken their toll on its Christian population and its Christian heritage has been largely forgotten. SAT-7’s Communications and Resources Officer, Annabel Moule, recently caught up with Archbishop Angaelos, the Coptic Archbishop of London and Chair of SAT-7’s International Council, to talk about […]
By Aysha, a writer and film-maker from the Middle East, who was forced to leave her home country after she came to faith in Christ. She now lives in the UK, where she works with SAT-7 and other Christian networks on various communications projects. Jesus’ ministry was marked by persecution, culminating darkly in His crucifixion. On the morning of the […]
The presenters of SAT-7 PARS programme New Identity recently had the honour of interviewing Iranian believer Bita Rezaei, whose remarkable story of faith is challenging, inspiring, and heart-wrenching in equal measure. Bita’s story starts with a small seed. “The Lord planted [in me] the desire to serve in children’s centres and old people’s homes… Initially, I worked at a state-funded […]
by Dr Terence Ascott, SAT-7 Founder and President As we explore the top issues facing the Middle East, it is important to note that generalisations about the region do not work! The countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are as different to each other as the countries of Europe. So, this brief overview needs to be read […]
“In the last two years, so many things have changed. Life in Afghanistan is very difficult now – there is no education, no work, and all our suffering is because of those two things. There is a lot of anxiety. If [women] go out they are inappropriately questioned.” August 15 2023 marks two years since the Taliban’s rapid takeover of […]
Where there is prayer, there is hope for things to change. This is why it’s so encouraging that SAT-7 staff are able to pray regularly with and for viewers. “How beautiful and heart-warming is prayer – it renews the heart and connects us with our Heavenly Father,” Dalir from Afghanistan shares. “I pray and ask the Father to take hold […]