SAT-7’s Arabic channel is calling Christians across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to come together for an evening of prayer and worship in response to conflicts across the region and Sunday’s devastating attack on a church in Syria.
Our Hope is in You will take place tomorrow evening (June 26) on SAT-7 ARABIC, broadcasting live from the channel’s studios in Beirut and Cairo.
Rami Al-Halaseh, SAT-7 Arabic Channels Executive Director, said:
“Our region never ceases to make the news, through wars, conflicts, unrest, and revolutions that leave millions in fear, despair, and hopelessness. We are entrusted with very powerful resources and platforms that reach millions across the region with the message of faith, hope, and the love of God. In such hard times, it is our calling to intensify this message.”
The whole MENA region has been on high alert over the last two weeks since the launch of airstrikes on Iran and the subsequent retaliatory attacks. And while a fragile ceasefire is now in place, tensions remain, and other conflicts in the region, including the Holy Land, Sudan, and Yemen, are ongoing.
Syria Church Attack
Syria, too, needs prayer following a deadly attack on St. Elias Church in Dweila, Damascus, on Sunday (June 22) during an evening service. At least 25 people were killed and more than 60 wounded when a man entered the church and opened fire before detonating an explosive vest.1 The historic church building was severely damaged.
SAT-7 ARABIC’s Different Angle program yesterday (June 24) heard from Elias Khalil, who was at the church during the attack. He described how he was giving the Bible reading from Acts when the attacker entered the church. “Two brothers near him tried to stop him but they couldn’t. He reloaded his gun and started killing the people. When they caught him and tried to drag him out of the church, he fell on the ground and detonated the bomb he was wearing,” Elias said.
Father Yohanna Shehata of St. Elias Church told Different Angle that everyone was “still in shock” following the incident, and that prior to it, local Christians had been told to change their faith. “I don’t know how I feel yet because since the moment of the explosion, we have been running to help the injured and arrange for the funeral of the martyrs,” Father Shehata said. “We pray that the Lord will protect everyone, and we believe that ‘the gates of hell shall not prevail’… The believers have strong faith in the resurrection.”
The incident is the most violent attack on Christians in Syria since the takeover by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham last December. A little-known group called Saraya Ansar al-Sunna claimed responsibility and vowed further attacks targeting religious minorities.2 Christians and other groups in Syria have been concerned about their security following the fall of the former regime. A SAT-7 contact in Syria said that there have been other incidents and threats against Christians in recent weeks and described the situation as “really heavy.”
In response to a SAT-7 Facebook post urging prayer for Syria after the church attack, hundreds of viewers sent prayers and messages of support. “May the Lord comfort the brokenhearted, heal the wounded, and grant peace to our country,” wrote one. Another viewer said, “We ask for protection for places of worship and those inside them,” while one comment affirmed, “The pain is great, but so is our faith in the Risen One.”
Night of Prayer
In direct response to the recent conflicts and attacks, SAT-7 ARABIC quickly organized the special live event Our Hope is in You. It will feature worship groups and church representatives, along with live audiences at the channel’s studios in Lebanon and Egypt.
Viewers watching from home and online will be able to participate in the broadcast by sending in messages and prayers, and the Viewer Support Team will be on hand to provide encouragement and prayer.
Rami said:
Through this prayer event, we want to remind ourselves and all believers from all churches that Jesus is the hope of all nations (Matthew 12:21) and to call on them to join us in a night of prayer, worship, and intercession, because God listens. We strongly believe what the Bible says in James 5:16: ‘The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.’”
Please Pray
- Lift up to the Lord all those whose hearts are heavy and whose minds are troubled by all the recent turmoil across the MENA. Pray for His peace for the whole region.
- Pray especially for those impacted by the St. Elias Church attack in Syria: for comfort for the grieving, healing for the wounded, and peace for everyone feeling anxious and afraid.
- Pray for SAT-7 ARABIC’s Our Hope is in You event tomorrow evening, that it will be a powerful witness to the unity and faith of the region’s Church during these difficult times.
Sources
1 BBC
2 The New Arab
