“When you have a program in Dari, it really turns heads,” he says, pointing out that heart languages allow for greater depth of communication than do regional languages. 

Willey says the programming is particularly important in Afghanistan, where girls are strictly banned from secondary or higher education. 

“Really the way that girls or women in the country will be able to access any education is through a madrasa, or a religious center, but of course this is not from a Christian worldview,” Willey says. 

In contrast, SAT-7’s programming is always grounded in a Biblical worldview, one that also celebrates literacy and a broader education. Beyond that, Willey says the content is culturally sensitive.

Photo is a representative stock image courtesy of ArmyAmber via Pixabay.

“SAT-7 is Christian content in the Middle East created by Middle Eastern Christians for the people of the Middle East, so the context is there, the understanding is there,” he says. 

Satellite TV remains ubiquitous in Afghanistan, allowing SAT-7 to cast a wide net in search of an audience. Even as the country makes headlines for internet restrictions, Willey says SAT-7 can work around the shutdowns.

“SAT-7 has other ways that we can deliver the great content, but it just may be digital content via satellite, which is virtually uncensorable,” he says. 

Please pray that this programming would serve as an open door for God’s Word to prick the hearts of women and girls across Afghanistan. Willey says it’s paramount for them to understand the Gospel. 

“But also, what Scripture has to say about their worth.” 

Would you ask the Lord to work in the hearts of Afghan women? Please pray that those viewing SAT-7’s programs would understand the value they have in the eyes of their Maker.

Featured photo courtesy of SAT-7.

An unseen enemy claims more than 700.000 lives every year: suicide. In the Middle East and North Africa, where war, instability, and uncertainty often deepen despair, the struggle is especially heavy.

Walking alongside those who suffer is vital. That’s one of the key focuses for SAT-7 teams working in Persian, Turkish, and Arabic contexts. They provide safe spaces for listeners to understand themselves better and to be encouraged.

Joe Willey from SAT-7 explains, “SAT-7 has programs that will address things — suicide, disability — things that are, at best, really uncomfortable culturally, but often just ignored.”

(Photo courtesy of SAT-7)

In many cultures across the Middle East and North Africa, people facing doubt or fear are often encouraged to turn to Islamic practices. The concept of collective honor can make vulnerability difficult — sharing struggles may be seen as weakness.

Alone with their fears and pressures, some lose hope. This is where the message of Jesus brings healing.

Sometimes, callers reach out to SAT-7’s hotline saying, I just don’t want to live anymore. “They’re listened to first,” says Willey, “but they’re told the understanding of the Gospel and the biblical worldview — that no, there is great hope, and you are made in the image of God, and God loves you.”

For someone standing on the edge — feeling like an outsider in their own culture and ready to give up — a new day begins. It all comes back to this unshakable truth: every man, woman, and child is made in the image of God. Life is His gift, and He has a purpose for each one.

SAT-7 continues to air programs for those facing mental and emotional challenges. Willey adds, “It’s the Christian worldview to say, even though there may be something that is difficult, it’s desperate right now, maybe, there is a disability, there is still great hope in Christ and in God’s plan.”

Pray that as SAT-7’s team creates new programs, they’ll be led by the Holy Spirit to bring healing and hope. Pray also that churches across the Middle East and North Africa will be sensitive to their communities and serve as the hands and feet of Jesus to whoever might need it.

Header photo courtesy of Akhil Nath via Unsplash.

The satellite television ministry to the Middle East and North Africa produces programs and movies in Arabic, Farsi, and Turkish.

Continuously creating content, they aimed to demonstrate that displaced people also have a voice in this matter. They aimed to reach out to refugees so that they could share their stories honestly and give a voice to the voiceless.

“As Christians, we also want to be passionate and have a heart, a soft heart, for those whom God has a soft heart for too, and cares for those who are traveling, who are aliens, who are displaced,” says Joe Willey with SAT-7.

