Christian TV helping Iranians cope with disaster

By February 6, 2004

Iran (MNN) — The Iranian official death toll is now 43,000 after December’s devastating earthquake. That makes it the deadliest earthquake in 27 years.

SAT-7’s Iranian Christian Broadcasting is broadcasting in the Farsi language, which includes Iran. Lazarus Yaghnazar is the director of ICB. He says they have addressed the issue on the air. “We were able to connect with the church in Iran where finally 20 members of the church went to Bam an started a kitchen,” says Yaghnazar. He says, “Feeding at it’s peek was 3,000 people. So, an immediate response was made to the situation.”

That interaction was a great testimony to those who practice the majority religion. Yaghnazar says, “It’s the first time they’re getting a clear view point of what Christianity is. Because, sadly, what they see from the secular t-v channels they have come to believe that’s what Christian values are.”

Many of the grieving are also being touched. “They would say, ‘how come you’re showing such love? Are you a Christian?’ The response would be with hugs and cheers and would you please pray for me in the name of (Jesus),” says Yaghnazar. He says, “So, (there have been) many encouraging opportunities like that.”

ICB broadcasts six hours of Farsi programming per week for people in Iran, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, or Europe . They would like to expand that to eight very soon. Pray that funding will become available for this expanded outreach.

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