The new decade may be young, but major difficulties have already arisen in the MENA. Hope in some communities is as valuable and as rare as gold. Rita El-Mounayer (pictured), SAT-7’s CEO, has been speaking hope into the situation with a series of video blogs (vlogs).
One of her recent vlogs began with the startling truth that “the Middle East and North Africa is struggling to cope with the three largest humanitarian and displacement crises in the world: in Iraq, Yemen and Syria”.
The sheer scale of the problems can be overwhelming, but we mustn’t give in to the temptation to write off these crises as beyond hope. “What can we do in the light of seemingly endless problems?” Rita asks. Firstly, she says, we can unite. “We can strengthen ourselves as we continue our marathon; we can work together across organisations, churches and communities, to strengthen our partnership to deliver change.” In a divided and conflict-torn region, a message of unity is desperately needed. If forces working for peace in the region move forward together, the opportunities to make significant changes are greatly increased.
Secondly, Rita suggests, we must focus on youth. Once a SAT-7 KIDS presenter herself, Rita knows just how important it is to include children in God’s mission. She says, “We can continue to commit to inspiring and carving out space for younger generations… finding ways through Jesus.” Children were held in such high regard by Jesus himself; it would be foolish to suppress their potential in any way.
A strong Christian community, united in the common cause of compassion, empowering youth to find ways forward with Jesus. That is a world worth striving for.
PRAY
- Pray that God would strengthen Rita’s faith and encourage her in her work.
- Pray that Christian organisations and churches in the MENA would be united in Christ.
- Thank God that He gives us so much hope for the future.
“For you have been my hope, Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth.” (Psalm 71:5, NIV)