Iraq

Qaraqosh: The Hope that ISIS Could Not Kill

6th September 2019 / written by: Melissa Fleck

The world watched in horror in 2014 as ISIS rampaged through Iraq, driving hundreds of thousands of Christians from their historic homelands. Five years on, a SAT-7 documentary visits the liberated city of Qaraqosh, where believers are rebuilding – unbroken, and filled with hope.

In one scene from the new documentary, Sequel of Hope, a church in Qaraqosh is filled-to-bursting for Easter. The service is celebratory – but a closer look reveals a reminder of the recent past.

Scrawled on a white stone slab are the spray-painted words, “ISIS’ caliphate will stay forever”.

The words have not been painted over or scrubbed off, simply crossed out with a thick, black “X”. They are a reminder of what was here – and what is here no longer.

DAMAGED AND DESERTED

ISIS were driven out of Qaraqosh in 2016, but it has taken years for refugees to come back. Today, only around half of the once 55,000-strong population has returned.

Parts of the city feel like a ghost town, with empty streets and buildings damaged or lying in ruins. ISIS destroyed, burned, or vandalized every church in the city. At some, the walls are riddled with bullet holes, with images of Jesus gashed and defaced.

DANCING IN THE RUINS

But amid the ruins, hope is alive.

Essam Nagy is the SAT-7 Presenter, Producer and Director of the documentary, who visited Qaraqosh. “The place is packed with people,” Nagy says in Sequel of Hope, “who are eager to be part of the body of Christ … The whole scene declares the victory of righteousness over darkness and hatred.”

Along with the Easter services, the film shows thousands of believers gathered for a Palm Sunday procession.

In a town where Christian families were murdered and buried in mass graves – a town reduced to an insurgent holdout – they dance joyfully through the streets.

“THEY COULDN’T WIPE OUT HOPE”

“[ISIS] wanted to bring all the crosses down, and they did,” says Nagy. “They wanted to erase all the Syriac and Aramaic inscriptions in the churches, and they did.

“But in the end, they couldn’t wipe out the hope. There is an ‘X-factor’ to being a Christian in the Middle East, one that cannot be erased. It is hope.”

“WE ARE THE TRUE CHURCH”

Nagy also visits Al Taha Church, accompanied by Father Majid, a well-known local church leader. Once again, the faithful are gathered in large numbers, joyful in defiance of the damage around them.

“The Church is not only a building,” says Father Majid. “We are the true Church.”

Father Majid shows Nagy a marble altar, left blackened and crumbling by an arson attack. A piece comes away in Nagy’s hand, and he looks at it for a moment.

“Can I keep that piece?” he asks, his voice husky.

“Absolutely,” says Father Majid.

STRONG ON THE INSIDE

Later, Nagy shares the resonant meaning of this moment. “It has two sides to it,” he says, holding up the crumbled piece. “You have the blackened side, where the fire has eaten it away. But the other side is still white.

“Yes, the fire hurt it. It has been damaged physically, on the surface, but on the inside, it remains marble – it remains itself.”

This holds true for the believers of Qaraqosh, Nagy says. They bear the weight of what they have endured, but they are far from broken. “They are there to make a statement – to say, ‘It is not so easy to erase us.’”

“When you lose everything,” he says, “nothing is left but what you believe.”

Unconventional Ministry Episode 25

20th August 2019 / written by: Ashley Tilghman

SAT-7’s podcast: Unconventional Ministry sits down for an interview with Rev. Issa Kabar, Associate Pastor of the Arabic Church of Houston.

#25

Rev. Issa Kabar is the Associate Pastor of The Arabic Church of Houston. He has worked with the church for almost 6 years and has experience as a Gospel singer recording songs with SAT-7. His church ministers to the Arabic community, offering services in English and Arabic. Also, the church serves refugees from Iraq and Syria through the RED (Relationship, Evangelism, Discipleship) Outreach. A missions program called HOME (Health Outreach to the Middle East) provides mobile clinics and tangible assistance to suffering people in the Middle East.

Unconventional Ministry Episode 19

9th July 2019 / written by: Ashley Tilghman

SAT-7’s podcast: Unconventional Ministry sits down for an interview with SAT-7 staff members, Dennis Wiens and Ray Heinen. Dennis is the VP of Ministry Partnerships and Ray is the Director of Ministry Partnerships.

