In the past, I didn’t believe in God, but recently I was baptized. My mother-in-law is not a Christian but supported me in becoming a Christian. We were both watching your channel when you invited us for a prayer. And she lifted up her hands and prayed with you. I was very surprised and impressed. You are making really good and effective programs. The Lord works in places you cannot always see."
— Viewer in Türkiye
The violence across the Middle East has been taking its toll on parents and families. As some grieve the loss of children, others are struggling with displacement and disruption to normal life.
The conflict, which started with airstrikes on Iran on February 28 and spread to other parts of the region, has devastated many lives. In Iran, hundreds of children have been killed or injured, and children as young as 12 are being recruited as soldiers.1
SAT-7’s Persian channel, SAT-7 PARS, is offering support and comfort to parents in Iran who have lost children through a moving and powerful video entitled Mothers’ Dance. It was inspired by bereaved Iranian parents who have been dancing at memorials for their children as an expression of grief and also resilience. The video, which is being shared during the channel’s live programs, describes it as “A dance of tears, a dance of steely resolve, not a dance of joy and gladness.”
The SAT-7 PARS live discussion program Insiders highlighted concerns about the use of children in conflict following the death of 11-year-old Alireza Jafari at a checkpoint in Tehran during a drone attack on March 29. He was killed while accompanying his father, a member of a volunteer militia group. The episode outlined how involving minors in military activities is a serious violation of international law and explored how children can be easily influenced and remain loyal to such groups once involved.
The channel is also helping parents and families support their children’s mental and emotional health. A three-episode special series, The Passage, designed to respond pastorally to the crisis in Iran, combining worship, prayer, testimonies, and advice. One episode focuses specifically on the role of parents, highlighting how families can remain emotionally grounded during crisis. It emphasizes the importance of managing anxiety, helping children express their emotions, and creating a sense of safety through connection, faith, and honest conversation.
“Fear and Uncertainty” in Lebanon
Ordinary life for people in Lebanon has been severely disrupted by the conflict, which has triggered school closures and widespread displacement – around one in five people have been forced to leave their homes.2
And while the ceasefire agreed upon by Lebanon and Israel on April 16 offers some hope of relief, people have been living with fear and uncertainty for several weeks.
“Life in Lebanon right now is deeply unstable, and the war has brought widespread fear and uncertainty,” said Marianne Awaraji, SAT‑7 ARABIC’s Viewer Support Manager. “We have been constantly hearing the sound of fighter jets and explosions. This is the daily reality: living in anxiety, not knowing what tomorrow will bring. Like many parents, I have struggled with fear, especially for my child.”
For Arab viewers, especially those in Lebanon, a new short-form series on the SAT‑7 Parents Facebook page entitled So They Stay Safe is providing much-needed guidance for moms and dads. Presented by parenting coach Lina Oneissi and broadcast every Monday evening, the series is helping parents understand and respond to their children’s emotions during times of war and crisis. Across 20 short episodes, it guides families on how to navigate fear, stress, and uncertainty with care and resilience.
The need for this type of support is especially clear in the stories emerging from Lebanon, where SAT-7 shares testimonies from families affected by the conflict.
On You Are Not Alone, one mother described reassuring her children even while she herself was afraid, choosing to smile so they might feel safe.
In another story on the same program, Father Geryes Moussa Al-Hajj, a priest from Aadoussiyeh in southern Lebanon, explained how he and his wife respond during shelling. He said that they laugh in front of their children in the worst moments in an effort to lighten the situation and distract them from distress.
Such stories show how parents seek to shield their children emotionally even when they themselves are under immense strain. It is a quiet effort that is reflected in prayers rising across the region.
In one prayer shared with SAT-7 ARABIC, a viewer wrote, “Protect our children from war and from all evil, Lord Jesus. Be our strength and protection.”
In response to a post on the SAT-7 Parents Facebook page, one mother wrote, “In these difficult days, I just hope things calm down and children can go back to school. The pressure is not normal. Children don’t understand anything, and parents are studying with them day and night. That’s the thing I wish for most.”
As parents across the Middle East try to steady their families during these turbulent times, SAT-7 is there to steady them through its helpful content and Viewer Support Teams, providing practical guidance and spiritual encouragement.
“We have launched daily live prayer programs, bringing unity and hope. Programs like You Are Not Alone share the voices of displaced families, while our SAT-7 KIDS programs are helping children understand that hope is stronger than fear,” explains Marianne. “Our platforms have become living communities: people praying for one another, encouraging one another, standing together as one body in Christ. Through viewer support, we continue responding every day – listening, praying, and sharing the hope of Jesus.”
