In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), where people are often discouraged from sharing their personal troubles, brave viewers are speaking up on SAT-7 programmes. By sharing their struggles, as well as their victories and answers to prayer, they are encouraging an audience of millions to open up and receive healing in their lives.
In the MENA, sharing personal troubles can be seen as a sign of weakness. For this reason, many people suffer in silence, with nowhere to share their thoughts or ask for guidance. However, SAT-7’s programmes are a source of light, offering a platform for honest discussion, prayer requests and sharing testimonies.
ENCOURAGING VULNERABILITY
During live programmes, viewers are encouraged to call in and share their testimonies or ask for prayer on air. They can also send their requests and testimonies via email or social media.
“It is so encouraging to see so many viewers respond and engage with presenters, especially since society often discourages them from doing so,” shares George Makeen, SAT-7 ARABIC Channels Programming Director.
TURKISH MAN HEALED
One testimony was shared by a regular viewer from Turkey, Cevdet*, who called the Audience Relations team at SAT-7 TÜRK to tell them how their prayer for him had been answered.
“Thank you all very much for calling me back. The last time we talked, I had many troubles and problems. I asked you to pray for me, and we prayed together. When I was talking to you, I had serious back pains, but an hour later, they were gone!”
FREED FROM ADDICTION
On SAT-7 ARABIC’s praise and worship programme Keep on Singing a viewer shared through Facebook how God freed him from addiction.
“Thank you for your prayers! God intervened in my life and liberated me from drugs, and now He is continuing His work in me. Please continue to pray for me, pray for protection on my eyes, my tongue and my thoughts because I’m afraid of falling into sin again. The pressure is too much, and I need the Holy Spirit to continue in my relationship with God. I trust that He will answer your prayers for me.”
IMPOSSIBLE PRAYERS ANSWERED
On a recent episode of the programme Needle and New Thread on SAT-7 ARABIC, Samah,* a mother of twins, shared her testimony on her struggle to get pregnant.
“My husband and I tried to conceive for 20 years,” Samah said. “I would avoid family and friends and situations where someone might ask me when my husband and I will finally have children.”
When Samah reached the age of 42 the doctors told her it would be impossible. “I prayed to God for children and I finally submitted myself to His will.” Shortly after her prayers, Samah began to feel dizzy, sick and lethargic. The impossible had happened. “No one could believe that I was pregnant after trying for so long, and at the age of 42!”
We rejoice to hear of lives changed and prayers answered.
*Names changed for security reasons
PRAY
- Pray for boldness and encouragement for George Makeen, the SAT-7 ARABIC Channels Programming Director.
- Pray for SAT-7’s Audience Relations Teams as they take many calls about sensitive and difficult situations. Ask God to work powerfully through their interactions.
- Praise God for helping his people; Samah became pregnant at the age of 42, a viewer of Keep On Singing was liberated from drugs and Cevdet was freed from back pain!