#19

Dennis and Ray are two of the staff of SAT-7 involved with church connections and development in the US. Dennis, the VP of Ministry Partnerships, joined SAT-7 14 years ago and has much experience traveling, speaking in churches, and attending ministry conferences. Ray is the Director of Ministry Partnerships and has been working with the SAT-7 USA team for 5 years. Ray was born in Egypt and lived in Iraq a decent part of his life. He aided in SAT-7 production in its earlier years and enjoys being a part of the support side of things now. Visit sat7usa.org to connect with Dennis and Ray.

Called to Children’s Television Ministry: How Rita’s and Myriam’s Stories Overlap

28th June 2019 / written by: Melissa Fleck

Rita and Myriam’s stories reveal how God is working through tragedy to bring hope to the Middle East and North Africa through SAT-7.

It might be easy to think that Myriam’s childhood is unique, but like many children growing up in the Middle East and North Africa her childhood has been marked by war. Myriam’s story is representative of the struggles many children around the world face.

SAT-7’s newly appointed CEO (April 2019) Rita El-Mounayer faced similar struggles in her childhood, too.

Rita’s Story: Escaping Civil War

Growing up in Lebanon, Rita watched TV with her sister, Andrea. It was a way for the girls to escape and forget about the civil war (1975-1990) around them. Rita says, “Our television was black and white, hooked lots of time to the car battery as we had 2-3 hours of electricity daily, and the volume getting higher and higher, controlled by my Dad, to distract us from what is happening in the real world outside, the world of bombs, shelling and heartaches.” SAT-7’s programming today allows children of war to forget about the world around them for a moment and learn about God’s love.

Rita and Andrea’s mother passed away during their childhood, and their father, a member of the Christian militia, would watch over them at night while they slept. Rita says, “My Dad shaped my whole relationship with God. I saw him as my hero, protector and savior since my early years.”

As Rita grew up, she knew she wanted to help provide hope to children in the Middle East and North Africa. Rita earned a Master’s degree in Communication Practice from the University of Wales (UK) then began working professionally for a Middle Eastern Christian radio station creating a show for youth. In 1996, she joined the SAT-7 team to create children’s television programs.

Above: Rita on set on the SAT-7 KIDS show Bedtime Stories.

In the early years of the SAT-7 Network, Rita helped develop SAT-7’s innovative children’s programming, which eventually resulted in a new channel called SAT-7 KIDS. She later directed all programming on SAT-7’s Arabic, Farsi, and Turkish language channels. Today, she is CEO and provides girls and women in the Middle East and North Africa a strong, Christian female role model.

Her vocation stems from unrest in Lebanon during her childhood and seeing a need for positive, hopeful messaging. Author Frederick Buechner says, “The place God calls you to is where your deep gladness and the world’s great hunger meet.” Rita’s passion for children and ministry has helped SAT-7 minister to children in the Middle East and North Africa.

Rita says that her motivation to work stems from wanting to reach children: “I supervise production in many locations and I make the final decisions regarding SAT-7’s programming. But my main passion, was and still is REACHING CHILDREN with a message of LOVE. This message that will one day change the face of hurt and despair, the face of the Middle East today, to a face of HOPE…And this can ONLY be achieved by investing in the lives of people when they are still young.”

Myriam’s Story: Forgiveness and a Homecoming

In December 2014 Essam Nagy (on air host “Mr. Know”) from the SAT-7 KIDS show Why Is That? traveled to northern Iraq and interviewed refugee children who had been relocated to find safety from ISIS. One of the children he met, Myriam, shared how she forgave ISIS for driving them from their home, and that men of ISIS would come to know God’s forgiveness and salvation in their own lives.

Iraq’s instability displaced 1.6 million people including 250,000 refugees. Myriam was one of that number living with uncertainty in a refugee camp far from home, school, and friends.

Statistics on refugees in Iraq. — Myriam, like many others in Iraq, was displaced because of the terror of ISIS.

By April 2019, Myriam and her family were blessed to return to their home, and Essam joined the family for Easter. They were filled with joy that they had returned home.

