Facing jail, trusting in God For Farid Samir, SAT-7’s Executive Director in Egypt, the cost of answering the cry has from time to time involved visits from the police department. But action by the censorship police last October was the most serious. SAT-7 equipment worth more than £65,000 was seized and Farid temporarily detained. He was left facing multiple investigations […]
The cost of Answering the Cry – Farid Samir
Two Syrian refugees baptised at youth event in Turkey
A SAT-7 TÜRK film crew visited the first ever Christian youth event in Mardin, Turkey, at which two teenage Syrian refugees were baptised. More than 30 young Christians from across eastern Turkey gathered in the ancient city of Mardin, which is just 20 miles from the Syrian border, for the historic meeting. The three-day gathering included teaching, worship services and visits […]
SAT-7 programme helps refugee children to learn
As the number of people displaced by conflict reaches record levels, refugee children have told SAT-7 how our educational programme My School is helping them to continue learning while away from home. On World Refugee Day (20 June), the UN said it was the first time the number of refugees worldwide had passed the 60 million mark, with the highest […]
A golden opportunity for our churches
The heartfelt plea of a pastor in Lebanon The leader of a Lebanese church which has been sharing the love of Christ with refugees from Syria wrote this letter to churches in the West. Dear pastors in Europe, Greetings in Christ. We are at a very critical period of time concerning the refugees flooding into your countries. You have a […]
Syrian widows share struggles and faith
“In the midst of my grief You gave me joy” We have a principle not to bow down and weaken in front of difficult life challenges but to walk in God’s path, the path of peace and light.” Courageous widows in war-ravaged Aleppo have told of the daily struggle to raise their children alone, and shared how they are finding […]
The Briefing – June 2016
Even as the tide began to turn against so-called Islamic State, rival ambitions and visions made for fraught international relations in the region. News from the region In Syria last month so-called Islamic State (IS) came under intense pressure from all directions – from the US-led coalition, Kurdish forces, Syrian government troops and allies, the Iraqi army and shelling from […]
SAT-7 anniversary event honours mothers of martyred Christians
Beacon of Light celebration recognises bereaved women as “living beacons” Two Egyptian mothers whose adult and teenage children’s lives were stolen by terrorists were special guests at Beacon of Light – a gala event to mark 20 years of SAT-7, the largest television network in the Middle East that is dedicated to giving a voice to the region’s Christians. In […]
Breaking free of the straitjacket
A system designed partly to protect the region’s Christians has become a straitjacket inviting persecution and preventing greater equality and participation in Middle East societies. Since the time of the Ottoman Empire (1300-1922), the relationship of Christians in the Middle East with the politics and society of their countries has followed a similar trajectory. The Ottoman “millet system” was a […]
Middle East’s largest Christian TV network celebrates 20 years on air
31 May 2016 From broadcasting two hours to 840 hours each and every week; from one channel to five; from one to three languages; all achieved in just 20 years. The debut Arabic programme on SAT-7’s first channel aired on 31 May 1996 to millions of people across the Middle East and North Africa. SAT-7 celebrated this milestone yesterday with […]
“Please, please, please help and guide me”
Iranian viewer cries out for support Christians are a very small minority in the Middle East and North Africa, and in many of the countries where SAT-7 broadcasts, they face severe persecution. Every day, isolated believers cry out to SAT-7 for support, prayer and fellowship. Arvin* from Iran gave his heart to Christ 18 months ago. He shared with us […]