>> Don Hawkins: According to recent estimates, 365 million Christians face high levels of persecution. And this is especially true in the Middle east and North Africa. Ray Heinen of SAT 7 joins us to talk about it tonight on Encouragement.
>> Steve: Welcome to Encouragement Live, providing biblically based encouragement and insight on a wide range of practical life issues. Now, uh, here's your host, Don Hawkins, author of Master Discipleship Today.
>> Don Hawkins: Thank you Steve and friend. It's so good to have you with us. As live from studios located in First Christian Church of Wylie, Texas, Encouragement Communications presents Encouragement Love. Our mission is to provide biblically based encouragement and insight on a wide range of topics. And tonight we are talking with uh, Ray Heinen. Ray is someone, uh, who has been involved for many years with SAT 7. He is their senior director of ministry partnerships. He was born in Egypt, grew up partly in Iraq, is married to a Jordanian. So if anybody knows the Middle east and probably North Africa, it would be Ray Heinen. Ray, great to welcome you back to Encouragement Live.
>> Ray Heinen: Good to be here. Thank you for inviting me, Don.
>> Don Hawkins: Always a joy to have you on the broadcast, my friend. Now, uh, tell us a little bit about how you came to be connected with Sat 7. Give us a little background there.
>> Ray Heinen: Well, uh, that's a long story, but the short part of it, uh, uh, when I was in my 20s and they started sat7 to broadcast in the Middle east, uh, I was one of the first few people in my age to watch Sat7 live. It was two hours per week and it get repeated and we been watching the repeating the same two hours for a long time because that's the only thing we had. And then along with the years, we started to uh, as uh, a worship team from the church, uh, to give Sat seven uh, uh, worship songs and then uh, programs. So it's been part of my life to be uh, uh, like um, um, somebody who's been watching now working for this ministry.
>> Don Hawkins: And it's amazing how the ministry has grown. Uh, you began really with satellite television which cannot be blocked. And I think that's one of the important things for that part of the world, wouldn't you say?
>> Ray Heinen: That's correct. The satellite cannot be blocked. And because so our uh, uh, signals or our programs are all uncensored and free to air and that give access to anyone, have a satellite dish and television at home of uh, 500 people or 500 million people or more in the Middle east and North Africa to watch the Christian message free to air and uncensored.
>> Don Hawkins: And nowadays you're Internet activity and uh, interactivity I should say people can actually uh, get in on live programs and respond and ask questions and, and even that can get through uh, some of the people who might want to censored. It's just amazing how that ministry has grown and now under the leadership of John cer. And if you'd like to learn more about this great ministry friend, let me encourage you to Visit the website sat7.org uh, that's sat7 USA.org the letters sat the number 7, the letters USA.org uh, Ray, what kind of persecution and isolation are Christians in the Middle east and North Africa facing today?
>> Ray Heinen: This is going to be a little bit of a dark picture that we uh, put it together but that's the reality sadly uh, sir, talking about persecution, discrimination, denouncing from the family shame culture is very strong in the Middle east and North Africa society. Pressure, rejection, uh, from the society and uh, uh, peer to peer people and government arrest, domestic violence and deny access uh, to basic life issues that you can do like even sometimes going to hospital, they wouldn't like to treat you and this and uh, execution also is involved in that. And although the new believers, they face all of that, they are not felt left alone because they feel the prayers of different places, different uh, Christians around the world that prays for them. So new believers defeats all of what I said and above and often the worship alone in secret, which is I think the most hard, hard, hard issue for any Christian.
>> Don Hawkins: And we'll be right back on Encouragement live.
>> Steve: We're over 100 years old.
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>> Steve: That's our slogan that we use. Obviously it's preach the word for all of us. We are called to teach truth and live it out.
>> Don Hawkins: To learn more about how Dallas Theological Seminary can equip you for biblically based Christian service, visit DTS Edu. That's dts uh, Edu.
>> Dr. Rex Rogers: I was so high and I was so drunk that I couldn't walk. I couldn't even stand up. I collapsed in my garage and then I awoke two days later in the hospital. I heard about Teen Challenge. I came here and this place has shown me that it truly does care. That's when everything changed.
>> Toni King: At Adult and Teen Challenge we provide hope and healing for a new drug free future. And you can find the center nearest you at 8:55 and addiction or teenchallengeusa.org Freedom from addiction starts here.
>> Don Hawkins: Tonight on Encouragement Live, we're talking about hope Beyond Borders how Set 7 is serving the suffering church in the Middle east and North Africa. Maybe you have been through some of that persecution you faced, some of the very things that Ray Heinen has been talking about. Feel free to give us a call at 855-586-5433. That's 855-586-LIFE. Uh, you know Ray, the Apostle Paul went through a great deal of persecution during his lifetime as well. Tell us about what he had to say about that in Second Corinthians 4.
