On the flip side, if catastrophe is now the status quo for front page news, what does this mean for the newsworthiness of positive developments? Either good news is not as common as bad news, or media gatekeepers feel it is not as interesting to readers. SAT-7 has been bringing good news to and from the region for years, and this post concludes with good news from Iraq.

In April 2008, while living in Cairo, I was reading a local Arabic newspaper when I came across a fascinating story. Entitled “Officer Refuses Bribe from Flour Trafficker in Cairo,” the article in al-Masry al-Yom hailed a local police officer for turning down a bribe of 1,700 L.E. (Egyptian pounds) in cash and a brand new cell phone. The officer apprehended the suspects, who had been driving a truck loaded with subsidized flour, without accepting the money or the phone. Police corruption, especially bribery, is so commonplace in Egypt that it is newsworthy for a police officer to do his job and turn down a bribe. While I was curious to see this indirect confirmation of ubiquitous police corruption, the story did not make the front page. On the same day, the feature article on the front page of al-Masry al-Yom was sadly ironic. It detailed the crisis of a worldwide increase in food prices and the looming threat of starvation for many families. 

Today, Iraqi newspapers feature a variety of public concerns. Just a few of the recurring themes in front page headlines are sectarian politics, deadly insurgent attacks, oil and gas bids, and prisoner deals. This week, online Iraqi news source Azzaman featured a positive development in assuaging Baghdad’s housing crisis, as new housing projects are in the works. But is the dearth of encouraging articles a realistic sign of the times or an ongoing journalistic tendency?

Online Iraqi News Source "Azzaman"

In light of what is making headlines in Iraq, I must share a great story that should be making headlines in Iraq. Last Sunday, the SAT-7 ARABIC show From Me to You hosted a special LIVE episode from the town of Erbil, Iraq. Presenters Jamie, Joyce and Rawad took calls from viewers, led the LIVE audience in worship, and invited testimony from show guests.

Viewers called in from all over the country—Baghdad, Erbil, and Sulaymaniyah—to wish the team a pleasant visit in Iraq. Jamie also interviewed a guest who shared how she came to Christ. The guest said she attended church and learned about Jesus until she decided to give her life to Him. She said about her salvation story, “Of course, it’s a simple experience but, for me, it is a magnificent one.”

On the Set of "From Me to You"

A guest performer on the show, Katherine, sang praise songs for the audience in both Arabic and Kurdish languages. Arabic is one official language in Iraq, and Kurdish is the official language in Kurdish regions, which includes Erbil. Iraqis of Kurdish ethnic origins comprise about 20% of the country’s total population.

Next month, SAT-7 will launch a new show supporting and encouraging the minority community of Christians in Iraq. The show will be called Allo Iraq. It will follow a similar format to From Me to You, but will respond to relevant social issues in Iraq with Iraqi presenters Lina and Ehsan. The recent special LIVE episode of From Me to You and the upcoming premiere of Allo Iraq are designed to attract a teen audience and are part of an increased SAT-7 focus on Iraq.

For more on SAT-7 in Iraq, look for upcoming articles in What’s New at sat7usa.org.

Melissa Brown, SAT-7 Blogger

Leaving didn’t seem real until I walked through airport security and realized I had no cell phone and no friends where I was headed. During my freshman year of college at Liberty University, I spent a lot of time praying about where my life was headed. At 18 years old, I committed to three years in Egypt (never having been there) where I would receive a B.A. in Middle East Studies from The American University in Cairo. There were many times during those three years that I would wake up in the morning and wonder, what on earth am I doing here? The girl that got off the plane alone in Cairo that first year had a lot of fears and misgivings about how the world works, and I can look back and say that I would do it all again to become the person that I am today. Starting over in a new country was one of many decisions that God used to broaden my perception of the world and strengthen my faith as a Christian.

While I was living in Cairo, I worked part-time as an English teacher. Working with a U.S. professional and fellow church member, I also helped to start Maadi Community Church’s first downtown Bible study. I could go on about some of the things I did there, but the most important parts of my life in Cairo were the people I met who taught me how to live and love with patience and appreciation for God’s gifts. Landlords, doormen, corner store owners, roommates, classmates, professors, coworkers, supervisors, church members… At a discussion on social justice in New York City, Pastor Dr. Tim Keller said that if you’re a Christian, you have to love cities because cities are full of humanity. The best personal introduction I can give is to express that I want my life to be defined not by things or accomplishments, but by relationships.

With all of its own hardships, my life in Cairo was the best three years of my life (so far). Graduation was a bittersweet time. That one piece of paper was supposed to represent my independence, a more secure future and a pat on the shoulder for all my hard work. But all the tears I cried in the airport as I bid farewell to my best friend couldn’t erase the heartache of leaving a life behind. At the same time, I could only live with a foot on each continent for so long and grad school was waiting in Manhattan. I put down roots as fast as I could when I moved to New York. During my first few months, people checked in on me to see how I was handling big city life. I would laugh because New York City actually has less than half the population of Cairo and doesn’t seem nearly as polluted or congested.  It was a convenient city by comparison, other than the anxiety that comes with graduate thesis research. Not to mention that during my last semester, we were all glued to our computers watching our friends in Tahrir Square and praying they wouldn’t be among the injured or dead of Egypt’s revolution. During this time, I also worked as a Program & Fiscal Assistant at my department and interned at The Christian Embassy to the United Nations.

It was through my graduate department that I had received a fellowship to study Arabic during the previous summer, and I had decided to go back to Jerusalem. (I went on a short touristic trip before with Liberty University.) This time was different, to say the least. I decided to just fly in a few days before class and find an apartment on Craigslist. I rented from a local in an apartment in the middle of the night-life on Yaffa Street, where I could walk into the Old City every day for class. In August, I returned to Manhattan for my last year of graduate school. It was easier to leave Manhattan than Cairo—maybe because it was a short bus-ride away in the same time zone, or it was a relief to finally finish my thesis. It was after I moved back to my home state of Maryland that I became familiar with SAT-7.

I have been blogging since I first moved overseas in 2006. When I initially learned of SAT-7, I was astounded by the creative way that it brings people together using media technology. SAT-7’s work gives the Church a voice in recent developments using technology that aids in globalization, and I’m excited about being part of new conversations about God’s presence in the Middle East and North Africa. 

Both the SAT-7 ARABIC and SAT-7 KIDS channels have now completed the migration from the old Atlantic Bird 4A satellite to the new Atlantic Bird 7(AB7) satellite, which offers better coverage of the Arab world. Now, for the first time, parts of North Africa (Morocco and Western Algeria) will have access to these channels on Nilesat.

SAT-7’s CEO, Terence Ascott said, “We have been waiting a long time for the launch of this new satellite, which will not only give us a stronger signal and better coverage of all parts of the Arabic speaking world–but will also make it easier for new viewers to find these two key SAT-7 channels on their receivers!”

SAT-7 PLUS, the network’s Hotbird satellite channel, will continue serving all of the Middle East and North Africa (including greater Europe) with its “best of” programming from the SAT-7 ARABIC and SAT-7 KIDS channels. 

In the midst of the uncertainty brought about by the Arab Spring, SAT-7 is providing daily encouragement, spiritual perspective, respite and solace. Live interactive programming gives viewers a chance to ask questions and hear answers from mature counselors.

Expanding the audience means expanding the impact of Christian teachings about the eternal and intrinsic value of human life, the blessings of human liberty, and respect for moral law.

             “I came to Christ about a month ago through SAT-7 programs. I gave my heart to Christ and now I encourage my family to what your programs, as well…”

—viewer in Lebanon

The deployment of SAT-7’s Arabic-language channels on these two most popular satellite platforms–Nilesat and Hotbird–helps strengthen the ministry’s mission to “transform lives through hope in Jesus Christ” across the Middle East and North Africa, especially to youth and children–the largest population segment in the region–who are increasingly turning to SAT-7 ARABIC and SAT-7 KIDS for information about Christ and Christianity. Parents, as well, have been said to regard SAT-7 KIDS as a “safe place” for their children.

