(Photo courtesy of SAT-7)
Middle East (MNN) ― Ramadan is a time when Muslims seek God and get together with their families. For that reason, television viewing increases during this period.
After long days of work and fasting, Muslim families get together in the evenings to eat and watch their favorite shows.
"The month of Ramadan is the highest television viewing time of the year in the whole Islamic world," said David Harder of SAT-7. "For the Middle Eastern broadcasters, this is the time of year when they have their newest shows. So we at SAT-7 are also putting on new shows and programs we want people to watch as they're flipping through the channels."
Along with its other programming, SAT-7 is showing two films during the month of Ramadan: "Crossed Over" and "Jesus through the Eyes of Mary Magdalene."
"Crossed Over" tells the story of Karla Faye Tucker, a convicted murderer who converted to Christianity while in prison. "Jesus through the Eyes of Mary Magdalene" is a version of the JESUS film that tells the story of Christ from the perspective of Mary Magdalene.
"This is...a film that was designed just for women," Harder said. "We know that women throughout the Middle East are often repressed and really looked down upon. So this is an important film because it helps them see that Jesus, the Creator, loves them so much; it helps people to know that God is a loving God for women as well."
SAT-7 has also been running a live call-in show featuring "very well-spoken and highly astute" pastors who answer people's questions about Christianity. Harder encouraged Christians to pray for many Muslims who are searching their souls and seeking God during Ramadan.
"Often ‘jihad' actually means to really have war with yourself and get the evil stuff out," Harder explained. "So many earnest Muslims will be having that kind of ‘jihad' against their own sinful nature, and in that process, many of them are crying out to God."
Every year, Harder hears stories about how God reveals Himself to these people. Christian converts often report seeing Jesus appear to them in dreams. Pray that SAT-7's programming will also play a role in nudging people to search for truth.
Pray also for Christians living in the Muslim world. Surrounded by people fasting in the name of Allah, many Christian families reach out to their Muslim neighbors through hospitality.
"Many Christians, as a sign of love and friendship, will invite their Muslim neighbors over and have a meal together," Harder said. "So if you're out there and you have friends that are Muslims, that's something you could even do just to show love and friendship because for most Muslims, Ramadan is a time of family."