>> Ray Heinen: Yeah, that's a great illustration that uh, uh, we can talk about it for you for hours now. But just the words that as you said Apostle Paul said in 2nd Corinthians 4, 8 and 9, we are afflicted in every way but not Christ. Perplexed but not driven to despair. Persecuted but not forsaken. And lastly he says struck down but not destroyed. And uh, we hear a lot from our viewers about that. And uh, let me just give you a little quote from uh, one of the persecuted isolated believers, uh, uh, in the Middle east who wrote to us and say I was beaten for my faith, but I watched that seven. I remember I'm not alone. Wow, isn't that amazing?
>> Don Hawkins: That's a powerful and amazing quote. And we want to pray for the persecuted church in the Middle east and North Africa. Many people there beaten for their faith, uh really, uh, suffering a great deal of isolation and persecution. Oftentimes Christians feel alone, they can't meet or they meet underground and they're always afraid or concerned that maybe somebody will turn them into the government. And so we need to pray for those folks. And we're going to Explore tonight how Sat7 is ministering to the suffering church serving them in the Middle east and North Africa. And maybe you have lived in that part of the world or maybe you have experienced some of that persecution yourself. You have a question or a comment for us tonight, Ray and I would love to hear from you. Our toll free number is 855586 LIFE. That's 855-586-5433. Ray, let's step back uh, just a notch and talk about what Sat7 is and why Christian media is so vital in the Middle east and North Africa.
>> Ray Heinen: Well Sat 7 is a 24. 7 Christian television. This is how it started in three languages. Uh, that's the dominant LA Middle East, Arabic, Farsi for Iran, um, and Turkish language. And now with the digital media digital broadcast as you mentioned earlier, uh, this broadcast is really giving access on demand to anyone who has a cell phone and has a little bit of data. We reach about 121 million and a half per year. Uh, most of them we can call them really, including the isolated believers. So we help the closed countries and we help cross borders and behind the border to give the message of Jesus Christ. And uh, uh, what comes to me right now is another quote from another uh, viewer, uh, who said through Sat 7 I finally heard about Jesus. For the first time in my life I realized I wasn't forgotten.
>> Don Hawkins: Wow, what a great quote. And I think about John 1:5. The light that shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. There is darkness in the Middle east and North Africa as we're learning tonight from Ray Heinen. But the darkness has not been overcome. The light is shining and Sat seven is a big part of that. You can learn more about that ministry and we encourage you to check out sat7usa.org crossflix a uh, complete multimedia platform at your fingertips featuring faith based shows for the entire family. Plus an amazing library of interactive online Bible courses such as Revealing the secrets of the Hebrew Bible.
>> Dr. Rex Rogers: You'll have access to a community community and join others on their spiritual journey.
>> Don Hawkins: Crossflix partners with the Seal Future foundation and Blessil to support American and Israeli veterans and families suffering from trauma.
>> Dr. Rex Rogers: Crossflix Educate, entertain and inspire.
>> Steve: Many countries in the Middle east and North Africa are closed to the message of Jesus. But Sat7 is broadcasting the gospel in Arabic, Persian and Turkish using satellite television and Internet. To learn more or support this great initiative to make God's love visible to everyone in the Middle east and North Africa, visit sat7usa.org that's letters S A T number 7 USA.org the people of.
>> Speaker H: The Middle east and North Africa are familiar with hardship and struggle. But Sat7 gives the hope of God's word to the hurting and broken.
>> Don Hawkins: SAT7's new president, John Cernelia.
>> Speaker H: Our vision is to see a growing church in the Middle east and North Africa confident in Christian faith and witness, serving the community and contributing to the good of society and culture.
>> Don Hawkins: To learn more or support this ministry, visit set7usa.org Tony King on her book the Maze of Medicare.
>> Toni King: I looked up on the Internet how many books have biblical in regards to Medicare and there was zero. And then God brought you into my life and you helped me write the Maze of Medicare because we took Medicare and put scripture with it because people are stressed, they don't know what to do, where to turn.
>> Don Hawkins: You can order the Maze of Medicare at uh, tonysays.com that's T O N I tonysays.com we're back on Encouragement Live tonight. I'm Don Hawkins, joined tonight by Ray Heinen. Uh, Ray is the senior director of ministry partnerships at SET seven. They are a global ministry, but they're reaching out through satellite television and interactive, interactive Internet, uh, to, uh, people in the Middle east and North Africa using Arabic, Farsi and Turkish language programming. And I believe, uh, Ray, also some programming in the Dari language. I've heard that before as well.
