USA (MNN) — While American kids in the early 2000s grew up watching Kim Possible, their counterparts in North Africa and the Middle East tuned in to SAT-7KIDS. This Christian kids programing continues today, and the connection it creates crosses cultures and generations.
SAT-7 KIDS’ parent organization began in 1995. SAT-7, a satellite TV witness to the Middle East and North Africa, creates locally-produced content that reaches 25 countries in Arabic, Persian, and Turkish. Greatly expanded from its original form, programing is available 24-7 via SAT-7 apps and is reaching a new generation.
When SAT-7 KIDS began in 2004, kid friendly satellite TV was a new concept in the region. Today, SAT-7 has greatly expanded its reach, offering constant programing access via the SAT-7 apps. These apps are a powerful tool for sharing God’s love with a new generation and connecting with the old. Learn more about SAT-7 here.
A Childhood Memory
Dennis Wiens, SAT-7 USA’s Vice President for Ministry Partnerships, recently saw this connection play out in real time. As is Wiens’ habit, he had stopped at a Middle Eastern restaurant in South Florida. There he struck up a conversation with an employee about a picture of Beirut on the wall. When the employee asked if Wiens had been to Beirut, he pulled up the SAT-7KIDS app and the man’s demeanor changed.
(Photo courtesy of SAT-7 KIDS via Facebook)
“We were no longer just a client. It’s like we’re part of the family,” Wiens says. “He started watching. He says, ‘I used to watch that channel when I was a kid in Beirut.’”
The two were able to connect and have a conversation thanks to their shared SAT-7 experience.
“Opening this SAT-7 app, opened up a conversation. And here we found this incredible story. And it speaks to the reach and impact of SAT-7… So many places around the world that I go I find that people were watching SAT-7 as kids,” Wiens says
Today Arabic, Persian, and Turkish speakers all around the world can find SAT-7, SAT-7 KIDS, SAT-7 PARS, and SAT-7 TURK on Google Play and the Appstore.
Sending Out a Signal of Love
Outside of downloading the apps and connecting with your neighbors from the region, you can support SAT-7 programing as part of their Middle East Hope Campaign. Pray for the continued growth of SAT-7 programs and their reach. Pray they will spread the love of God throughout the Middle East and North Africa. Finally, pray SAT-7 will continue to be an influential force that forges connections through the generations.
