Meet the USA Staff

Dear Friend of SAT-7^® :

Thank you for your ongoing interest in this distinctive, influential, and—dare we say it—yes, strategic ministry!

SAT-7, like no other organization, provides quality, biblically based, culturally appropriate Christian broadcasting throughout the Middle East and North Africa—now to about 15 million viewers. Because of generous and faithful friends like you, we do this without airing commercials or otherwise asking for money on the air. We are grateful you are joining SAT-7 in this Great Commission endeavor.

SAT-7 is truly a 21st Century ministry "for such a time as this," as biblical values and teachings are beamed via satellite into millions of homes. And that's good. But the really exciting news is that political and religious entities who oppose biblical Christianity do not currently possess the technology to selectively block satellite Christian television. In God's providence, SAT-7 is ready and able at the very time in history when this form of technological missions is most needed and offers the highest and best "return on investment" for your mission support.

While the people of the Middle East are very religious, they are often constrained by culture, religious leaders, or regimes. Still, many of them are open to listening and thinking about religious questions, especially in the privacy and relative security of their homes. This is SAT-7's spiritual opportunity; and we work diligently to create interesting television programming that attracts viewers and shares with them biblical concepts like love, forgiveness, and hope—ideas often missing from Middle Eastern or North African viewers' understanding and experience.

SAT-7 faithfully communicates the positive claims of Jesus Christ the Savior to an Arabic speaking audience via SAT-7 ARABIC and SAT-7 KIDS. SAT-7 PARS (the traditional word for Persia) reaches those in Iran and parts of Afghanistan who speak Farsi. The newly launched SAT-7 TÜRK will reach a nation of some 72 million Turkish speaking people and approximately 30 million Turkish speakers reside in neighboring areas outside of Turkey. All told, SAT-7 is beamed every hour of every day to some 22 countries across seven time zones in an area that encompasses over 500 million people.

What's perhaps even more amazing than the satellite coverage map is the number of people reached for the cost required. SAT-7 provides Christian television content for one person for one year for just $1. That's based upon a current annual budget of approximately $15 million. When you consider that in Hollywood $15 million is the going salary of one actor in one film, SAT-7's financial efficiency is truly "a God thing" and we are grateful for the careful stewardship the ministry employs.

Two significant new developments are being implemented as you read this letter:

• In early October 2009, SAT-7 ARABIC and SAT-7 KIDS were co-located on what's called an AB4 satellite link. This means that literally millions more people now receive this programming. We believe SAT-7's Arab language viewership will double or possibly triple in the next few months.
• In January 2010, TURK-7, a four-hour per day Christian Turkish language channel, joined the SAT-7 network as SAT-7 TÜRK. In a short time, staff members plan to build SAT-7 TÜRK programming to 24 hours per day, seven days per week. They also plan within the next year to acquire airtime on an independent Turkish satellite channel, making SAT-7 TÜRK even more accessible to a nation and language group with little or no witness to hope in Jesus Christ.

And God is blessing in other ways: SAT-7 KIDS continues to grow in quality and quantity of programming and in viewership; all the channels are experiencing an increase in audience responses; new colleagues with ministry and fundraising experience recently joined the USA staff; new donors are supporting SAT-7; live programming is being produced and aired for the first time, increasing audience interest and response; the "house church" in Iran is growing, despite periodic political opposition, and SAT-7 PARS is providing discipleship and Bible training on the air for this fledgling Church; people are coming to Christ as we the staff and you the supporters are privileged to play some small part in God's work.

We are extremely grateful to our faithful supporters who share our vision of a growing Church in the Middle East and North Africa. Isolated Christians are being encouraged. Thousands are hearing the truth of the Gospel for the first time. Much is being accomplished. Thank you for all your prayers and support,

Grace and Peace,

Dr. Rex M. Rogers
President, SAT-7 USA