Broadcasting prayers of peace for the Middle East

Promouvoir la communication pour le changement social

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Broadcasting prayers of peace for the Middle East

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Press release: January 7, 2008 (Christmas Day for the Coptic and Armenian Churches)

Arab Christian leaders pray for the situation in and around Gaza daily on SAT-7...

For more than a week, as bombs have fallen in Gaza and Israel tragically killing numerous innocent people, SAT-7, a WACC Corporate Member in the Middle East, has encouraged its viewers to pray for peace.

Shortly after the fighting intensified in Gaza, SAT-7 began running a text crawl at the bottom of its screen asking viewers to intercede on behalf of those who were suffering. SAT-7 has also recorded prayers from Christian leaders and is broadcasting them continuously.

“What’s happening right now is particularly tragic for children in Gaza. In one of the prayers, Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb of Bethlehem mentions seeking God as a refuge. More than 50% of the people living in Gaza are children or youth under the age of 17, but there is simply no place available for them as a refuge…other than in the Lord,” says Terence Ascott, SAT-7 CEO. “We feel that it’s important for our viewing audience to see that Christians are serious in believing that prayer can change situations, even ones as tragic and serious as that transpiring in Gaza and Israel today.”

Peace prayers from leaders of the Evangelical Church in Egypt and the Lutheran Church in Bethlehem are listed below:

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We pray to God for the women, children, and the elderly people in Gaza who are suffering from a lack of water, electricity and are under attack. We pray to God for real peace in this land and for freedom for the Palestinian people. We also pray for the politicians to have wisdom to seek peace not war.

Christians in the West Bank pray day and night for the protection of the people of Gaza, Christians and Muslims, during these difficult moments. We ask our brothers across the world to join in prayer to put an end to this war. Jesus Christ by his death and resurrection changed this land from being a land of war to a land of peace and good news. We pray that He will do the same today in Palestine and particularly in Gaza. God, you are our refuge and to you all the glory and power.

Rev. Dr. Mitri El Raheb
Lutheran Church, Bethlehem

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As we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ (celebrated in Egypt today on January 7), instead of hearing hymns of peace we hear the sound of jet fighters and tank shells in the Promised Land- the land of peace. We appeal to the conscience of both sides and to the global community and to all Peacemakers around the world to stop this bloodshed and save the lives of innocent children.

May peace prevail in the land where Jesus was born and may they accept the words of the Savior of the world, who commanded us to make peace. He said, “blessed are the Peacemakers for they shall be called the Sons of God.” We pray this land will experience joy instead of tears.

Rev. Dr. Safwat El Bayadi

Head of the Evangelical Church in Egypt

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Around 1,500 Arab Christians of several denominations live among the approximate 1.5 million people who inhabit the Gaza strip, though in recent times many have fled because of the increasing instability and violence.

To watch a live streaming broadcast of the SAT-7 go to http://www.sat7.org/ and click on the SAT-7 channel you wish to watch.

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SAT-7 is a Christian satellite network made by and for the people of the Middle East and North Africa. SAT-7 makes Christ's message of hope available to every home in the Middle East. SAT-7 consists of three channels: SAT-7 ARABIC, SAT-7 PARS (Farsi/Turkish) and SAT-7 KIDS (Arabic). Each channel broadcasts on the Hotbird satellite platform. For more than a decade, SAT-7 has supported Christians living in the Middle East and North Africa, by providing a satellite platform through which they can strengthen their churches and witness to Christ.

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La WACC encourage la communication pour favoriser le changement social. Elle est convaincue que la communication est un droit humain fondamental qui définit l’humanité commune des peuples, renforce les cultures, favorise la participation, crée une communauté et défit la tyrannie et l'oppression.

The World Association for Christian Communication is a UK Registered Charity (number 296073) and a Company registered in England and Wales (number 2082273) with its Registered Office at 36 Causton Street, London SW1P 4ST. It is an incorporated Charitable Organisation in Canada (number 83970 9524 RR0001) with its head office at 308 Main Street, Toronto ON, M4C 4X7.