EUROPEAN PARTNERS HEAR OF HOPE AMIDST CONFLICT
This year’s European Vision Meeting saw SAT-7 leaders, Partners, regional experts, and diplomats gather in Copenhagen to hear how SAT-7’s work is impacting viewers all over the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), especially those affected by conflict.
As the 56 international participants convened at the Lutheran Missions House on 4 October, they enjoyed the annual opportunity to connect, share expertise, and hear updates on SAT-7’s work.
SAT-7 CEO Rita El-Mounayer shared her passion for four key areas of focus for the ministry: the next generation; Freedom of Religion or Belief (FORB); creation care; and using storytelling to reach wider audiences. A notable example of the last of these has been the taking up of SAT-7’s short film Toxic by five international airlines this year for their in-flight streaming platforms.
SAT-7 ARABIC’s Audience Relations Manager, Marianne Awaraji, was unable to attend in person as planned due to the conflict in her home country of Lebanon. Instead, she sent an extremely powerful video message sharing her perspective on the conflict as well as a recording of her own worship song.
“I found my strength and my hope in knowing that God was with me, and this helped me focus on Him even in the chaos around me,” said Marianne. “I believe God placed all of us at SAT-7 for such a time as this… to bring Christ’s hope to a region that had lost hope a long time ago.”
During the one-day event, a range of expert speakers explored topics including the use of Artificial Intelligence in ministry, FORB, insights on the Syria conflict, and the situation in Saudi Arabia.
Dr Josephine Sundquist, director of the largest NGO in Sweden, LM International, attended the European Vision Meeting for the first time to find out more about SAT-7’s FORB programs. She said, “I am truly impressed by the quality and inspiration of this conference. It is very well organised, and we are very inspired by the ‘eco-system’ of partners and competences you bring together.”
“A GREAT CONTRIBUTION TO THE MIDDLE EAST”
The meeting also provided a moment to pause and thank God for His faithfulness as well as reflect on SAT-7’s unique work in the region. Some attendees rediscovered the importance of cross-border Christian media ministry, while others found new reasons to be excited about our ministry.
“I was really struck by the way SAT-7 addressed the felt needs of people,” said Mogens Mogensen, previous General Secretary of Mission Afrika, one of our ongoing Partner organisations, “how they responded to their fears, their traumas, and their needs in this situation of conflict and war in the Middle East.”
Mogens was also moved by SAT-7’s peacemaking work. “SAT-7 promotes dialogue and reconciliation,” he said. “I think that is a great contribution to the situation in the Middle East, that Christians may see themselves as peacemakers and those who work for reconciliation and for the benefit and the good of everybody in society.”
Cornelia Wolf from the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Württemberg (Germany) saw the importance of SAT-7’s work in strengthening the Church in the region. “It is important to give the Christian minority an identity and enable them to stay in their homelands,” she reflected. “Many people would not be reached with the Gospel, and also with education, without such media.”
Susanne Kuttruff from the Pentecostal Church in Switzerland agreed. “SAT-7 can reach several million people who have almost no chance to hear the Gospel, but through SAT-7 it’s possible for them to hear about the love of God, and that touched our hearts; that is why we are supporting SAT-7.”
In just a few beautiful words, SAT-7 supporter Heinrich Petersen – an Airforce Chaplain who has served in Iraq, Türkiye, and Libya – summed up so much of what was discussed in Copenhagen. “The only hope for peace was born in the Middle East,” he said. “That is why I support SAT-7.”