>> Ray Heinen: That's true.
>> Don Hawkins: So a lot of things there. If you have a question about that ministry, a comment, maybe you have relatives who live in that part of the world. Maybe some have been persecuted for their faith or you have, give us a call at 855-586-5433. Ray, we want to unpack this whole issue of how does set 7 support the suffering church, the persecuted church, and especially these isolated believers on a practical and spiritual basis?
>> Ray Heinen: Yeah, that's a good question, Don. Uh, let me just start with this. In Psalm 34:18, uh, it says the Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the Christ in the spirit. And that's exactly what we're trying to do. We beam a daily Bible, uh, teaching and worship, uh, trauma programs and counseling that helps isolated believers to be sustained and encouraged and inspired. We encourage them and we guide them through, uh, the walk with Christ and that part of the persecution, uh, through that viewer support team. We answer questions, we answer, uh, prayers and we put the prayers together and uh, we ask people how can we help them. And some of them now they communicate with some of the tools like WhatsApp and Telegram and all of that. So we have a better communication and longer conversations with isolated believers than before. Uh, quote that really, um, I really want to say that more and one, one more than one time, Don. A viewer said, Sat 7 is the only friend I have who understands Jesus.
>> Don Hawkins: Wow.
>> Ray Heinen: And that's impact a lot of what seven means to this isolated person in a persecuted and discriminational, um, situation.
>> Don Hawkins: Some great programming coming out from Sat. 7, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, impacting the of persecuted believers. Many people suffering for the Lord Jesus Christ there isolated from other believers, maybe unable to meet in public. And so we encourage you to check out the website sat7usa.org this is a worthwhile ministry, one that would war warrants your prayers, your financial support. Uh, they are sustained by the gifts of God's people and certainly by the prayers of God's people. And we Want to encourage you to get involved with him as well as the one listener said, uh, SAT 7 is the only friend I have who understands Jesus. Now Ray, we've talked about programming for adults. I'm wondering, uh, what kind of role does Sat7 play in ministering to children in some of these uh, conflict zones and maybe especially in some of the refugee camps.
>> Ray Heinen: Well that's true. Uh, part of what we're trying to do beside just giving the Christian uh, message is to share the education. Kids are out of school, they don't have any means of school. So we offer mission education and we offer like the school education. So my school has been very uh, famous among kids in the Middle east and North Africa. Uh, the trauma sensitive content for kids and for family counseling programs offer hope and healing. Uh, special broadcast after tragic um, tragedies that happens or earthquake or bombings. And I don't have to illustrate that for you. You hear that on the news almost every week in the Middle East. Yeah, so it's actually uh, what we do is we're trying uh, let them prompt peace. And we promoted peace and reconciliations and resilience.
>> Don Hawkins: You know, I think about uh, particularly Afghanistan. They had a terrible earthquake there as I recall, a year or two ago. And I know SAT7 has reached out to a lot of people who suffered as a result of that earthquake. Some who lost uh, loved ones, ah, relatives in that experience.
>> Ray Heinen: Mhm. That's really happened. And people appreciated that a lot because uh, many of the organizations went to have the immediate need for a week or two or three and they pulled the plug and left back home. But we stayed there and they were asking why we're doing that. And we explained to them the theology that we have. And one of the viewers said we fled from home maybe because of the earthquake or persecution. I'm um, now in a refugee camp. We had nothing at all. But Sat7 gave us the strength to go on.
>> Don Hawkins: And that's pretty amazing. Sat 7 is reach out the refugees to displaced people and actually uh, helping to make peace. And I think about the promise in Matthew 5 verses 9 and 10 in the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus said, blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. The ministry you guys are doing in that part of the world, Ray, I think is just nothing short of phenomenal. There are a lot of uh, crises in that part of the world. The Middle East, North Africa, wars, different disasters, even political unrest. How does Sat7 respond to those circumstances?
>> Ray Heinen: Well in fact, uh, the entire region lives in uh, a changing environment. And uh, uh, you don't have timing for where the crisis is going to happen. But when that happened we just uh, reshift our programs, do an emergency broadcast, uh, talk more about peace messages and the trauma healing. And we bring people together in praying, uh, for the nations or for the nation. And of course we do live programs, real time ministry, uh, for people who are really hurt. One of the viewers said without Sat 7 my faith would have dried up. Um, it's how I grow in Christ. And that's a good testimony that it encourages us and encourage the suffering church as well and encourage uh, our viewers as well. And uh, when they hear that from other people who are suffering in the crisis or in the midst of persecution.