In the footprint of the SAT-7 satellite broadcast, Sudan has had a major humanitarian crisis since 2023.

“We have stories of people who have fled,” says Joe Willey. “They fled on foot, they fled without anything, and tried to get to Egypt in this particular case. And so we are highlighting those stories with compassion and care to show people that the refugees, whether they’re from Sudan or somewhere else, are made in the image of God and should be cared for with the same compassion that we do our friends and our family who are also made in the image of God.”

One of the videos asked Sudanese displaced people how they felt about being called a refugee.

One woman said, Refugee means being alone. One man said, the word refugee makes a man feel humiliated. You feel a sense of loss. Something inside you is missing.

Joe Willey urges people to think about how they would feel with a label like this.

“Living through everything that perhaps you owned, perhaps you hoped for, perhaps you worked for, is gone because you have to leave, and you have to leave on foot. So it reframed the way I speak about it or consider people.

Sat-7 works to raise awareness. It is the voice for people who have no other options, and it is a Christian voice.

In the region where SAT-7 is working, only four percent are Christian, and they are doing the work of bringing light to the stories of suffering in that area.

Please pray for those in the world who are suffering. Consider how you may respond or react in a similar event, and what your needs would be in that circumstance? 

Most importantly, pray that the people who see the programs will believe in Jesus Christ and that their lives will be transformed. Pray that God will use SAT-7 to soften hearts and bring people to Himself.

Header photo courtesy of SAT-7 on Facebook.

But in the clamor, Christians need to find and hold onto the Kingdom realities. 

“No matter what country — but especially in the Middle East, which seems so different from the West — there are men and women, boys and girls who are made in the image of God,” says Joe Willey with SAT-7.

“I think as long as we look through that lens, we will see people who should hear the gospel. We will see people with compassion and mercy. Because after all, God has given me great mercy.”

SAT-7’s Persian channel (SAT-7 PARS) broadcasts not only for adults but for children as well. 

“One of the heartbreaking things certainly is when adults contact SAT-7, but it truly is when children [do],” Willey says. “We think about children as these young innocents — and in many ways, they are. But if you grew up in conflict, I don’t know what your innocence would look like. It certainly is not the innocence that I grew up in.”

SAT-7 PARS went live on satellite and social media with a special episode of ‘Church4Kids’, which focused on helping young viewers to manage their emotions during times of crisis. (Photo, caption courtesy of SAT-7 via Facebook)

One little girl in Iran named Sarina sent this message to SAT-7’s Persian channel team during the 12-day conflict: 

“I want to ask you to pray for me. Last night, five or six missiles flew right over our heads. Since then, I haven’t been able to sleep at all. I was so scared. We keep reading this verse, ‘I will not die but live and will proclaim what the Lord has done.’ Psalm 118:17.”

In the midst of this heaviness, the viewer support team at SAT-7 PARS receives prayer requests and gives biblical encouragement to children and adults. 

“SAT-7 will receive heartfelt, distraught questions from people who say, ‘Where is God? Why would God let this happen? Is there hope for me? Am I going to die?’” says Willey.

“SAT-7 provides an eternal perspective. [It] provides the gospel to people who are fearful that this is their last day.” 

The conflict with Iran and Israel will likely have another chapter. Please pray for more people across the Middle East to realize the hope found only in Jesus.

“I pray that we can beg God for mercy, beg God that the gospel would continue to reach hearts and change not only countries, but change the world,” says Willey.

Header photo: Children in West Azerbaijan Province, Iran (Representative stock photo courtesy of Amin Alavi via Unsplash)

In countries where mosques dominate the skylines, people still have the freedom to choose what fills their screens. Responding to changing needs, SAT-7 has expanded into a new format to reach more people with the hope of Christ. Now, viewers can even watch The Chosen on the platform!

