MENA (MNN) — In many ways, children in the Middle East and North Africa are no different from the children in any other neighborhood. In other ways, they are worlds apart.
Joe Willey of SAT-7, a satellite TV ministry to the Middle East and North Africa, points out that the Middle East is a composite of countries with varying degrees of conflict and complexity. For many children, that means growing up against a backdrop of trauma.
“There is such a need for many millions of children in the Middle East and North Africa to deal with the trauma of conflict and warfare,” Willey says.
SAT-7 programs address this from a Biblical standpoint.
“Really SAT-7 is bringing hope and comfort,” he says. “And it is the hope of the Gospel; it is the comfort that Jesus Christ is the son of God, not just a prophet as is explained in the faith predominant in the Middle East and North Africa.”
SAT-7 Kids is an Arabic children’s channel that broadcasts content 24/7.
“There is content to help children that are dealing with the trauma from conflict, from warfare – as well as educational programs to help lift people out of poverty.”
Sudan alone, for example, has approximately 19 million school age children lacking access to formal education.
“That’s just one example of the need, not only for education but education that is being produced and provided by Christians out of a Biblical ethic and worldview,” Willey says.
Through a library of educational programs, kids can practice fundamentals in reading, writing, and mathematics. Willey says these are often viewed by parents who may have gaps in their own education.
“So it is meeting not only children, but it is also meeting adults,” he says.
Programs are designed to be a discipleship program, but trust is being built even among Muslim communities.
“Although it is Christian content, we have people who are not Christians who watch,” Willey says.
SAT-7 programming goes beyond proclaiming truth, as presenters help explain it and empathize with listeners experiencing great suffering.
On this International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression, would you pray for children living in the shadow of war and trauma? Please pray for children across the Middle East and North Africa, and pray for the effectiveness of SAT-7 programming to a vulnerable audience.
“Christ has a heart for children, and I believe that we as believers should care for – as we call them and as Scripture has said – the least of these,” Willey says.
Above photo: women and children in Iraq, courtesy of Pixabay; featured photo: SAT-7 kids programming, courtesy of SAT-7
