SAT-7’s broadcasts are being interrupted in Iran.
Iran (MNN) ― Protesters gathered yesterday to mark the tenth anniversary of a student uprising against the Islamic regime. Calm seemed to have resumed following the June 12 elections, but this recent gathering was dispersed violently.
An estimated 2,000 to 3,000 people assembled at Tehran University, the site of the 1999 uprising.
Yesterday’s events were foreseen, according to some news sources who report that Iran’s government had not given a demonstration permit. The government has cracked down on civilian freedoms and interactions since the unrest after the elections– including restrictions placed on cell phone and satellite signals. SAT-7 ’s Terry Ascott said their Christian broadcasts have suffered.
“The truth is that many of the satellite channels, including ours, are blocked from certain parts of the country, and I’m not sure how they’re doing it. It’s some new technology, because until now, it’s not really been possible to block multiple satellite channels coming into the country without up-linking interference to the satellite,” said Ascott.
Ascott doesn’t believe that the problem is going to go away anytime soon as far as peace is concerned. “There’s been a fundamental undermining of trust in the regime, so this is a new dynamic. It’s not something that can be put back, if you like, in the bottle–it’s out. It’s something that’s going to be on the agenda for the coming year unless it’s resolved quickly.”
The interruptions of satellite signals are happening mostly in Tehran. The programs that do make it through there and elsewhere are meeting ready hearts. “People caught up in this kind of change are, perhaps, more open than ever to the Gospel of Christ,” said Ascott.
SAT-7’s programs address living in tension and include encouraging verses such as 1 Peter 5:7 which urges viewers to “cast your anxieties on Him, for He cares for you.” SAT-7 planned to send Scriptures to viewers who have registered a mobile phone or e-mail address.
Ascott shared the story of an unbeliever who saw one of SAT-7’s programs in Iran. The man was a carpet weaver who was beginning to lose his eyesight. After losing his job, he began to worry about how he would be able to support his children. During a SAT-7 program, he began praying that God would protect his children. In the middle of that night, his daughter called from Armenia where she was living. She told him that during the time that he was praying, a man dressed in white had come to her house saying her father had sent him to warn her that there was a gas leak. She called her dad to ask him how he’d known, but he’d been too afraid to tell her that he’d been watching Christian television. Instead, he wrote a letter to SAT-7 telling them his story. Though he said he is not yet a Christian, he is in awe of their God.
The ministry of SAT-7 is having a powerful effect on people who live in areas where the message of Christianity is not well received. Ascott asks for prayer that the broadcasts will stop being interrupted and that the the programs will give hope despite the tension and uncertainty about the future. Pray also that the economic downturn will not affect SAT-7’s ability to financially support broadcasting in Iran and other nations.
SAT-7
P.O. Box 2770
Easton, MD21601
Phone: 410-770-9804
Fax: 410-770-9807
www.sat7usa.org
Kids watching Television
Posted: 21 May, 2009
Children control much of the television programming in Iraqi homes.
Iraq (MNN) ― A new study by a secular research company, in partnership with several other Arab news networks, brought good news to SAT-7.
So far, only information from Iraq has come in. But the viewer ratings, equivalent to the Nielson Ratings in the U.S., report that 10 percent of families in Iraq watch SAT-7’s programs during the year. Even in a predominantly Islamic population, that is more than any Christian network in the U.S.
It is likely that much of the viewership is due to the enthusiasm children have for SAT-7’s kids shows. Kids often end up in charge of the remote in many families, which means the parents are also viewing the programs their kids watch.
The message of hope and acceptance that SAT-7 presents is in stark contrast to the message of conventional Arab television. Arab television often promotes devotion to the culture and religion, obligation, legalism, acceptance of oppression, retaliation, hatred and very little hope.
Often, children write in requesting more reading materials like the story of Moses, or asking for a children’s Bible. Terry Ascott, CEO of SAT-7, shared an experience he had in Palestine last January, recounting that he met a nun who was the principal of a local orphanage. She told him that each night she battled the kids for the remote control: they wanted to watch SAT-7, and she wanted to see the news.
