GLOBAL PRAYER NETWORK: Beloved Egyptian Children’s TV Show Returns to the Air in the Middle East and North Africa

Senin, 18 April 2016

Beloved Egyptian Children’s TV Show Returns to the Air in the Middle East and North Africa

It had been on “hold” for six months

By Dan Wooding, Founder of ASSIST News Service

CAIRO, EGYPT (ANS – April 16, 2016) – A beloved Egyptian Children’s TV show called “Why Is That?”, in which kids throughout the Middle East and North Africa, learn about the world and Christ’s love from an imaginative, colorful filming studio, is finally back on air on the SAT-7 KIDS channel.

The popular show, which had been on “hold” for six months, finally premiered a new season of live episodes on April 1, 2016, much the joy of its many young viewers in the volatile region.

“Egyptian authorities had seized SAT-7 Egypt’s studio equipment, forcing all live broadcasts to take a break. But this did not stop kids from watching reruns of their beloved program each week and sending encouraging messages,” explained a spokesperson for the satellite group.

Producer and presenter, Essam, says, “We were sure that God would make a way, and we are witnessing so right now. Although the future of the studio was unknown, the team had faith that God would see His work through to completion. They continued to meet together, praying and planning for the next season.”

A mother from Egypt wrote to the presenter of the program, saying, “‘Mr. Know’ has finally returned again…Welcome back…[my son] Vladimir will be so happy. By the way, four months ago, God has given him a sister named Verena. Pray for them, that they will grow up in the fear of the Lord.”

The live premiere episode on April 1 coincided with Orphans Day in Egypt. The key Bible verse the team used was Isaiah 64:8, “But now, O Lord, You are our Father. We are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your hand.”

Essam said that children learned that ‘God is our Father and Maker,” and added, “He knows that we feel all alone sometimes because of losing our parents. But here is Our Father, who made us in His image with loads of love.”

Throughout April, children have been learning about prayer, and according to a spokesperson. “They’re hearing how to talk with the Lord, that their prayers are powerful, and how to hear His voice.”

Essam went onto say, “Big plans for the future will allow the show to minister to children in remote villages by traveling outside Cairo, and even outside Egypt, to film new episodes. Please unite with us in prayer so God would provide us with necessary resources for new ideas to be produced.”

About SAT-7: Since 1996 SAT-7, which founded by Dr. Terence Ascott, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SAT-7, has been working to “illuminate countries in the Middle East and North Africa with God’s love.” The ministry currently has five channels (SAT-7 ARABIC, SAT-7 PARS, SAT-7 KIDS, SAT-7 PLUS and SAT-7 TÜRK), and each holds to a similar ethos – to show viewers God’s love, give local churches in the region a satellite TV platform to educate and encourage their communities, combat misconceptions about the Christian faith in the region, work inter-denominationally, and foster bridges of understanding with the much larger non-Christian majority without compromising the truth of God’s Word.

The Vision: To see a growing Church in the Middle East and North Africa, confident in Christian faith and witness, serving the community and contributing to the good of society and culture.

Terry Ascott speaking at an event in the UK

The Mission: To provide the churches and Christians of the Middle East and North Africa an opportunity to witness to Jesus Christ through inspirational, informative, and educational television services.

“The Mission and Vision were developed by the ministry’s Partners (individuals, Churches and ministries located across the world) and its International Board of Directors, the majority of whom must be local Christian leaders living in the Middle East or North Africa,” said the ministry’s US website -- www.sat7usa.org. “This International Board is the owner of the ministry and sets its core policy and goals. SAT-7 has ministry offices and studios in Cyprus, Lebanon, Turkey and Egypt. It also has fundraising offices in Europe, the UK, Canada and the USA. SAT-7 has more than 100 local staff working in its offices in the Middle East.”

Photo captions: 1) Young girl on the show. 2) Inside the studio. 3) Satellite dishes in a Syrian refugee camp. 4) Dr. Terence Ascott, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SAT-7, speaking at event in the UK, where he was born. 5) Dan Wooding with veteran broadcaster, Norm Nelson, at the pyramids in Egypt.

About the writer: Dan Wooding, 75, is an award-winning winning author, broadcaster and journalist who was born in Nigeria of British missionary parents, and is now living in Southern California with his wife Norma, to whom he has been married for more than 52 years. They have two sons, Andrew and Peter, and six grandchildren who all live in the UK. Dan is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS), and is also the author of some 45 books, the latest of which is Mary, My Story from Bethlehem to Calvary (http://marythebook.com), a novel whcih tells the story of Jesus through the eyes of his beloved mother. He has a radio show and two TV programs all based in Southern California.