 “I am a father of three…thank you…for teaching our kids about Jesus in such wonderful and creative ways. You teach…Christian values. They learn a lot about love, sacrifice, and putting others first. These principals we cannot find on other children’s channels…”

—viewer in Jordan

The new coordinates for SAT-7 ARABIC and SAT-7 KIDS, effective 23 October 2011 are:  Atlantic Bird 7 at 7 degrees East, Frequency: 11,355 GHz, Vertical, 27.5 MSym/sec, FEC 5/6.

The broadcast coverage map for Atlantic Bird 7 (AB7) at 7 degrees East:

The areas people can watch SAT-7 via Satellite Televison

###

Launched in 1996, with US headquarters in Easton, MD, SAT-7 provides a spiritual solution and hope to the region using Christian programming created by and for the people of the Middle East and North Africa. SAT-7’s five channels include: SAT-7 ARABIC,
SAT-7 PARS (Farsi), SAT-7 TÜRK (Turkish), SAT-7 KIDS (Arabic) and SAT-7 PLUS (Arabic). SAT-7 has an estimated 15-17 million viewers (Intermedia research, 2009) and broadcasts in three languages: Arabic, Farsi and Turkish. SAT-7 can be viewed via satellite in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, much of Central Asia and worldwide at www.SAT7.org. For more information about SAT-7 go to: www.sat7usa.org.

For interviews with SAT-7 Founder and International CEO Terry Ascott regarding this news release, perspectives on current Middle East developments, or SAT-7’s distinctive work, contact the SAT-7 USA office. 

Businesses typically charge for their products or services. Governments charge fees and assess taxes. But nonprofit organizations generally do neither. They are “nonprofit” or “not for profit,” so they do not exist to enhance their bottom lines. 

While some ministries assess or otherwise seek legitimate fees for certain products or services, SAT-7 does not charge for its programming. Yet the ministry must pay considerable costs for program production and airtime on satellite platforms. So how does SAT-7 secure necessary income? 

For the fifteen-plus years of its existence SAT-7 has depended upon the faithful generosity of interested friends of the ministry. SAT-7 does not ask for money on the air. Nor does SAT-7 sell airtime to advertisers or sponsors. Viewers in all Middle East and North Africa countries may access SAT-7 for free—all they need is a television and a satellite connection. 

To handle fundraising or what’s known as “development,” in addition to the international office, SAT-7 works through four “support offices,” SAT-7 Europe, SAT-7 UK, SAT-7 Canada, and SAT-7 USA. These offices design materials, send staff to church denominational conferences, interact with mission agencies, develop websites and mailings, and otherwise engage in a wide variety of ways to share how SAT-7 is addressing spiritual challenges and opportunities via Arabic, Farsi, and Turkish language Christian television programming—virtually the only way to present Christianity safely, efficiently, and effectively in closed or largely closed countries. 

Staff members from these offices (and sometimes volunteers) also regularly meet with individuals and couples, corporate, foundation, ministry, and in some countries government leaders presenting SAT-7’s initiatives and asking for their prayer and financial support. People respond faithfully and generously. Meanwhile, other staff members in the support offices respond to prayer requests, share viewer testimonies and requests, and administer financial gifts donated in all the ways now possible. Some supporters have even set up bequests that later come to the ministry as part of their estates. 

This column has focused upon financial support. But another kind of support is essential as well—prayer. Literally hundreds of individuals and churches pray regularly for God’s Word to be shared, understood, and received in the Middle East and North Africa. And they pray for SAT-7’s part in this aspect of the Great Commission. 

God has provided each year, and he has made possible SAT-7’s growth in outreach and quality. For all this SAT-7’s Board and staff members are truly grateful. 

© Rex M. Rogers – All Rights Reserved 

Opinions in this column are Dr. Rogers’s and do not necessarily represent SAT-7 or SAT-7 USA. Good News from the Middle East may be reproduced in whole or in part with a full attribution statement. Contact Dr. Rogers at rexrogers@sat7.org. Follow at www.twitter.com/RexMRogers  

10/40 Window rolls nicely off the tongue, is intriguing, and is, once the geography’s envisioned, easy to understand. The phrase was coined in 1990 by mission strategist Luis Bush, who first called it a “box” but at his wife’s suggestion changed the name to “window” to emphasize spiritual opportunities in the region. 