Ascott wrote, “I believe this phenomenon is being repeated daily and every night throughout the Middle East. Remember that children under the age of 15 represent 100 million people of the region. Through SAT-7 KIDS, child-by-child, family-by-family, for the first time in their lives, millions are being exposed to the truth, the Gospel, and the Word of God.”
If you’re interested in supporting SAT-7 financially, go to www.sat7usa.org
Facebook
Posted: 28 April, 2009
Middle East (MNN) ― Members of a well-known Lebanese worship band, “Strongholds,” desired to reach more people with their message. The group recently launched a live program on SAT-7, a Christian satellite television ministry to the Middle East and North Africa. The program called “From Me to You” communicates with viewers through text messages, e-mail and Facebook.
“I love how I’m talking to people I never thought I would, from many different countries,” said Joyce, one of the band members and a host on the show. “It’s great to get to know them, pray for them, and see how we are one body in Christ.”
Band members introduce Arab music videos on each show, take requests, and perform some songs live. Hosts also talk to viewers directly. On a recent show, a viewer from Iraq named F.H. sent a text message asking about salvation. Rawad, another host/band member on the show, used this opportunity to clarify the meaning of being “born again.”
“It’s a response from the call of God to accept Jesus as your Savior,” Rawad explained. “I want to tell you, F.H., that you are very courageous and also say that if there is anyone else out there who also wants to take this step, you shouldn’t be afraid.”
Each show also discusses a topical issue, such as fear. At the end of each show, viewers are encouraged to visit “From Me to You” on Facebook. They can send prayer requests to the site, as well as songs or issues they’d like to see in the next episode.
“We are getting many responses,” says Joyce. “People like to send text messages, especially from Iraq, and they also go to our Facebook site to discuss topics we’ve covered on the show.”
You can find out more about “From Me to You” and other SAT-7 programs by visiting SAT-7’s Web site http://www.sat7usa.org
Most Iraqi families spend many hours in the relative security of their homes watching satellite television. Many have turned to SAT-7 for hope and encouragement.
Data just released from a nation-wide study in Iraq found that 97% of the population has access to satellite television and that 18.8%, or 5.3 million people in that country alone (out of an estimated 2008 population of 28 million), watch SAT-7. The study also found that 2.6 million are watching on a regular daily or weekly basis!
Intermedia, the independent audience research firm which conducted the study, also provides data on such channels as Al Jazeera and BBC Arabic. In fact, according to the study SAT-7 is only 1.7 percentage points behind BBC Arabic in the number of people aware of the channel!
SAT-7 CEO Terence Ascott says the figures show that SAT-7 is offering tremendous return on donations given to the ministry. “It’s quite amazing when you consider that BBC ARABIC has an annual budget of 25 million British Pounds. A year ago when the BBC channel launched, that amount was worth about 50 million dollars. SAT-7’s total budget, split among three channels in 2008, was only 13 million dollars. Talk about value for your money!”
In addition to reaching a high number of viewers for a low cost, SAT-7 is also providing vital support to the struggling Christian community in Iraq. “Iraqi Christians have really suffered in recent years and many have fled the country,” says David Harder, SAT-7’s Communications Manager. “Iraqis often call and text us asking for prayer. Fortunately, through our programs SAT-7’s Arabic producers and hosts can show God’s love and offer encouragement. We’ve had responses from Iraq for years, but now we know that literally millions of Iraqis, Christian and non-Christian, are watching the broadcasts.”
To watch a live feed from the SAT-7 ARABIC channel, click here.
SAT-7 is Christian satellite television by and for the People of the Middle East and North Africa. In a part of the world where religious freedom is often limited, a group of Middle Eastern Churches and other ministries saw and seized upon the opportunity when large numbers of people began watching satellite television. The appeal was that they wanted to receive news and other programming that was not censored by their governments. Since the satellite signal goes directly from the satellite in space to the receiver’s dish, it cannot be censored.