People across the Middle East and North Africa can now grow in their faith through SAT-7 PLUS. The ministry has gone beyond satellite television, offering a streaming platform accessible on any device — like Netflix, Disney+, or Hulu. But there’s a key difference. Joe Willey from SAT-7 explains:

“What is unique about SAT-7 PLUS is that it is free. And so this is free Christian content across the Middle East and North Africa, and it can be accessed around the world with the SAT-7 PLUS app.”

Man checking his phone (representative photo courtesy of Ragu Raja via Pexels)

Satellite TV is widespread in MENA, but so are smartphones and tablets. The region has nearly the same access to mobile technology as the West. So, it’s the Gospel brought not just to their homes, but even closer — right into their pockets.

“You can just download SAT-7 PLUS from your favorite app store, whether that’s Apple, whether that’s Google. Right now, the programming is available in Persian and Arabic,” Willey says.

Another standout feature of the platform is its availability. Users don’t need to log in or create an account, crucial in regions where being a Christian can be dangerous.

“There are places in the world — in the Middle East and North Africa specifically — where it is dangerous to be a Christian,” Willey says. “So we are trying to be mindful of security and ensure that people can safely access SAT-7 PLUS.”

So far, nearly 1.3 million unique users have visited the platform. And they’re not left to navigate their spiritual journey alone. A dedicated team is ready to respond to questions, go deeper with viewers, and pray alongside them.

“SAT-7 doesn’t just broadcast and then leave people to figure things out. We are also there for them on their faith journey,” explains Willey.

Viewers can explore a variety of content, including discipleship programs, films, children’s shows, and more — all pointing to Christ and freely accessible. Joe Willey encourages to support the SAT-7 ministry in prayer:

“Pray that SAT-7 — its producers and leadership — will have discernment to know which programs to create and which to air. Pray that God would move mightily in the hearts of people across the MENA region, so they may come to an understanding and true knowledge of Jesus!”

Header representative photo courtesy of Cedric Fauntleroy via Pexels.

“Although Türkiye is a country that we may consider part of the West, we may consider that what freedoms they have may be similar to Europe, but it is not easy to be a Christian in Türkiye,” says Joe Willey of SAT-7.

“My colleague had shared with me that their identification card would say your religion, and it was the predominant religion of the region or ‘other.’ So as a Christian, you are ‘other.’ It’s really not considered, or many do not consider you a true Türk, if you are not of that dominant religion, which is Islam. So SAT-7 has an opportunity to share the gospel, to present the actions of Christians in ways that many people would never consider or never see.”

SAT-7 TÜRK is Christian broadcasting for Türkiye, presented and produced for Turkish people by Turkish people. 

“There is a cultural context, and there’s an understanding of the language that a broadcaster that is in the culture would understand more than, say, programming created even in the language from the United States,” explains Willey.

It is the first and only Christian channel to be allowed to broadcast on the government-regulated satellite Türksat, which has an audience of 50 million in Türkiye, as well as viewers in Europe and Central Asia. Since 2006, SAT-7 TÜRK has been a vital Christian voice in a country where the small minority of believers can find it difficult to share their faith. The channel is astonishingly well-received, with viewers of all backgrounds responding positively since Türksat launch in early 2015.

“There has been such great effort given to try to make available how Christians are not only the same and not only have the same problems, but how a biblical worldview and Scripture changes the way we react and the way we live our lives, even in the midst of those problems,” says Willey. “With SAT-7 TÜRK programming, it shows the people of Türkiye, who may not really have much contact with Christians, that Christians care and that Christians are truly kind.”

SAT-7 also uses social media and video on demand to distribute their programming, but their uses of satellite broadcasting is an especially powerful way to share the gospel, according to Willey: “Satellite dishes are ubiquitous in the Middle East and North Africa, and it is a really powerful way that traditionally SAT-7 has reached people because it is virtually uncensorable. All you need is a dish, and you can receive the broadcasts that are broadcast by satellite. It is one of the easiest to access and most frequently used ways that people are broadcasting and receiving information and, specifically in the case of SAT-7, the gospel in the Middle East and North Africa.”