>> Don Hawkins: What a tremendous affirmation for the effectiveness of the Ministry of Sat 7 again, uh, reaching out into the Middle east and North Africa in Arabic, Arabic, Farsi and Turkish. And also in the Dari programming and uh, programming for adults and children and uh, that is available through satellite television, also interactive Internet. And people uh, are being led to Christ and growing in faith. And in many of those countries, Ray, uh, there is no place where Christians can gather together other than maybe an underground church on occasion. But I've been told that in places like Iran there's an amaz, uh, a collection of underground churches and believers who are willing to endure persecution for Christ.
>> Ray Heinen: That's true, Don. Uh, what we hear from uh, the isolated believers in Iran, that uh, it is growing and growing rapidly and uh, uh, in fact there are a lot of joy coming out of that because they are inspired, motivated in the midst of all the darkness that they have. But when they found the love of Christ and they found the joy in Christ, that's contagious. They cannot hide that and they share it with one another, uh, even though it is not easy and that can cause them to uh, death. And uh, one of the viewers as well said, I came from a different faith, but I heard Jesus speak through the screen. Which means that Sat 7. I heard Jesus speak through screen, now I follow him. That's the ultimate goal that we would like to see from all of our programs that people follow Jesus and there.
>> Don Hawkins: Are people coming to Christ on a regular basis through the Ministry of Sat.7. And friend, your partnership with that ministry, through your prayers, your financial support can make an incredible difference. The place to find out more about this and to indicate your support and uh, both through prayer and financial giving [email protected] again that's Sent7 USA. Uh, Ray, talk about how Set 7 helps believers grow in their faith. Especially where churches are scarce and Christians can't meet together. They're underground.
>> Ray Heinen: Yeah. Uh, we offer discipleship programs done and worship from different variety of churches, uh, that they meet around the week. Uh, of course Sunday is the Lord's day, so we broadcast from different churches. So people who are watching on TV at home, uh, the kind of having that kind of uh, virtual fellowship instead of having it live so worship and the Bible study as well so they grow in understanding of the faith. Uh, we also uh, have a discipleship for the entire family or families who are watching in secret. So regardless which uh, age they are of their kids or teens or young adults, uh, new families, born again Christians, they will find something for them uh, uh, to get uh, more into the faith and understand not only the Christianity but they grow and their understanding and be able also to share that uh, in a solid ground, share their faith in a solid ground because of the programs they watch in Sat 7.
>> Don Hawkins: It's amazing to think about how satellite television has opened the doors for the gospel in countries that have been closed. I think of an Old Testament Statement from Isaiah 43:19. One of Dr. Fr. Min's favorite verse is from many years ago. Behold, I'm doing a new thing now it springs forth. Do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. And I think Ray, it would be accurate to say that the gospel is providing rivers of the water of life, uh, to many people, children and adults, through The Ministry of Sat 7 in the middle east and in countries in North America as well. And amen.
>> Ray Heinen: That's, that's correct. And uh, I like the quote from uh, Lady Pastor John MacArthur when he said this is our responsibility and our responsibility is simply to make our witness, uh, faithful. It's God's responsibility alone to make it effective. So our role here in the United States to support our brothers and sisters in isolation who are in Iran or similar places, uh, facing the prosecution is not to make it effective, that's for the Holy Spirit, but to be part of, of how to deliver the message to those who are in need.
>> Don Hawkins: Uh, Ray, I wanted to ask you about yourself and uh, when you came to Christ, were you still uh, living in Egypt, growing up there at the time, or did you come to Christ after you came to the States?
>> Ray Heinen: Well actually I came to Christ in uh, my early teens and I was between Iraq and Egypt. I was born in Egypt, as you mentioned at the beginning, and then lived in Iraq for a certain time. And during that time, uh, during summertime I would go back, uh, to Egypt and of course it's more stable country at that time. And uh, went to the youth uh, camp and I accepted Christ in one of the youth camp. But here is the part of it I was under that kind of being isolated, ah, in Iraq because basically, Don, in Iraq it was the war between Iran and the Iraq, uh, war at that time. So uh, I grew up watching that on television and that was big part of my life. Going to school, going to church, in daily life. Then I go to Egypt and I find it's a different reality uh, than that. So that kind of confused me a little bit and made me thinking, why Lord, that you're putting me in all of that. Now I know after all of those years that the Lord has been preparing me so I can help the isolated believers. I've been there. I can feel with them.
>> Don Hawkins: 855-586-5433 is our there are only two.
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>> Toni King: At Adult and Teen Challenge, we provide hope and healing for a new drug free future. And you can find the center nearest you at 8:55 and addiction or teenchallengeusa.org Freedom from addiction starts here.
>> Steve: Welcome back to Encouragement Live. Our toll free number is 855586 LIFE. Here again is your host, Don Hawkins, author of Master Discipleship Today.