Yet Myriam emphasized that what matters most is not where they live, not their beloved home, but the worship of God and His involvement in their lives.

Like Rita, Myriam’s home was marked by violence and destruction. In the Sequel of Hope, SAT-7’s new documentary, the audience sees imagery of churches in Iraq that have bullet holes in them and marble turned to dust. These images speak to how God kept Myriam and her family safe during their time of severe trial.

In spite of destruction and displacement, Myriam and her family has hope. They faithfully display God’s joy and love through dancing and singing. Even though not all refugees have returned to Qaraqosh, Iraq, this community models returning to God in thanks after tragedy.

Hope from War and Displacement

Through financial support from people like you, Myriam learned about the Gospel at a young age. Her faith sustains her.

In some ways, Myriam’s experiences parallel Rita’s, and SAT-7 being able to bless and encourage Myriam is an answer to Rita’s prayers. Rita’s childhood and unique calling allows her to use her gifts to help children like Myriam hear about the Gospel, learn more about biblical teaching and how to apply it to their lives, and come to understand encouragement and hope. These are just two stories from the Middle East and North Africa which proclaim God’s glory.

You can make a difference today by giving directly to SAT-7 to provide the Gospel to other children just like Myriam. One dollar provides programming to one person for one entire year.

To listen to more of Rita’s story, listen to our Unconventional Ministry Podcast episode five here.

To watch Myriam’s whole story, watch Sequel of Hope, which details how Myriam returns home with her family and how her faith has grown!

HOPE FOR FAMILIES TO REBUILD LIVES

20th June 2019 / written by: Ashley Tilghman

Hostility and violence has caused 6 million people to be displaced in Iraq. Now as Iraq is re-establishing control over its territories, families must adjust to a new way of life.

**Erbil skyline, the capital city of Kurdistan where about half of the displaced people chose to settle.**

It is difficult to imagine what it must be like for families to have to leave their homes behind, staying in temporary settlements while war and acts of terror bring destruction to their communities. In real life scenarios, these families do not know if they will ever be able to return home or if anything would be left standing if they did. Yet in the midst of the uncertainty, some find strength from their hope for a better future. For Christians, their hope rests in the Lord, who is faithful to His children and will carry them through the conflict, whatever comes their way. In Him their future is secure, and the same God who protected the Israelites from their enemies and saw them through the wilderness thousands of years ago is there for His people today.

A MIRACULOUS RETURN HOME

Myriam, a teenage girl from Qaraqosh, Iraq, was merely 9 years old when her family was forced to leave their home and stay in a refugee camp in Kurdistan. Her faith was strengthened as she was reminded of God’s love watching the SAT-7 KIDS programs in the camp, and she touched the hearts of millions when she shared a message of wanting to forgive ISIS. It was one of her desires to return home and the Lord answered her prayers. Just recently her family was able to return to their original home.

**Above: Christian television producer Essam Nagy with Myriam and her younger sister Zomorod.**

She tells Essam Nagy, a Christian television producer who conducted the first interview with Myriam five years ago, “I’m living now in my home. I can remember all the great memories I had before.” She continues to say, “Our house was protected by the hand of God.“ Many homes did not survive the destruction of ISIS. It truly was a miracle that Myriam’s home was left standing. While much inside was in a state of disrepair, their family Bible was fully intact. It is clear that Myriam’s family has found joy in being able to resume their lives in a familiar place.

Some changes have taken place for the family, however, in the time since returning home. Myriam’s mother Alice now works as an agricultural engineer, helping farmers restore and rebuild their lands that were destroyed. A church the family attends was vandalized by ISIS, and it took the community coming together to restore it. All the churches in the area were torched, left desolate in the attacks. But the people of Qaraqosh, separated from their church families for the past several years, were hungry to come back together as the Body of Christ to express their faith and praise God for His blessings.

Essam asked Alice if she felt safe. She said, “That is something one feels in their spirit. If you are united with God and feel His presence inside, that is the first step towards feeling safe.” Essam reflects in SAT-7’s Sequel of Hope documentary that the peace the family is experiencing today was formed during the hard times.