As their impact continues to grow, Willey asks for prayers for the strength of their team and the strength of their presenters, as well as for the strength of God to be at work in a country that has such historic Christian roots: “Most people in Türkiye are unaware of the history of Christianity within their borders.”

Header photo/image courtesy of SAT-7.

“I’m from Morocco, and I’m 19 years old. Though many people surround me, I have no one to talk to. I am so grateful to the Lord for your help and advice.”

(Photo courtesy of Vitaly Gariev via Pexels)

This heartfelt message came from a listener of “What’s Up”, a SAT-7 program designed to connect with young people across the Middle East and North Africa. Formerly known as “Catalyst”, the updated show targets viewers aged 18 to 24, encouraging honest conversations, emotional depth, and mutual support — especially for those often misunderstood by their families or communities.

Through episodes that explore fear, pain, regret, and confusion, “What’s Up” program creates a safe space where youth can reflect and grow. Joe Willey of SAT-7 explains: “Scripture is not just for a particular day or for a particular time period. Scripture encompasses our entire experience, and we can go to God with pain, with suffering. We see this in the imprecatory Psalms. We see this throughout Scripture.”

Many teens in the region are surrounded by conflict, crisis, and loss. “What’s Up” gives them a platform to be heard — and to hear the hope of Christ.

“SAT-7 is saying, ‘No, you do matter. You are made in the image of God, and we want to give you an opportunity to voice your concerns, and also then be able to share from a biblical perspective God’s view on difficulty, God’s view on suffering,’” says Willey.

One powerful episode, “Is God present in the midst of painful trials?”, looks directly at grief and hardship, helping young viewers process suffering in light of Scripture.

“I pray that God would change the hearts of teens, because it really would change the culture of the Middle East and North Africa to have young people who said, ‘I’ve heard about Christ and I’ve heard about Him as the Son of God, not just as a prophet and I believe what He says is true,’” adds Willey.

Pray that more young people across the Middle East and North Africa will discover this SAT-7 program and be empowered by it to speak out. For the One who gifted us with the power to speak is the very One who longs to hear our voices.

Header photo courtesy of Ashkan Sadeghi via Unsplash.

On December 18, gunmen damaged a Greek Orthodox church in Hama, Syria. Fortunately, there were no casualties in the attack, and Syrian police responded quickly and arrested several people. Then on December 23, eight men publicly burned a Christmas tree in a majority-Christian town near Hama. That led hundreds of people across Syria to protest on Christmas Eve, calling for protection of minorities.

Satellite dishes. Photo courtesy of SAT-7.

Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) does not appear to be affiliated with either incident. It maintains its promise to look out for the interests of minorities in Syria’s future. 

SAT-7 is a Christian satellite television ministry to the Middle East and North Africa. They come alongside local churches and their pastors, including those in Syria.

“[In Syria,] SAT-7 not only provides the gospel to people across the region, but we also give a voice to church leaders and Christians who can say, ‘I’m concerned about this,’ or, most importantly, ‘Will you pray about this?’” says Joe Willey with SAT-7.

“So right now, the church is waiting. The church leaders, thankfully, are praying and really trying to discern what is next for the church in Syria.” 

Despite positive signs, a peaceful future is a fragile hope. Please pray for Christians to have freedom to worship God.

“[Syria needs] the freedom to worship, the freedom to be a Christian and not suffer persecution, which is what Christians have suffered under the previous regime,” Willey says.

“Pray — not letting [only] the church in Syria or the Middle East pray for the Middle East. It’s a responsibility and a privilege of Christians around the world to pray for other brothers and sisters, and our brothers and sisters in Syria really do need our prayers right now.”

Header image is a representative stock photo courtesy of Omar Ramadan via Unsplash.

