United Nations crisis meeting on Syria ends in failure

(Photos courtesy SAT-7)

Syria (SAT7/MNN) ― The United Nations gathered last week to try to come to some solution to the Syrian violence.

Even as the world's leaders puzzled over the lack of safe zones and supporting refugee camps, rebels kept the government forces occupied with a barrage of attacks in Aleppo, and the violence spilled over the border into Tripoli, Lebanon.

That led to requests for U.N. help from Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon, which are bearing the brunt of the mounting refugee crisis.

SAT-7, a Christian satellite television ministry to the Middle East and North Africa, has studios in Beirut. "The condition in Lebanon is becoming more and more difficult for everybody. There aren't a lot of opportunities for young people," says Naji Daoud, Executive Director of the SAT-7 studio in Beirut. The unrest has added to the challenges facing the region, both acknowledged and answered by SAT-7.

About 30,000 Syrian refugees have flowed into Lebanon since the uprising against the regime of President Bashar Assad. According to Naji, wealthy Syrian refugees typically rent hotel rooms or apartments, while poor Syrian refugees live in tents in substandard conditions. Many of the poorer refugees are alienated from the assistance of Lebanese who support Syrian President Assad.

Naji says that churches, on the other hand, are helping these individuals. At the same time, while there has been an influx of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, there has also been an exodus of Lebanese Christians. The exodus is in response to the lack of job and educational opportunities in Lebanon, and the decline in state services.

"Bridges," a SAT-7 show broadcast from its Beirut studio, is confronting Lebanon's challenges head-on. An entire episode was dedicated to the effect of Syria's conflict on Lebanon. Tapping into widespread concerns, the show host posed the question, "Are Christians in danger?" Show guest Gussan Hejar said of Christians, "They fear the unknown today."

SAT-7 USA President Rex Rogers weighs in on importance of their during crisis times. "We broadcast also, in terms of live programming, sometimes panels of individuals who talk about how to protect yourself, how to exercise your 'rights,' so to speak, how to be salt and light in a society that isn't open to Christians doing that kind of thing, typically."

Rogers goes on to say that as viewers also minister to the staff, another picture is emerging. "I think God is drawing the Church (capital C) together in the Middle East, and they're performing an incredible function of connecting with these folks and helping them to get through a very, very difficult time."

Building the Church remains SAT-7's goal, while at the same time offering a message of comfort and hope to all through the presentation of a Christian worldview. That extends far beyond the borders of the Middle East and North Africa, explains Rogers. "It makes the American Christian community a little more aware, that is to say the region is more salient, it's more on their mind, and they understand more so they respond more quickly."

Despite uncertainty, the team at SAT-7 has no plans to go anywhere. That sends a strong message to their viewers: they're committed to the community. Developing future projects sends the message that they're sending down roots. Rogers says, "We have a new initiative, or project, we call the TEACH project: TEACH stands for Theological Education for Arab Christians at Home, and it's simply Bible instruction and discipleship. It's helping people who've recently come to the Lord to be able to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord."

With Syria's violence in the foreground, it may be some time before the fighting stops and things settle down. In the meantime, SAT-7, along with its entire sister channels, SAT-7 PARS, SAT-7 KIDS, SAT-7 ARABIC, SAT-7 TURK and SAT-7 PLUS are all working to bring a measure of peace that passes understanding.

Egypt's Coptic church mourns loss amidst concerns

( Cover photo by David Hoffman)  

Egypt (MNN) ― Mourners packed Cairo's main cathedral for the March 20 funeral of the leader of Egypt's Coptic Church, Pope Shenouda III.

He led the church during a time where Egypt was becoming increasingly Islamist, and Copts were beginning to come under attack in the majority Muslim nation. SAT-7 Egypt director, Farid Samir, explains, "For Christians, he was like their political representation. That was not a good thing that Christians were living behind the walls of the church, but that was the system because of the oppression. You can say the Christians felt that the church [was] their place. (Sic) "

The loss of Shenouda's influence at a time when upheaval is a regular part of the landscape hasn't been reassuring, Samir says. "All Christians feel that we lost an important leader and pioneer. He's been there 41 years as a Pope. He dealt with all kinds of situations, so he was like a pioneer in that area. Lots of Christians now feel like they're orphans."

Muslims and Christians came together in a common cause in the 2011 revolution that eventually ousted President Hosni Mubarak. A civilian transition government supervised by the Supreme Military Council leads the transition now. Under it, there is an increasingly anti-Christian attitude and simultaneous sympathy toward the Muslim Brotherhood.

SAT-7 is a Christian satellite television ministry to the Middle East and North Africa. Samir says with all the uncertainty, "They (the Christians) feel their loss, especially at this time. They don't know who the coming president is. Do we have an Islamic state? Do we have a liberal state? They're not sure what's happening, so there's a lot of uncertainty which makes it worse."

