From Viewer to Ambassador: Ray’s SAT-7 Story

When Ray looks back on his life, he sees God’s hand guiding every step.

Born in Egypt and raised in Iraq, Ray grew up in a Christian family deeply committed to serving the Lord. His parents were active church leaders and missionaries who chose to raise their children amid conflict and uncertainty.

“I grew up between two wars, watching death around me every day,” Ray recalls.

While many children spent their days watching cartoons, Ray grew up surrounded by the realities of war. Yet through it all, his parents taught him to trust God and remain steadfast in faith. “To survive a day, go to sleep, and then wake up with your family alive in the home was a miracle,” he says.

Years later, as a young pastor, Ray was among the first people to see a promotional video for a new Christian satellite television ministry called SAT-7. The vision seemed almost impossible at the time. “They were trying to put Christian television on satellite across the Middle East and North Africa. It sounded like a crazy idea,” he says.

But as he watched the video, Ray felt something stirring in his heart. “There was excitement and tears. I thought, ‘The Lord will change the face of sharing the Gospel in the Middle East and North Africa.'”

When SAT-7 began broadcasting, Ray became more than a viewer. He joined one of the worship teams that recorded music programs for the network, helping create content that would encourage believers across the region.

SAT-7 would also play an unexpected role in another important chapter of his life. While serving in ministry and participating in worship recordings, Ray met Sue, who was part of a worship team in Jordan that was also recording songs for SAT-7. She later became his wife.

What began through a shared passion for worship and ministry grew into a lifelong partnership. Years later, as they faced seasons of uncertainty, separation, and unexpected moves across continents, their faith in God’s guidance remained steadfast. “The Lord ordained this and wanted this all to be part of my story,” Ray says.

Over the years, SAT-7 became woven into the fabric of his life. Through ministry opportunities, unexpected hardships, and major life transitions, God continued to open doors. “When hardships happen now in my life, I don’t panic,” Ray says. “I pause to think and ask what the Lord is trying to teach me.”

After years of ministry in the Middle East, Ray and his wife eventually moved to the United States. Though the journey was filled with uncertainty, God provided faithfully. Then came an unexpected opportunity: a position with SAT-7 USA.

As Ray reviewed the job description with Sue, she noticed something remarkable. “She said, ‘There is only one thing missing on the job description — your name.'”

After years of watching God’s faithfulness throughout their journey together, her words felt like confirmation of what the Lord had been preparing all along.

Ray joined the SAT-7 USA team in 2013 and has served ever since, helping connect ministry partners with the life-changing work taking place across the Middle East and North Africa. “SAT-7 is part of my fabric,” he says. “This is my ministry.”

Today, Ray views every conversation with supporters as an opportunity for ministry. He often prays with those he speaks with and considers SAT-7’s ministry partners part of his flock. “They are the fuel for this mission,” he says.

As SAT-7 celebrates three decades of ministry, Ray remains inspired by the countless viewers who have encountered Christ through its programs. He believes supporters are part of an eternal story that stretches far beyond what they can see today.

“When we are in the Kingdom with the Lord,” he says, “many people from the Middle East will come and thank you because your sacrificial gifts helped them know God.” For Ray, SAT-7’s story is ultimately a reminder that the Body of Christ is stronger when believers work together. Across countries, cultures, and generations, God continues to use His people to bring hope to those who need it most.

And as Ray likes to say, we’re simply better together.

Ray Heinen

Ray Heinen is the Senior Director of Ministry Partnership. He lives in Texas with his wife. Ray holds a B.A. and M. Div. in Theology in addition to an electronic engineering degree. He has previously been a pastor, a soft-skills trainer, and an English-Arabic translator.