NICOSIA, Cyprus (ANS), April 24, 2002 — SAT-7 is a Christian broadcasting group that partners with some 30 agencies, including the United Bible Societies, Campus Crusade for Christ and local churches in countries such as Egypt, Lebanon and Kuwait.
The Gospel is broadcast to this volatile region over two satellites that beam the programs directly into viewer homes all over the Middle East and North Africa.
Terry Ascott, SAT-7's chief executive officer, said in a message to supporters "Christian greetings from a region in grief and shock . Please remember in your prayers the people of the Middle East - especially the thousands of wounded or grieving on both sides of what some would now call 'a war.'"
Ascott continued, "Arab Christians across the region have been doing what they can to bring peace and reconciliation. SAT-7 has had a role in calling to prayer the Christians of the Middle East and North Africa. And, in Egypt, the Evangelical Church had a day of prayer and fasting for the situation last Sunday (April 7).
"...it would seem that there is an emerging divide. This is between those who feel acts of terrorism (as defined by the west) are justifiable within Islam and those who are questioning their religion because of such statements. The debate is unprecedented in its frank and public nature -- with extremes of view being aired by Arab satellite television channels."
"Whatever the situation, the quality (and quantity) of response coming from our audience is significantly up since September 11."
An Algerian man finds Peace.
Photo: SAT 7
Terence Ascott, SAT-7's Chief Executive Officer
|
Ascott then quoted a letter he received from a man in Algeria, where SAT-7 has a large audience: "I was very disturbed after watching your programs, questioning what is truth. But, in answer to my prayers, Jesus appeared to me and I have a new peace and joy. Please send me a Bible."
He also said that a woman from Algeria had phoned a SAT-7 counseling center and said, "From western movies, I always thought Christians (westerners) were heavy drinkers, cheats, adulterers and disrespectful of their families. Watching your programs has changed all this and I understand Christianity is about love, forgiveness, honesty, being faithful to God and so on..."
A letter from a man in Morocco said, "I want you to know that your programs (and your viewer's magazine) are very important to us because they are the only source of Christian information to us in this country. Your programs are having a big impact on many attitudes and lives here, as people learn the truth about Christians."
Ascott asked Christians around the world to pray for the work of SAT-7 in the Middle East and North Africa.
Source: Dan Wooding, ASSIST News Service
|