The production team adjusted their programming to address the current events. "SAT-7 tried to give hope and tried to share the emotions of the people, but also to present the hope of Christ." Mock goes on to say that this week, they've focused on the emerging worries without Shenouda III. "There is another episode called 'Salt of the Earth.' It's a talk show for current affairs, and it discusses the future of Christians in Egypt, how to deal with the new government, how to deal with the political situation."

Although Egypt has seen less of the religious violence that has prompted members of ancient Christian communities to migrate from Iraq and other Arab countries, the country ranks 15th on the 2012 Open Doors World Watch List. 

There have been increasing reports of Salafi Muslims intimidating local Christians by blocking entrances to churches, demanding that church buildings be moved outside communities, or that church repairs be forbidden.

However, Shenouda was making headway at least in opening dialogue with the Muslim Brotherhood. Samir says, "The good thing that was happening was the Muslim Brotherhood went and visited him lately to show that they want to make a bridge between Muslims and Christians or between the government and Christians."

Shenouda's loss is a blow to some, but what he started can be continued. Samir says, "The good thing that was happening was the Muslim Brotherhood went and visited him lately to show that they want to make a bridge between Muslims and Christians or between the government and Christians."

The selection process for a new pope could take months. An interim leader will be selected this week, and nominations for papal candidates will begin then. After two rounds of voting by the Supreme Council of Bishops, three candidates names will be put on slips of paper, placed in a jar, and a child will select one of the names.

Samir says until there is a new Pope, many feel vulnerable during a time of extreme change in Egypt. "Pray for us at SAT-7 to tackle issues that Christians suffer from, to start real dialogue between Christians and Muslims, to start a real dialogue about politics, and at the same time, to have hope in Christ."

Christians poised to help revive Egypt

Egypt (MNN) ― While marches and strikes were called over the weekend on the anniversary of President Hosni Mubarak's ouster from power, Christians believe this is the time they need to be strong. SAT-7 , Christian satellite television in the Middle East and North Africa, is there providing hope.

Director of SAT-7 Egypt Farid Garas says it has been a difficult year for everyone, but especially Christians. 

However, Garas says Christians have been praying for 30 years for what has happened in the church: "freedom of religion, having revivals for Christians in churches -- in the growing church. All that was just a dream for many, but it's taking place now."

According to Garas, much of the information coming out of Egypt is violence and radicalism, but he says that's not all that's going on. "You don't really see what God is doing because the secular media [doesn't] show that. I believe God is going to do more, and SAT-7 has to be there at the front to transfer the other part of the story."

Christians have taken a neutral role in the political realm, which has positioned them to be even more effective. Garas says because of the uncertainty throughout the region, SAT-7 is making an impact. And it's growing. "One year ago, we had one live program from Egypt. This year, in the midst of all of this, we now have eight." They also air a very popular children's program.

SAT-7 is positioned well. "People are starting to seek God. They are confused, so they want to see a different angle. They are looking for comfort, for peace of heart, and this is where the prophetic Word comes through SAT-7," says Garas.

While SAT-7 would like to do more live programming, they're limited. They only have one live studio. They're half-way done with raising money for a project they're calling the Upper Room Studio. "The Disciples received the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room. From that tiny space, the Word of God spread all over." Garas hopes the same will happen from this room.

Garas is asking you to pray for SAT-7 Egypt and to help them financially as well. Click here to help. 

As elections approach, fury builds in Egypt

(Cover photo of Tahrir protest by
 Tori Aarseth) Story Photo: Prayer
 vigil (Tallskinnykiwi)

Egypt (MNN) ― Thousands of protesters flocked to Egypt's Tahrir Square Monday. Clashes continued with tear gas and fire bombs. By day's end, Egypt's army-appointed government handed in its resignation--an effort to stabilize in advance of the November 28 elections.

The vote was intended to be the first milestone on the road to transition from military to civilian rule, but the oppressive response by the interim government is feeding a growing fury. SAT-7 CEO Terry Ascott explains, "As the election approaches, and the army does not seem to be yielding any constitutional power, even to a newly elected body, people feel that their revolution has been stolen from them, and so they're on the streets."

In practical application, although the President's ouster was triumphant for the masses in the streets, Ascott says, "The reality on the ground was that very little changed, except that Hosni Mubarak was replaced by another military consortium, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces."

Political forces have issued statements condemning the "excessive use of force" and acknowledging protesters' right to demonstrate. The November 28  elections are scheduled to go forward, despite security problems, but Ascott cautions a realistic approach to the vote. "This is not going to all be over by the spring. There's not going to be a new Constitution and a settled-down political identity phase yet for quite some time. I think there's going to be another decade of struggle between different parties trying to find their way to an Egyptian-styled democracy."