>> Don Hawkins: So glad to have Ray he on the program with us tonight. Ray is the senior director of ministry partnerships@sat7. Their website is sat7usa.org we were talking about hope, uh, beyond borders, how sat7 is serving the suffering church in the Middle east and North Africa. If you have a question or a comment for us tonight, uh, the phone lines are open. We'd be glad to hear from you at 855-586. And uh, Ray, uh, these are hostile parts of the world in many ways today. Uh, but God is working there. Tell us a little bit about how you see God moving through Sat 7 in those hostile regions.
>> Ray Heinen: Well Don, uh, we see that we hear a lot from our viewers and we, this is like kind of the feedback that we get that they are responding to our program. So viewers are reporting miracles happen in their midst. And viewers are reporting the new faith that they are entering and the joy they have in the Lord. And the viewers also are reporting the spiritual growth. And you can see that uh, a, uh, year after a year or more of follow up with one of the believers, their tone has changed. Their growth and spiritual growth is happening in a different way. Uh, the testimonies that we hear from them, the transformation, the healing that is happening is overwhelming for us. We praise the Lord for that. Uh, the underground church is found, uh, always find courage through stories, uh, that uh, happen with them. Or like share it with us. Um, let me share with you a couple of one, one quote and one short story. A, uh, quote from a viewer said I'm the only Believer in my town. Imagine that your channel showed me um, I'm um, part of something bigger. So they wouldn't even imagine how big is the body of Christ until somebody tells them or see that. Until then another story that comes to me about Christina. And then by the way you can go to sat7usa.org sat7usa.org and go to uh the part of the news uh and then you will find a lot of stories there. So there's a press room the news and stories. One of the stories is about Christina. Christina grew up in Syria and then had uh to flee uh to Lebanon due to the war. But prior to that she lost her dad in the war. And then of course she was not like denying the Christianity or the faith but she was like questioning God. What's happening now? Here's the thing. Her dad was always let them watch Sat7 and go to church. So now she become not only a uh Christian but she become a host in one of our famous kids show that helps kids in a persecution to uh overcome this difficulties uh that they have. So this Christina story is called um Faith Under Fire. So find it at www.sat7satNumber7usa.org and go to the uh stories uh and find or type in Christina or Faith Under Fire.
>> Don Hawkins: That'll be a really inspiring story to hear from Christina. And again she uh raised in Syria but uh traveled to Lebanon after the war broke out in Syria. And uh, she had come to Christ to faith in him. And now she's having an impact on uh children and families and young families especially. And Ray, that raises the question how can those of us who live in the west, the Western church, Western believers partner with SAT7?
>> Ray Heinen: Well first, first of all Don, we are blessed over here. We're blessed. We're having the freedom to worship, freedom to choose from our, which resource, uh which churches or resour. Uh we get uh our spiritual feed from. We don't. So pray for your brothers and sisters. The church in the west needs really to pray for the brothers and sisters in the Middle east because they endure something is unbearable. We cannot really understand it or uh go through it. The other thing is to do is like um. Of course it's a very cost effect ministry so like uh uh with a very little contribution you can um give a hope for a family to watch the whole year of the um uh Christian programs. Partnership uh is important as well. Uh we like to create more partnerships with churches with uh uh individuals. So we are uh open for that. So uh, our contacts is all in the website would love to come to you or talk to you over the phone or in visit or at the church and tell you exactly how you can become a partner. Uh also you can go to the website, share it with the social media promotes at 7 share it with your church, with the mission boards, with the Bible studies, tell them what we're doing um, and this will expand because not too many people know exactly what we are doing until we get go to the website. Well supportsat7 also Ah, uh, to uh, not only with that, uh, sort of the financial part of it but come to the Middle east whether you believe it or not. Uh some people, they feel it's not safe. But I always tell our people that listen, if it's not safe, we're not going. If I'm not traveling, you're not traveling. So we don't see put you in danger. But you can't imagine the impact when we take Sat seven and friends uh to those places. Of course when it's uh, safe to do that and they meet the isolated believers and they pray together, there is no more powerful uh, impact on those lives. They probably uh, never met uh, a believer from other country or a believer even in at church but now they find the body of Christ coming all the way from the west, uh to be under their service and pray with them and minister to them. So that's something else you can uh, do as well. Well um, I can tell you more about that. Uh, but actually uh, I would like to like use a quote here. It's not about the fundraising or about the support although this is how we can give uh, our uh, programs 100% free to air. But it's uh, um, actually the way we do raise the resources here is by proclaiming what we believe in such a way uh, that we offer other people an opportunity. We offer that Western church an opportunity to participate in that vision and mission and just like to make God's love known until the whole world.
