Reflections
132 items in the archive.
December 2021 21 items
Advent: the child of Bethlehem
Born and raised in Bethlehem, Grace calls herself a “true Bethlehemite.” She teaches at Bethlehem Bible College and serves her local church. Faced with the sad reality that the Holy Land’s Christian population has fallen to just one per cent, Grace is filled with the hope that Jesus will one day restore His Church in the region:
Advent: still waiting for peace
At the time of Jesus’ birth, the Jewish people were living under Roman occupation, desperately awaiting their promised Messiah, the “Prince of Peace”. But how do we reconcile this promise of peace with the broken world around us? Rita Elmounayer, SAT-7 International CEO, ponders on the source of hope for a weary, waiting world:
Advent: Christmas comes home
After an unusual Christmas last year, many of us are longing to celebrate with our church family again this year. Here, SAT-7 TÜRK’s Annamaria Cedolin reflects on discovering the real essence of Christmas:
Advent: lift up your heads
Lebanon’s people are enduring the hardest period since their civil war and an estimated 78% have fallen into poverty. Into this hopelessness, Father Ramzi Jreij, host of Is it Important to Be Christian? , shares an encouragement from Jesus’ words about a time of great tribulation:
Advent: teaching the way
Renowned Egyptian apologist and theologian Dr Maher Samuel shares his love for teaching on SAT-7, and his prayer for the Middle Eastern Church:
Advent: the Coptic Orthodox Church
The Coptic Church in Egypt is one of the oldest Christian communities in the Middle East, said to have been founded by the apostle Mark.
Advent: reclaiming Christmas
There is often confusion in Turkey over the difference between Christmas and New Year’s Day, with the common misconception that they are the same celebration. Gülsüm of SAT-7 TÜRK shares her memories of celebrating New Year’s Day as a child in Istanbul in the eighties – and how the channel is now clearing up the confusion:
Advent: witnesses in the Land
The Middle East is a region marked by conflict. Archbishop Youssef Soueif, the Maronite Archbishop of Tripoli in Lebanon, calls on the Middle Eastern Church – and all of us – to embrace the opportunity to be Christ’s peacemakers in a broken world:
Advent: the scent of saffron
For one week in late autumn, the crocus fields of Iran turn pale purple, heralding the arrival of the saffron harvest. Per gram, the fragrant flower’s saffron threads are worth more than pure gold.
Advent: God’s gift to us
SAT-7 presenter Louise Mokhof left Iran 32 years ago, but still tirelessly ministers to the Iranian Church. Here, she reflects on the true meaning of Christmas – God’s gift to us:
Advent: working in the waiting
Since the Algerian authorities closed several churches in October 2019, Algerian Christians have been longing to meet together again. In this reflection, Algerian SAT-7 producer Salah Kessai shares his challenge to the Church – to pray for change, whilst actively working to bring God’s kingdom here and now:
Advent: the Assyrian Church of the East
In Isaiah 19:25, God promises to bless the Assyrians. Over 700 years later, soon after Jesus’ resurrection, some of the very first disciples and evangelists travelled east to preach the Good News in Assyria. And so the Church of the East was born.
Advent: with us in the war
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.” In the run-up to Christmas, these well-known words from Isaiah 9 will be spoken aloud in churches around the world. But what’s the story behind the prophesy? George Makeen, Director of SAT-7’s Arabic channels, explains the chaotic context into which God spoke His promise of hope:
Advent: the lion of Judah
When the wait for justice and righteousness in the world seems unending, where do we turn? In her times of sadness, Hengameh Borji, Iranian presenter of SAT-7 women’s program Insiders , reminds herself of the ultimate kingship of Christ:
Advent: watching and learning
16-year-old Tia presents Chato , a comedy and drama programme on SAT-7’s children’s channel. She attends Kasr El-Dobara, a thriving evangelical church in Cairo’s city centre. Here, she shares her heart for SAT-7’s young viewers – that as they watch, they will truly understand Jesus’ love for them:
Advent: waiting for freedom
Many Iranians enjoy the festive season. In the capital, Tehran, Christmas trees can be seen decorating shops and windows, and Armenian and Assyrian believers have the freedom to hold Christmas services in their churches (read more on 5 and 12 December). But for most Iranian believers, celebrating Christmas in public is not an option.
Advent: Christmas in Beirut
Lebanese teenager Markus Kashouh is a popular YouTuber and presenter on SAT-7’s children’s channel. During an unrelentingly difficult time in Beirut, Markus shares what got him through – and his plans to reach out to his hurting city this Christmas:
Advent: the Armenian Church
Christianity is said to have been brought to Armenia by the apostles Bartholomew and Thaddeus in the first century. Today, Armenian churches can be found across the Middle East, particularly in Turkey and Iran.
Advent: building Bridges in Turkey
The Church in the Middle East is a complex mosaic of different Christian communities – and the relationships between them don’t always reflect the love and oneness of Christ. Here, SAT-7 TÜRK’s Annamaria Cedolin shares how the channel is working hard to bring the churches together and demonstrate unity to its viewers:
Advent: a song of expectation
Even though He had been promised in Scripture, the people who lived before Jesus may have sometimes wondered if the Messiah really was on His way. Iranian Christian and SAT-7 Communications Officer Omeed Jouyandé reflects on his favourite Christmas song, and the nature of waiting for God’s promises:
Advent: learning to wait
The world as we knew it came to a standstill in 2020, as the coronavirus pandemic swept the globe. For Archbishop Angaelos, the Coptic Archbishop of London, the forced pause was an opportunity to reacquaint himself with the practice of quiet contemplation: