SAT-7 Celebrates 10 Years with Millions of Middle East Viewers
SAT-7, the first Arabic language Christian satellite channel broadcasting into the Middle East and North Africa, celebrated the 10th anniversary of its first weekly program last week with a special ''live'' broadcast.
SAT-7, the first Arabic language Christian satellite channel broadcasting into the Middle East and North Africa, celebrated the 10th anniversary of its first weekly program last week with a special ''live'' broadcast seen by millions of viewers.
More than 800 viewers, church and ministry leaders, and supporters from across the Middle East, Europe, parts of Africa and North America gathered on May 31 at the Emile Lahoud Center near Beirut, Lebanon, to celebrate ten years of the SAT-7 ministry.
“Our original vision was to nurture the churches and Christians of the Arab world, to provide support and encouragement to those who were not always made to feel a part of the Body of Christ,” said Henry Aoun, one of the founders of SAT-7 and a former member of its International Board, in a June 5 statement. Aoun currently serves as director of Life Agape.
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“This evening, we celebrate a spark that has given hope to countless Christians in this region – a source of light and love that can spread to many parts of the Arab world,” he added.
SAT-7 offers 24 hours of Christian programming to local Arabic Christians, reaching out to more than 6 million Arabic speaking viewers each day.
The two-hour gala celebration last week was the first “live” ever produced and broadcast by SAT-7. It was hosted jointly by Rita El Mounayer, SAT-7’s Director of Program Production and Milad Hadchiti, host of SAT-7’s youth magazine, TV Magella.
Staged on a large, church-themed set, the event was full of song, dance and the thoughts of SAT-7 friends and supporters who thanked God for His provision, and for fulfilling the ministry’s vision.
“Our celebration this evening has nothing to do with human achievement,” said the Rev. Dr. Safwat al-Baidy, President of the Protestant Churches in Egypt and the General Secretary of the Synod of the Nile Evangelical Schools. Al-Baidy also serves as Vice Chairman of SAT-7’s International Board. “We gather as a witness of God’s grace to His people across the Arab world. We gather to honor God and to thank Him for His many blessings over these past ten years.”
SAT-7 reported that positive response to the celebration was immediate with the ministry’s audience relations staff receiving hundreds of calls as well as viewers stopping by SAT-7 studios thanking SAT-7 for “all it has done on behalf of the church in the region.”
