On the evening of Monday, April 22^nd, Mar Gregorios Ibrahim, SAT-7 International Council Member and Syrian Orthodox Archbishop of Aleppo, Syria was traveling with Metropolitan Paul Yazigi, the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Aleppo. They were returning to Aleppo from a village of Kfar Dael near the Turkish border when armed gunmen stopped the car, killed the driver, and kidnapped the two bishops. Reportedly, they had been attempting to negotiate the release of others who had recently been kidnapped by Syrian rebels, when they fell prey themselves. 

Despite the misinformed reports of some news agencies that the bishops had been released, there is still no news concerning their whereabouts or the identity of those holding them.
 
At the beginning of April, Mar Gregorios had given an interview with the BBC’s Arabic Service and called for the Syrian government to allow free access to the media. He said that by allowing journalists to move about freely, it would show the “true picture of the tragedy suffered by Syrians.”
 
As a member of the SAT-7 International Council, Mar Gregorios attended SAT-7 meetings in Cyprus last month. There, he shared his concerns over the rising violence in the country and the plight of its Christian population – much of which has been internally displaced or are now counted among the more than one million Syrian refugees living just across the border in Turkey, Lebanon or Jordan.
 
Bishop Munib Younan of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (also a SAT-7 International Council Member) said recently – “We know very well that the role these bishops are playing in Aleppo is to encourage the Syrian Christians, and strengthen them to remain in their land.” Bishop Younan demanded their release.

Over the past week, SAT-7 has sought to rally prayer support from its viewers via numerous social media outlets, emails and on-screen alerts on our ARABIC and PLUS Channels. Two special live programs were also broadcast from Lebanon discussing the kidnappings, issues of forgiveness and reconciliation – and the implication of recent events for the country.

The live shows were hosted by Syrian and Tunisian Christians. They presented reports and interviews, prompting an unprecedented number of calls from viewers across the region. A Syrian journalist from Damascus shared her deep sadness at recent events but reminded Syrian Christians of their calling to love, serve and witness to everyone in the name of Jesus. Nour, one of the show’s hosts, reminded his fellow Syrians to react to violence and injustice with prayer, and not allow anger to become the driving force of our actions.

SAT-7 and the Church authorities in Syria sincerely urge all persons getting this update to continue to pray for the situation faced by all Syrians and for the immediate release of the bishops – perhaps even in time for Easter which, in the Orthodox tradition, will be celebrated this coming weekend.

- Greg Garrett, Communications Coordinator, SAT-7

The last two years, we have all seen Syria fall into war. Every day, we hear bad news, but let me give you a Christian’s inside look to the country.

After two years of war, we have many fears, like: Can we stay here or not? Before the war, we had a respectful life. We could worship in church and [had] freedom and no one attacked us. At the same time, we were not praying people. We felt peace but we didn’t pray from all our hearts to God. When the war started, Christians started to feel afraid and uncertain about our future, so we needed to pray.

Day by day, we started to feel the future would be very dark. But I believe in God’s faithfulness and His Word from Matthew 4:24, “News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them.”

Maybe someone who reads this verse will think it’s something that happened in the past when Jesus was in Syria, or they will think I’m a very positive person—but I believe it’s a promise from God. It came true before, and it will come true again.

Like I said, before this war, we were not focusing on prayer. But now, to see this verse happen in our country, we need to start praying for Syria. Not just normal prayers, but prayers of anguish, crying and weeping to the Lord on behalf of our country, to see Him in Syria.

Nour Botros hosting “Just For You”

I believe God is shaking the country and the Church [in order] to renew and correct this building to be—not just a building in the country—but a real home for Him in Syria. I believe if the Church can act as one unit and body, and put Christ first, we will see His name and healing again in Syria. We will see miracles and healing and the mighty power of the Holy Spirit.

In this time, through SAT-7, we started to reach out to the Syrian people and call on them to pray through a new program, Just for You (Kermalak in Arabic). It’s a great blessing to me to be serving my country and [to be] hosting youth and leaders on the show who I believe will change the situation. Every episode of the program, we want to encourage people in the great hope we have in Jesus, and remind them that in this time, we need to be praying together. We pray and cry out to God to have mercy and grace on our country.

Syria needs a lot of prayer and we want the whole world to pray and believe with us to see this verse coming true in Syria.

The Luis Palau Association has organized mega-festivals around the world, leading families in heartfelt worship and to a saving relationship with Christ. These efforts have made them a meaningful partner in SAT-7’s satellite television ministry in the Middle East and North Africa.

Several years ago, the Luis Palau Association organized and sponsored the first Count It Right Festival in Egypt, which drew over 5,000 attendees. SAT-7 broadcast the sports festival live, bringing the excitement of the athletes’ performances and the hope of the Gospel message to the homes of thousands more people in the region. Since then, the annual festival has grown to an attendance of over 10,000 people and SAT-7 continues to air live footage of the events.

Click below to hear a message from Andrew Palau about working with SAT-7.

Nikoo, young adult and Presenter of the SAT-7® PARS program Dandelion, shares her experiences of childhood in Iran:

“When I was in school, mobile phones and the Internet were not things everyone in Iran used. Only grown-ups had mobile phones…we couldn’t ‘search’ anything we wanted. One of the good things I remember from my childhood was, that in Iran, people care so much about reading books—actual books…We used to register at these great libraries, and you would spend an entire day there, because the library was like a community center.” Libraries in Tehran are not just about books, but also socialization. Children can read with their parents, draw, paint, and play games with other children. Cinemas and parks are also common places for entertainment in Tehran. Nikoo reminisces, “We had a lot of cultural activities…those were the great parts.”

Today, Iranian youth still enjoy a relatively high literacy rate, but technology has increased their sources for information. Many are watching SAT-7 PARS and learning things that they cannot find in public schools or in libraries. Some are hearing the Truth about Christianity for the first time. Iranians can watch the SAT-7 PARS channel on satellite TV, by streaming the channel live online, or by viewing episodes uploaded to YouTube®. They can communicate with show presenters by messaging on Facebook®, visiting the channel website, emailing, or calling the live shows via Skype®.

SAT-7 CEO Dr. Terence Ascott commented on these new trends: “As we look to the future of ‘television’ in our part of the world, it is clear that thinking people will increasingly want to selectively watch programs of their choice, when they want, where they want, and on a device of their own choosing. This is driving SAT-7’s new ‘TV Everywhere’ strategy.”

Look for the full-length story on my interview with Nikoo in the
Inside SAT-7 spring newsletter. Request a free copy here!

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.

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 provides a unique platform for voices in the Church amidst recent developments–social, political, and otherwise. I’m excited about being part of new conversations about God’s presence in the Middle East and North Africa!

I have spent about three years living in Cairo, and a summer living in Jerusalem while studying Arabic language. Throughout my travels, I have acquired a BA in Middle East Studies and an MA in Near Eastern Studies.

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.