Voices from the MENA inspire calls for action
Voices from across the region, working to defend freedoms, and looking at our work as the Body of Christ were key highlights of SAT-7’s 2022 European Vision meeting, which took place in Copenhagen last week.
The day began with a conversation between Henrik Melkstam, Chair of the SAT-7 Europe Board, and Rita El-Mounayer, SAT-7 CEO. They shared a powerful video testimony from an Afghani viewer now living in Türkiye. Shaah Bibi talked about her journey of accepting Christ after discovering SAT-7 on her satellite television and how her life has changed.
“I received many threats even from my family. Until this day, people are not nice to me, but deep down in my heart, I have joy. Now, I am living in a foreign country; I do not feel lonely because God is with me, and my God is alive. I pray for Afghan women’s redemption and freedom because they are suffering.”
Participants also learned about the lack of freedoms experienced by women in Upper Egypt through moving videos. The women cannot even step out of their front door without permission from a male member of the family or an elderly relative. The powerful videos showed how these women’s lives and choices are limited purely because they are female and living in a rural community. These videos were created by Maggie Morgan, the project lead for the SAT-7 ARABIC Gender Equality and Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) project launched earlier this year in partnership with the Norwegian Mission Society. The day before the European meeting, Maggie Morgan, with Dr Ziya, and Conflict Studies, and Rita El-Mounayer met with the new Danish FoRB ambassador, Julie Pruzan, and her staff, and with MPs at the Danish Parliament.
Dr Ziya delivered a dynamic presentation in which he said that as Christians, “we need to see ourselves not as a Noah’s Ark, but as salt and light”, a challenge that struck a chord with many participants. Further presentations from other external guests and four-minute presentations on what Partnership means from four SAT-7 Partners were also part of the engaging program.
“This meeting is attractive not only for the many SAT-7 Partners in the Nordic countries, whose passion for the ministry is renewed but also to many supporting organisations in many countries from across three continents whom we never see elsewhere,” said Kurt Johansen, SAT-7 Executive Director for Europe and Asia. “This meeting is also successful as a showcase for new potential Partners and supporting faith-based organisations. It was good to see representatives from all denominations of the Church attending, as well as people from other faith groups. There was also a good representation from Danish diplomatic circles, the press, and university professors. I am so grateful for all the Partners working with us who make SAT-7 possible. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and I am excited to be trusted to prepare for the 2023 meeting.”
The meeting was fully supported by a grant from the Danish government and generous volunteers who travelled from across the country to support the meeting.