Although satellite dishes were illegal at first, they became so popular that the governments generally just gave up trying to control them. At present, more than half of the people in the area have satellite television, and the numbers are growing. Satellite dishes can be seen on virtually every rooftop throughout the area.
In the Middle East, Christianity is often described as a “western” religion, although it started in the Middle East. SAT-7 breaks down that prejudice because virtually all of the faces and voices seen and heard on the network are from the Middle East and North Africa. Programs are produced in SAT-7 studios in Egypt, Lebanon, and Cyprus. For this reason, SAT-7 broadcasts are tremendously encouraging to Christians in the Middle East, where they are often an invisible minority. By watching SAT-7, they see that the churches in the Middle East are not invisible or powerless, as they may have thought. They receive sound Biblical teaching and encouragement in living a Christian life in a difficult situation. They worship with Christians of various Middle Eastern nations and across denominational lines. Many pastors of tiny congregations (some secret) have little, if any, theological education, but they receive sound teaching from SAT-7, which they can then pass on to their congregations.
Partners needed. Although SAT-7 is by and for Middle Eastern Christians, partners in other parts of the world are needed to help SAT-7 expand and reach its full potential. There are many kinds of giving opportunities available – from broadcast time and program sponsorship, to donations of equipment and help with the purchase of land and construction of buildings. If you would like to receive more information about partnership opportunities please email usa@sat7.org or phone the U. S. office at 410-770-9804 or toll free at 1-866-744-SAT7 (7287).
In my reading today in Matthew 8 was the story of Jesus coming down the mountain after the sermon on the mount. The first thing he does is heal a man of leprosy. The main had enough faith to worship Jesus and say to him, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me well again.” Jesus reply was I want to, be healed.”
The next story is the one that I have been thinking about most of the day. It is the story of the Roman officer that asks Jesus to come and heal his young servant. When Jesus told him he would come and heal him, the Roman solider says he is unworthy for Jesus to come into his home, but that if Jesus would just say the word that the servant would be healed. Then comes the three verses that has had me thinking —
“When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to the crowd, he said ” I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all the land of Israel! And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of heaven. But many Israelites–those for whom the Kingdom was prepared– will be cast into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.“
The end of the story is that Jesus tells the Roman officer to go home that due to his faith, his servant is healed.
What has had me thinking today is this. As the fighting in Gaza in the last days has increased I have been receiving more and more posts from Christians talking about how we must support Israel at all cost and that’s its all Hamas’ fault and so what if innocent Palestinians get killed. That’s just life. They take this position because somehow they have gotten the idea that since Israel is God’s chosen people that we are to support what secular Israel does, lock, stock and barrel.
Then I read these verses and say – how does this jive with what people are saying.
What do you think?
Why is it they never call you, but when you walk up to the counter they say – “We were just going to call you.”? I mean I gave them my cell number, I told them I was going across the street for a coffee, does that give them the freedom to not work on it.
Although I am still waiting for the van – so far this has resulted in the purchase of two brand new tires.
BTW, did you know that now they recommend for the best traction that new tires should go on the back of the vehicle , even though it is front wheel drive? This is news to me.
We did have some advance notice that we might need new tires – the AAA man last night pointed out what might be a problem. (Praise God it happened while we were still in Indy and not on the road on our “Mini” vacation.) That helped me this morning when they told me they would recommend new tires.
That brings me to a problem I have whenever I come to a place like Firestone. I don’t trust them. I know it may not be true of all of these stores, but my general opinion is that they are out to make a buck and will find anything wrong with your vehicle they can so they can fix it and charge you a fortune for the privilege of having them do the work. I guess they see a sucker coming a mile away. I willing admit that I am mechanically challenged. Hey, I am the one who broke by sons radiator on his car trying to remove the battery for him but that is another story.
Anyway, how do you know if what they are saying is true or if they are taking you for a ride? I wish I had the answer for that – or better yet, I wish they invented a car that would never break down. Funny isn’t it, you even see brand new cars on the side of the road.
Until the next time,
Jim
SAT-7 produces several types of programs to reach as many as possible with the Gospel.