Satellite TV Bringing Salvation and Discipleship to North Africa

on May 1, 2014

North Africa is home to many Muslims. The region is also becoming home to many Christians thanks to Christian satellite programming.

Christian ministry Open Doors USA reports encouraging statistics about people finding new life in Christ after watching Christian television and being connected to a team providing discipleship and encouragement.

“About 70 to 80 percent of the Christians in the Algerian Protestant churches came through Christian television,” commented Mustapha Krim, president of the Protestant Church in Algeria.

Another Christian television programmer added “If I would go and preach the gospel on the streets one to one, I would reach a single person. Now working with television I enter the living rooms and sleeping rooms of hundreds of thousands of people.”

The Institute on Religion and Democracy recently interviewed Jerry Dykstra, the media relations director of Open Doors USA for more information on how satellite television is reaching thousands throughout North Africa.

Dykstra tells the IRD Open Doors partners with other Christian ministries working in the North African area to bring satellite television to several countries, by providing programming materials and follow up.

“The programming is used not only for outreach and evangelism, but also with discipleship to help the new believers grow in and mature in their understanding of the gospel,” Dykstra explained.

Church leaders in North Africa point to satellite television as an outstanding resource to those who cannot come to church because of fear. One church leader says some farmers cannot get to church because they live far from the location, but they can watch the Christian programs on television. Church leaders also add that many Christian women are kept prisoners (out of fear) in their homes because of their faith.

Dykstra says the programs display a telephone number for viewers to call for more information.  Persons trained to counsel and answer questions are able to help, especially women who have problems in their marriages.

One of the counselors (whose name is protected for security reasons), tells Open Doors that in one month alone he had more than 1,000 calls. He says the counselors have always had at least 700 calls a month.

The counselor is the first contact for North Africans who view these programs.

“Sometimes it’s just a bleep; a sign the caller wants me to call him back. Others call and are very straightforward,” commented the counselor.

One caller stated “I want to become a Christian, how can I do that?” The counselor reported that last month alone, he spoke with 13 persons asking to receive Christ during phone conversations.

Not all of the calls are positive. Counselors at the center say there are a fair amount of callers who criticize and even curse at the volunteers. Others want to discuss Islamic and Christian faiths. The counselors indicate most of the callers want to know more about the Bible and about Jesus.

Counselors connect the callers to one of the churches in the North African countries.

Women callers are always connected with a female follow-up worker.  Some married women call asking for prayers for pregnancy. One counselor says couples will call the center when entering the maternity ward for delivery.

Since 1996, Christian Arabic language satellite service SAT-7 has been working to spread the Gospel in the Middle East and North Africa with God’s love. SAT-7 currently has six channels and airs in Arabic, Farsi and Turkish languages to a known audience of over 15 million viewers.

SAT-7 says the purpose of the network is to give local churches in the region a satellite TV platform to educate and encourage their communities, combat misconceptions about the Christian faith in the region, work with different denominations and foster bridges of understanding with non-Christians without compromising the truth of the Bible.

SAT-7 officials point out this region has high illiteracy rates and media censorship. SAT-7 also says the area has a large population living on limited income, and many people with satellite dishes.

SAT-7 Arabic is also ministering to North Africans through “Free Souls”, a documentary series featuring Algerian Christian’s testimonies.

Testimonies recorded by the programs producers include those who have been delivered from drugs and alcohol.

Free Souls has also documented the testimony of a west Algerian woman whose husband physically abused her and had affairs with other women. The women’s husband came to Christ, and his conversion saved the marriage and eventually led the woman to accept Christ as well.

Another Algerian woman who had worked in prostitution in France and then returned to Algeria was led to Christ by a Christian couple. The woman testified on the Free Souls Program that no country and its laws could guarantee her prosperity or freedom “…but Jesus could!”

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