BEIRUT — Immediately following the Beirut blast SAT-7’s Arabic channel urged prayers for the wounded and for families who have lost their loved ones. They also asked for prayers for politicians in their decision making and for Lebanon to continue as a hub for coexistence and freedom in the Middle East.

Through a series of live broadcasts church leaders and guest speakers are invited to give insight and pray for the country’s people and future.

SAT 7’s Arabic Christian Channel is continuing to minister to the people of Lebanon through a series of special live broadcasts following the devastating Beirut explosion.

Their largest television production studio is around 10 km from the blast site.

In this show called You Are Not Alone a priest is interviewed as he and volunteers prepare and distribute food parcels for those who lost homes and are without food. His message was: “Pray for the victims. We want to love them today. Let’s be humane…Don’t place blame.”

SAT-7’s Arabic Programming Manager George Makeen says they are doing all they can to bring hope and peace to their viewers:

We need to present different messages but to start by speaking of we understand there’s huge pain. We understand that the situation is hard.

Makeen concluded by urging prayer for the people of Lebanon and the churches there at this crucial time.

We can breathe there in Lebanon and my prayer for this country is to continue being that breathing space for the Middle East – a model that can inspire others and that can tell people you can live together, you can have diversity without necessarily killing those who are different from you. It can change the Middle East and it would be a shame to lose that beautiful model. So my prayer for the country and for the church there is for it to flourish and for this crisis to bring something better – to remind them that you as Lebanese you have dignity and culture, keep that and don’t lose it.

About SAT-7

Launched in 1996, SAT-7 (www.sat7usa.org) — with its international headquarters in Cyprus — broadcasts Christian and educational satellite television programs to more than 30 million people in the Middle East and North Africa. Its mission is to make the gospel available to everyone, and support the church in its life, work and witness for Jesus Christ. SAT-7 broadcasts 24/7 in Arabic, Farsi (Persian) and Turkish, using multiple satellite channels and online services.

CONTACT: Matti Stevenson, 719-360-0586, mstevenson@inchristcommunications.com

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