WAITING FOR A BETTER FUTURE

Many families do not have the ability to return to their homes from before the invasion. Two girls named Bella and Sareel, who also grew up in the time since the ISIS attacks began and have an equally strong faith as Myriam, do not have plans to return to their hometown of Mosul, Iraq. Bella and Sareel are two friends who met four years ago in Iraq. By God’s grace, Bella’s family escaped Mosul one hour before ISIS invaded. Her family temporarily stayed in Kurdistan but decided to go to Jordan to remove themselves further from the conflict. Sareel’s family also ended up taking refuge in Jordan. It was three years before ISIS was driven out of Mosul.

Many refugees hope for the return of things that used to be a normal part of life–like school. Bella and Sareel hope to be granted visas to go to Australia to continue their education, which was interrupted during the attacks. Traveling to another country would give them a fresh start and create new opportunities they wouldn’t find in war-ravaged Mosul. Their faith sustained them through the turmoil around them and it continues to give them hope during this time waiting to get the visas.

PROTECTION FROM GOD

SAT-7 KIDS was Sareel’s favorite channel as she was growing up. She remembers in the midst of the conflict, before going to Jordan, she would dream about Jesus everyday. Sareel says, “Now when I think about the past, all I think about is Jesus.” When asked if she tries to forget Iraq, Sareel is adamant, “No. Never – never. The best memories are in the past.” She pauses. “Because I was always proud that Jesus was with me.”

Regardless of where a person is living in the aftermath of the ISIS invasion, people can take comfort in knowing God will never leave them nor forsake them (Deut. 31:6). Myriam reflects, “It’s not about the place you are living in; it’s about what you feel in your heart, what you see God is doing for you… God is always protecting, and you can count on Him.”

As you recognize the struggles and triumphs of people overcoming hardship today on World Refugee Day, you can take part in prayer and showing support for ministries sharing the hope and love of Christ with people around the world! You can help give hope to MENA refugee families by supporting SAT-7.

#SequelOfHope #WorldRefugeeDay #PrayforMyriam

“I Gave My Life to Jesus, so I am not Afriad”

30th April 2017 / written by: SAT-7 USA

April 30, 2017

An Iraqi Christian and former employee of SAT-7 talks to us about returning to his home country. He speaks about his renewed faith, which, during these uncertain times, is enabling him to strengthen others.

Firas was born and brought up in Baghdad. In 2006, he and his family left Iraq in search of a better life away from war and turmoil. Firas worked for SAT-7 for several years until November 2016, when he decided to return to Iraq. He currently lives and works in Erbil.

He was apprehensive about returning. The ongoing violence has destroyed towns and displaced families. “I was afraid of coming back and what I would find here, but I also felt excited to see my country,” he says

STARTING FROM NOTHING

Life in Erbil is a challenge for many displaced Christians from Mosul, even as the Church tries to help them. “These families are living one day at a time,” Firas says. “They left everything behind starting again with nothing.” Churches and non-governmental organizations have set up camps to help families with their needs. Some churches are supporting them by paying their rent so that they can live in homes with better conditions.

Most of these families cannot see a future in Iraq, Firas explains. “They don’t feel safe and most want to leave Iraq.” When part of the Mosul area was secured by the Iraqi military in the past, fighters from the so-called Islamic State still managed to get through. Homes were attacked, and many people were kidnapped or killed.

Church leaders in Erbil try to offer hope to the many struggling families, not wanting them to leave the country, but cannot guarantee them security if they return to their homes. “They fear that in three to five years, Iraq will be empty of Christians,” says Firas.

ENCOURAGING THE YOUTH

Firas describes troubling conditions in Iraq’s schools, which have lost many teachers. Teachers remaining in Iraq are struggling, and many children are not motivated to learn. Firas has seen an opportunity to give back to his country by reaching out to young people and guiding them from his own experience. He encourages them not to feel limited by their educational system and to look for other ways to develop themselves. Firas tells them, “Never say there is no hope. There is always hope.” He says: “Because of my experience at SAT-7, my faith has matured. When I came back, I noticed that most people’s faith is limited. They pray, but they have less hope.”

Asked if he feels safe, Firas replies, “I keep reminding myself of the Bible verse, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’ (Hebrews 13:5). It always gives me strength. I gave my life to Jesus, so I am not afraid.”