The violence has already displaced more than 90,000 Lebanese from the south, and over 600 people have been killed in the airstrikes.

SAT-7, a Christian satellite television ministry, has a studio in Beirut. Joe Willey with SAT-7 USA says, “There are people leaving southern Lebanon headed north, which is again where our studios are.”

Refugee child in Lebanon. (Photo courtesy of Ahmad Bader/Unsplash)

For many, the surge in violence is a haunting reminder of past conflicts. “The Executive Director of SAT-7 Lebanon as well as the CEO of SAT-7 both grew up in the Lebanese civil war,” Willey says. “Now that they’re in their older years, now they’re seeing young children who are going through a similar situation.

“I think [this] is heartbreaking, because the desire is instead of young children growing up and understanding warfare, we at SAT-7 want these young people – who are the next generation of leaders – to know the Gospel.”

Despite the growing unrest, SAT-7’s staff remains committed to their mission, broadcasting hope and encouragement through Jesus. Willey describes how, a few weeks ago, SAT-7 staff working at the Beirut studio heard rockets strike in the distance and could see smoke from the impact.

“I’m struck by the professionalism of our colleagues in Lebanon because…they kept working. Just that, in a sense, encouraged me [and] also I just stood back really surprised. But also understanding, first and foremost, their passion to say, ‘No, what we’re doing is important.'”

One-third of Lebanese people are Christians (mostly Catholic). The rest are majority Muslim.

Willey says, “When tragedy strikes, people ask this question, ‘Where is God? Why did God let this happen? ‘And even there’s the expression that there are no atheists in a foxhole. When there is tragedy, people will question God now. Perhaps they will raise their fist. Perhaps they will ignore Him. Perhaps they will actually call on Him for their hope.

“The work of SAT-7 is broadcasting answers to questions that people have in the light of these tragedies and in the light of warfare.”

(Image courtesy of SAT-7)

Please pray with these fellow believers for protection and peace.

“We have so many brothers and sisters in Christ in not only Lebanon, but the Middle East and North Africa, that I think sometimes they’re just forgotten because that’s not the predominant religion. But they are there and they suffer and they keep praying. It’s important that we pray with them.”

Ask God to use SAT-7’s programming to open the eyes of Muslims and those seeking truth across Lebanon to Christ’s hope.

You can find ways to support SAT-7 here.

Header photo of Beirut, Lebanon (Photo courtesy of Sara Calado/Unsplash)

Later, as a young woman, Wakeela struggled to feel loved and accepted. She saw herself as worthless.

That all started to change when Wakeela began watching SAT-7’s satellite television program My Mirror. The program encourages Arab women in their God-given value and identity in Christ.

Marianne Awaraji, presenter of My Mirror. (Photo, caption courtesy of SAT-7 USA)

Joe Willey with SAT-7 says Wakeela eventually connected with their Viewer Support Team. “The program My Mirror gave her an opportunity to say, ‘I’m really struggling with this.’ But the Viewer Support Team was also able to show her that these negative beliefs that she had about herself aren’t true according to Scripture and according to how God sees her.”

Through SAT-7’s encouragement and programming that pointed her to the Bible, Wakeela came to understand her worth in the eyes of her Heavenly Father.

There are other Arab women like Wakeela in Egypt who need your prayers!

Willey asks, “Pray for young girls, young women, women who are mature – first and foremost, that they would understand how they are valued in the eyes of God. That is a bedrock principle.

“But secondly, [pray] that they would be valued by their husbands, by their families, by their siblings. Then that value, I believe, will be translated into being valued in the culture – and that is what SAT-7 is going to say. Women [and] girls are not pieces of property. They’re not to be bought or sold or treated poorly. They are a person made in the image of God.”

Click here to learn more about SAT-7’s satellite television ministry in the Middle East and North Africa!

*Name changed by SAT-7 for security.

Header photo courtesy of SAT-7 USA.