>> Don Hawkins: No, and that's a wonderful opportunity to do, to partner and, and that's really what it's all about is about partnership. It's about coming alongside the Ministry of Sat7 the people who are working in their offices in Cyprus and who are transmitting programming in Arabic and in Farsi and in uh, the Turkish language of the Dari language and children's programming and adult programming 24 hours a day, seven days a days a week and then many people interacting with those who reach out uh, through the Internet and uh, just uh, amazing the impact. But it does Take resources. And I would encourage you to prayerfully consider, uh, being involved, making Set seven a part of your own stewardship. We certainly encourage you to support your local church, but this is a worthy ministry, worthy of your support, worthy of your prayers. And Ray, I'm glad you brought up the subject of people, uh, traveling to the Middle east or North Africa. I, uh, hadn't really thought about that, but I think that's a wonderful idea. My wife and I have been to India. We've been to Africa. I've been to, uh, we've been to Israel together. I've been to Korea and some other places. And uh, it's amazing when you actually interact with believers and pray with believers from different parts of the world. Uh, and I know you've had that experience as well.
>> Ray Heinen: Yes sir. Yes sir. That happened many times. And in fact, we're taking some of Sat seven friends, uh, later this year to visit, uh, our studio where they see like exactly how we do the production, uh, who is working there. And I call them, they are the angels there. Because actually, uh, I heard that from one of our Iranian Farsi channel believers and we were in a, uh, prayer group, uh, a month ago behind borders prayers with Dennis Wiens. You know Dennis, he's been in your show before.
>> Don Hawkins: Oh yes.
>> Ray Heinen: And our, Our friend, the social media director said our people, they lift mountains every day because the amount of uh, problems that they face and it's not, it's not easy. You know, the evil one is never happy with, with this kind of, uh, evangelism and making people, uh, in peace and in. So they lift the mountains every day. This is our people over there. So in fact talking about visiting the Middle East, I tell you, I look forward to it myself. Not because I just go back to the Middle east, but because I get back inspired and encouraged and I see God's hands are moving in a way that you don't hear about it in different media outlets. But we, uh, as a spiritual media outlet, we can tell you that. And I would love to many of your listeners to be part of those, uh, vision trips later on, uh, in the coming years.
>> Don Hawkins: Again, those are called vision trips. And uh, you can, uh, check out the website sat7usa.org and communicate with the team there and let them know you'd be interested in finding out about a vision trip. And Ray, I totally agree with you. The, the idea of somebody taking a vision trip to the Middle east, going to the offices in Cyprus there and seeing those ang who are involved in that ministry and uh, it Just gives you such a different perspective. And I would encourage our listening family to prayerfully consider that. And uh, if you'd like to uh, get more involved in The Ministry of Sat 7, uh, as a prayer partner, as, as a faith partner, one who's trusting God for support. The website is sat7usa.org again that set7US USA.org by the way, our programs are [email protected] we uh, have a number of our past programs there and you'd have a chance to uh, check in on those and find out more about what uh, uh, we have done in some of our past programming, even programs featuring John Cernelia who's been on with us, the new president of Sat.7, Rex Rogers, former president of Sat.7 and even with Ray Heinen. We're going to take a break here on the program and then we will take some phone calls. 855-586-Life is our toll free number. That's 855-586-5433. And if you'd like to learn more about the Ministry of Sat7, be involved in praying for that ministry and we encourage you to do so. So their Website address is sat7usa.org the letters S A T the number 7, the letters USA.org and I'll be back with more of our program with Ray Heinen of SAT 7 right after this timeout on the program. Encouragement Live.
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>> Jane: Uh, the older people grow, the more important it is that they have savings that are not at risk in the stock market.
>> Don Hawkins: Here's an important warning from Roxanne Endermeule of his faithful stewards.com I've seen many.
>> Jane: People in their 50s that have all their savings still in a 401k or some other market based account that is fully at risk of loss.
>> Don Hawkins: Roxanne and her team offer practical financial counsel to people from all age groups.
>> Jane: It could be that they need to start saving for the future in retirement. Or maybe they've already done those things and they just need to be good managers of what God's given them and get their money to where it can grow well but won't be at risk of loss in the stock market. Or maybe they need to get a will or a trust in place to protect their family from the cost and stresses of probate.
>> Don Hawkins: You can schedule a free and confidential time to talk with Roxanne and her rest website, his Faithful Stewards.com. just follow the links on the website to set a good time to talk or you may call the office to set a time. That's his faithful stewards dot com. This is our final hour. Our segment in the program Encouragement Live had the privilege of having Ray Heinen of Sat7on with us on the program. Our toll free number is 855-586-life-and Bella is listening in Oklahoma tonight over American Family Radio. Bella, thank you for calling us. Go ahead.