The 10/40 Window spans over 60 countries and two-thirds of the world’s population—over 4 billion people. These countries, though widely variant in history and culture, share several negative “social indicators,” for example: 

• highest number of socioeconomic problems,
• high levels of illiteracy, higher still among women,
• 90% of the poorest people,
• most countries closed or resistant to outside influence,
• highest levels of Christian suppression, oppression, persecution,
• 8,671 people groups, a majority “unreached,” meaning limited to no access to the Christian message.

You can Google more statistics, but you get the picture. The idea of the 10/40 Window was to encourage a Christian outreach strategy to the most spiritually needy regions of the world. To some extent this has happened. Mostly it hasn’t. 

Some Good News: SAT-7’s satellite footprint covers the entire Western Half of the 10/40 Window. While Asia and Africa are linguistically fragmented, one advantage for broadcasting in the Middle East and North Africa is that residents typically understand one of three languages: 300 million Arabic, 165 million Turkish, and 70 million Persian (Farsi). SAT-7 broadcasts biblical truth and a Christian worldview in all three languages. 

Some 95% of Middle Easterners have access to a television and 60%+ (about 85% in Iraq) can access a satellite dish. So despite the spiritual challenges on the ground, or maybe because of them, spiritual opportunities still beam uncensored from the air. 

The Western Half of the 10/40 Window is blanketed everyday with the Christian message. And God said, “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11). 

What do you think the Apostle Paul, missionary to the Gentiles, would say if he could reach millions via satellite television? No long boat rides or shipwrecks, no snakes, no Roman soldiers to dodge, no interminable hikes, no waiting weeks for your epistle to get there. 

I think Paul would pray, “Dear Lord, give me the 10/40 Window.” And then to his taxi-driver, “Get me to the SAT-7 studio. Now.” 

© Rex M. Rogers – All Rights Reserved 

Opinions in this column are Dr. Rogers’s and do not necessarily represent SAT-7 or SAT-7 USA. Good News from the Middle East may be reproduced in whole or in part with a full attribution statement. Contact Dr. Rogers at rexrogers@sat7.org. Follow at www.twitter.com/RexMRogers. 

In ancient times, word of mouth was the only mode of communication. Then writing was invented in the Middle East. Use of symbols, Sumerian cuneiform writing in Mesopotamia, Egyptian hieroglyphics, and papyrus paper followed. In the Middle Ages, monks spent their entire lives painstakingly copying manuscripts and artists portrayed biblical stories in paintings. Then in 1455, Johannes Guttenberg, gave the world its first printed Holy Bible . 

Fast forward to the 19th Century: telephone and radio quickly become essential. In the early 20th Century, television revolutionizes communications, followed by satellites in space in the 1960s. 

With the possible exception of hieroglyphics, Christian people used all these technological tools to share the message of the Gospel. SAT-7, for example, launched its Christian satellite television programming in 1995. Since television is an enormous cultural force in the Middle East and satellite access is available to 60% or more of the population, satellite television continues to be the most far-reaching, cost effective, and efficient means for communicating the principles, teachings, and encouragement of the Word of God with tens of millions. 

But SAT-7 Founder and International CEO Terry Ascott reminds us that “Technology is always about tomorrow.” In other words, it’s simply a changing distribution platform. So SAT-7’s greatest interest is not building a network for the sake of technological expansion, but rather, developing “content,” biblically based programming about the message of Jesus Christ. For now, this means SAT-7 must do both, create necessary technological infrastructure, a means to the end, and develop Christian programming, the end. This is a challenge, but it’s also the opportunity God provided for such a time as this. 

New forms of communications technology are now widespread and growing rapidly: cell phones, the Internet, blogs like this column, social media like Facebook, Twitter, podcasting, and much more. So SAT-7 has developed SAT-7 websites, Facebook pages, staff members connecting with constituents and viewers via Twitter, RSS feeds, streaming, and other forms of fulfilling its mission. Such ministry innovation will continue. 

God’s Word, the Bible says, will not return to him void—no matter what the technological media for sharing it. 

© Rex M. Rogers – All Rights Reserved 

Good News from the Middle East may be reproduced in whole or in part with a full attribution statement. Contact Dr. Rogers at rexrogers@sat7.org. Follow Rex on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RexMRogers.