The Muslim Brotherhood has been gaining traction in Cairo's power vacuum, raising concerns of what might happen to Christians should they take power. "It does look likely that no one party is going to gain any kind of overall majority," says Ascott. That means there will likely be a coalition government, which is good news for believers. "Coalitions are good at moderating this [Muslim Brotherhood] kind of extremism."

However, the specter of violence against Christians and a massacre last month remains fresh on the minds of the community. They did the only thing they could: they prayed. "It's a very difficult situation for the church, for the Christians. In the middle of this, we did have this amazing night of prayer. Twelve hours of praise and worship in the open air."

SAT-7 is a Christian satellite television ministry to the Middle East and North Africa. Their teams have been providing coverage and a public forum of the upheaval in the region on a constant basis. Naturally, they provided full coverage of an amazing prayer movement on November 11, 2011 at the "Cave Church." 

Prayers for the night also focused on issues of personal and social peace and seeking God's blessing on all Egyptians--Muslims and Christians, the authorities, and the important parliamentary elections that begin on November 28th.  "SAT -7 was able to cover that, live, for 12 hours. Between 50,000 and 70,000 people attended at least some of that service. It was full of joy. It was a call to repentance."

SAT-7's participation also helped to guide audiences throughout the region in prayer for their own respective countries, as well as share in general prayers.

Nine days later, SAT-7 said they were still receiving requests for recordings of the event from other television stations.

Ascott says there was a lot of interest in what the Christians were doing. A Facebook page set up for the event drew more than 800,000 comments. "I think it was a wonderful testimony that will place Christians in a much better position in the eyes of the general public in Egypt."

Keep praying wisdom for the broadcast team as they continue to provide a biblical response in the public forum addressing the concerns in Egypt.

Iranian, Syrian ties spell trouble in the Middle East

Middle East (MNN) ― There are growing concerns that Iran and Syria are becoming fast friends who share not only ideology, but also methodology. Iran's open backing of Syria has raised some red flags as the Assad regime deals with the uprisings of the Arab Spring.

As Iraq prepares for the eventual U.S. troop drawdown, security there seems to be in question with the recent week of bombings. The greater concern, though, is what could happen between the  two Shia-leaning countries without a force in between them. Iran and Syria could be open to overtures from Hamas and Hezbollah, which would make the region a "Shiite Crescent."

Once Syria's crisis gets settled, will the region return to peace? Sara Afshari with SAT-7 says, "Iran likes to be the main power player in the Middle East, not only as the powerful country but as the leader of Islam. They like to achieve power and authority in whatever way they can around those countries, including Syria, Iraq, and even Bahrain."

Brutal repression of dissidents is the usual pattern--one that hasn't escaped the notice of SAT-7, a Christian satellite television Ministry to the Middle East and North Africa. Afshari explains, "Christianity inside Iran is really growing. Seeing themselves and seeing that Christianity is growing rapidly inside their own country is a little bit hypocritical for them."

While SAT-7 PARS hasn't been directly targeted, their team has noticed an uptick in harassment on the government level from Iran. "You see a wave of arrests and more difficult situations for Christians in Iran--more persecution, more imprisonment for new believers and new (Christian) leaders."

The young people of Iran are restless. They're looking for a message that rings of truth, Afshari explains. "They lost their hope, their motivation. That is why we feel that we need to be there for them--emotionally, psychologically and spiritually."

The hope of Christ has been embraced warmly by the Farsi-speaking audience. "Almost all television channels have become very political. When they watch our channel and see that we don't take a side, but we try to be there with them with our prayers, with the message of hope and peace, they feel it's a place where they can come and rest."

With all of the oppression, fighting and disillusionment, the love of Christ runs counter to nearly every other message right now, says Afshari. "We are there with the message of hope, and especially with the message of reconciliation, with the message of forgiveness, with the message of living together peacefully and in harmony--with the message of the Gospel to heal the wounds."

Through SAT-7 PARS programming on satellite TV, the house church movement in Iran is growing. People are contacting the counseling centers to find out more. Even though recurrent attacks on Christianity are brutal in the region and many believers are in jail, the light of Christ is shining even brighter.
  
Afshari notes that spiritual warfare is intense and that intercession is needed for the growth and protection of Christians. "Pray for wisdom for our teachers, our presenters and our writers--[that they would know] how to present programs which can touch people's hearts and impact their lives."
  
The hope is that in the end, SAT-7 PARS can be one of the tools God uses to bring freedom to the countries that would be part of the "Shiite Crescent." Learn more about SAT-7 here.