>> Ray Heinen: Hi.
>> Don Hawkins: Yes, hello. Thank you for calling.
>> Ray Heinen: Do you have summer school in middle school, Sunday school in the Middle East?
>> Don Hawkins: That's a great question, Ray Heinen. Do they have Sunday school in the Middle East? Here's a young person, Bella, how old are you, by the way?
>> Ray Heinen: Eight.
>> Don Hawkins: You're eight years old.
>> Ray Heinen: All right.
>> Don Hawkins: And she wants to know, listening to our program, uh, do they have Sunday school for children in the Middle East?
>> Ray Heinen: Yes, that's true. Yes, sweetheart, they have Sunday, uh, schools in the Middle East. In fact, my dear, I grew up in a church when I got to know more about Christ and the stories of the Bible, um, uh, in a church and a Sunday school. And I was in a private school, a Christian school. So we had a chapel every day. So they got that some of them, they are privileged to go to the Christian, uh, schools, but some they're not. And the churches? Yes, evangelical churches. You always have Sunday this school?
>> Don Hawkins: That's a very good question, Bella. I'd like to ask you, uh, do you know Jesus as your personal savior?
>> Ray Heinen: Yes, sir.
>> Don Hawkins: I'm very thankful to hear that. Amen. I want to ask you, Bella, will you promise us that you will pray for Sat 7, uh, for those children that go to Sunday school in the Middle east and North Africa? Yes, that would be great. We're so encouraged. Boy, if we have some Adults, Ray, that'll follow in the footsteps of Bella. Following the example here, that would be great. Let me pray for you, Bella. Lord, I thank you that Bella has called us tonight. Lord, what a joy to hear from this young lady who has come to know you and who is concerned about children in the Middle east and North Africa and, and willing to pray for Sat 7. I pray that you would bless her and strengthen her, help her to grow in grace and knowledge of our Savior. Savior, I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.
>> Ray Heinen: Amen.
>> Don Hawkins: Thank you, Bella for calling us. God bless. Uh, bye bye. 855-586-5433. Maybe you are 7 or 70 or 8 or 80 or whatever age you are, you'd like to call us tonight. We'd love to hear from you. We'd love to pray for you and with you. And uh, you know, Ray, I was thinking about something. I'm baptizing a young man tomorrow. He's a teenager, but, uh, publicly his faith in Jesus Christ. And I believe when somebody is baptized in the Middle east and North Africa, that is a declaration of faith that goes beyond almost anything.
>> Ray Heinen: Absolutely. And uh, with that done, I will share with you exactly what happened after baptism and a viewer in Turkey and she said the following. I'm quoting from what she said. In the past I didn't believe in God, but recently I was baptized. My mother in law is not a Christian, but she supported me, uh, in becoming a Christian. We were both watching at your channels at 7TURK channel when you invited us for a pray and she lifted up her hands and prayed with me. I was very surprised and impressed. You are making really good, uh, and effective programs. The Lord works in places you cannot always. That's a viewer from Turkey.
>> Don Hawkins: And you know, as you think about it, Ray, many times, both with radio and television, we don't always see where we're having ministry. I know I've been in Christian radio for many years and from time to time we'll run across people that have listened to the programs and have been blessed. Uh, you mentioned Dennis Weems earlier. Dennis has done radio with me for many, many years. Probably more years than either of us would like to admit. But uh, he has been a great blessing. He's the one that put me and sat seven together in our ministry and I'm so grateful for that. Uh, but Dennis, uh, has been involved in missions and radio and, and Christian outreach in this way and it is amazing. Sometimes we find out, and I think now we find out more because we do have the Internet. We have people can email, people can use WhatsApp, or they can use uh, Internet, uh, that, and, and uh, even uh, download apps and that kind of thing. And um, people can find out more about it as well. Now we've talked about the fact that Sat7 is listener supported or actually donor supported. And the scripture says in Galatians 6, 9 and 10, let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up. So then as we have opportunity, let us do good to every, everyone, especially to those who are of the household of faith. And Ray, when people donate to the Ministry of Sat 7, not only is it a tax deductible gift, uh, not only is this a highly credible and trustworthy ministry, but they are having an impact on people, many of whom have suffered great persecution for the cause of Christ. Right?
>> Ray Heinen: That's true, Don. In fact, I like to illustrate that and tell our people here in the west and our brother and sister at churches, when you, you tithe and give to the church and you know that you're supporting the work of the church so you can get a spiritual feedback or spiritual nourishment for your life and for yourself and for your family and for the other generations. Think about that when you do that, 2, 7, you are helping the suffering church in the Middle east to get to know the Lord. And I can't wait until I tell you this short quote from, uh, out of the whole world, Don from Azerbaijan, um, um, viewer from Azerbaijan said the following. It's one of those isolated places that you cannot really, uh, carry the gospel in your hand or carry the message. And the viewer said, thank you so much for this, for all SAT 7 programs. That is filled with the word of God. It is more than wonderful and the best that I watched. God bless you.
>> Don Hawkins: Amen.
>> Ray Heinen: An isolated believer believes in that, uh, we couldn't do it without the love and uh, the support from the, the church in the west here. And in fact, uh, our programs, they're full of the truth of God and production is all made in the Middle East. All what it needs from here is the encouragement, support, be an advocate, uh, be the vocal voice for Sat 7 and give to the ministry so we can reach out to more people in the Middle east and North Africa.
>> Don Hawkins: Now many of you will be going to church tomorrow. In fact, I would hope and pray every one of you will be. And uh, many of your churches have missions committees and you'll be discussing mission support. I want to encourage you to take this ministry of sat7. Check, uh, out the website sat7usa.org Download some of those testimonials that people have shared there and talk with your missions committee about getting involved in supporting the Ministry of Sat 7. And what uh, a tremendous thing that would be if we have more prayer supporters, prayer partners, more people supporting the ministry. What a difference that could make. And uh, there's so many things that Western believers can do. Ray, take us beyond just giving and praying. Talk about some ways that Western believers can spiritually invest in the ministry of Sat seven.
>> Ray Heinen: Thank you, Don. That's a great question. And uh, I actually would like to start to answer you with a quote from a viewer when he said, knowing people are praying for us, give us the strength. We feel your support is even from far away.
>> Don Hawkins: Wow.
>> Ray Heinen: And uh, that's very powerful to come from an isolated believer. Uh, so what you can do here in the west, well, engage and share sat7 content, uh, wherever you can with your social media, as you just mentioned, with your church, with your missions, uh, m. Ministry. Ah, and be an Advocate for Sat 7 and be an advocate actually for the Menas church or the Middle east and North Africa church. Uh, follow sat7 updates, um, sign up for our newsletter, um, get our um, uh, posts and updates, uh, watch content if you can. And now you can download the app and use that as a tool to evangelize to your, um, um, um, speaking Arabic, uh, neighbor, uh, or Farsi or television, I mean, uh, or Turkey. And it's all in the digital sat seven. You go to sat7plus.org sat7d l u, uh, uh, s.org and you can from there guide them to download the app. So be an advocate. Be uh, uh, one who can bless Sat7 also by helping with the distribution of the digital media. And also be an advocate. Be the voice for the voiceless. Raise awareness in your community. Think about as you are sitting comfortably, as you said, tomorrow morning we will go to church, sit in a comfy seat with an air conditioner condition, uh, with all the lights and sounds that enables us to worship the Lord and think about your brother, your sister who is in the dark room or an isolated room, cannot have this kind of fellowship and need your help, need your support. So I think just by closing your eyes and imagining that you will let the Lord and the Holy Spirit speak to you. And we are open to help you navigate through that and help you, um, to be, Be uh, part of that in different ways. Pray, um, uh, engage, share. Be an advocate. Share our social media. Make the name of Sat7 not known. But make God's love known in the Middle east and North Africa because this is the most they need over there is the love and forgiveness.
>> Don Hawkins: And we have the opportunity because of the Ministry of Sat 7. Again, if you have a neighbor who speaks Arabic or Turkish or Farsi, any of those languages, uh, point them towards set7plus.org the letters SAT, the number 7, the letters plus.org and for you to learn more about this ministry, uh, for your prayer support, your financial support for this very worthy outreach using satellite television and Internet in the Middle east and North North Africa, you can visit sat7usa.org Ray, I'd like to just lead us in prayer as we close out our program tonight for the ministry. Heavenly Father, thank you so much for the Ministry of Sat7. Lord, you have touched so many lives and are touching lives even as we've heard tonight. Thank you for Ray and the impact that his ministry is having. And Lord, I pray that you would bless and encourage him. I pray for John Cernelia and all of those involved in Cyprus and all of those who represent sat7 here in this country. Lord, raise up prayer warriors to support this ministry. Raise up financial supporters to give to and Lord, uh, raise up people to go and visit the Middle east and North Africa and have vision trips. And we pray this in Jesus name. Amen. Thank you Ray Heinz, and appreciate having you on, my brother.
>> Ray Heinen: My pleasure, Don. Thank you so much.
>> Don Hawkins: Thank you friend for joining us for encouragement live.
