Coming up on Encouragement Live, children in the Middle east need to hear about Jesus
>> Don Hawkins: Coming up on Encouragement Live, children in the Middle east and North Africa need to hear about Jesus, and SAT7 has programming geared to their level. Becky Lucas of SAT7 tells us about it, and we'll take your phone calls on Encouragement Live.
>> Steve: Welcome to Encouragement Live, providing biblically based encouragement and insight on a wide range of practical life issues. Now, here's your host, Don Hawkins, author, of Master Discipleship Today.
>> Don Hawkins: Thank you, Steve. And thank you, friend, for joining us as live from studios located in First Christian Church of Wylie, Texas, Encouragement Communications presents Encouragement Live. Our mission is to provide biblically based encouragement and insight on a wide range of practical life issues. And joining me tonight is Becky Lucas of SAT 7. Becky, it's great to have you on the broadcast. I believe this is the first time we've had the privilege of having you on the show.
>> Caroline: That's right. It's my first time. And thank you so much, Don. It's a joy and a privilege to be with you this evening.
>> Don Hawkins: And you know, Becky, we have a couple of things that we need to talk about to some extent tonight.
This past week has been a difficult one for many Americans
this past week, certainly a traumatic, issue. many issues in our country. first of all, the 25th or 24th anniversary of the tragedy of 9 11, when almost 3,000 people lost their lives. And then, of course, the assassination of Charlie Kirk, very strong Christian, evangelical Christian, spokesman for conservative causes, was gunned down in a shooting in Utah. And, a powerful testimony from his wife, who actually, Kathi and I watched Erica's, statement that she made, things that. That I thought were so powerful. And one of her statements tied right into our topic tonight, about children in the Middle east and North Africa. Erica made this statement during her address last night. Nobody is ever too young to know the gospel. And isn't that the truth, Becky?
>> Caroline: Absolutely. And I'm so glad that I have the opportunity to be with you this week, Don, because I know that it may feel like a very dark time right now for many people. And some of the stories that I have the privilege to see every day are from people living through really dark situations and seeing how God still works in those situations. So I hope that we will be able to bring a little bit of encouragement, while acknowledging this is a very, heavy week, for all of us.
We all need encouragement, Becky Lucas says on Encouragement Live
>> Don Hawkins: Becky, I love the embracing of our mission. And, the name of this broadcast, Encouragement Live, we have the privilege of offering encouragement. Truett, Cathy, the founder of Chick Fil A, once made the statement, and I was there when he said it, he said, you can tell if a person needs encouragement. Just check to see if they're breathing. And you know, and that's, that's an amazing truth that we all need encouragement. Christians need encouragement, unsaved people, encouragement. Had the opportunity this afternoon to share the gospel with a, young woman who basically said, I've never had it clearly explained to me and I had the privilege. And she sat there and was willing to listen to me as I shared the gospel. She has not yet trusted Christ, but I'm praying that she very soon will. And that's one of the things, Becky, that we love to do on this program. We've on occasion had the opportunity lead someone to Christ. And maybe, as you've been through this dark week, listening friend, maybe you just, feel the need to draw close to God and you're not sure that you have placed your trust in him. Charlie Kirk had placed his trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and powerfully testified to that on many occasions. And that's why, he is, with the Lord now, absent from the body, present with the Lord. And if you're not sure about your relationship with Christ, we'd love to talk with you about it. Danny Webster here with me. We'll take your calls. 855-586-Life. That's 855-586-5433. We'll come back. We'll get to know Becky Lucas a little bit better.
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We want to talk about children in the Middle east and North Africa who need the Savior and who need to be encouraged. Stay with us as more of encouragement Live is coming your way. We're over 100 years old. Dallas Theological Seminary President Dr. Mark Yarbrough on the seminary's motto, Teach truth, love. Well, that is what we do. 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. To learn more about how Dallas Theological Seminary can equip you for biblically based Christian service, visit DTS Edu. That's DTS 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-End-ADICTION or teenchallengeusa.org Freedom from addiction starts, here.
Don Hawkins with Becky Lucas of SAT 7 on Encouragement Live
>> Don Hawkins: Foreign we're back on Encouragement Live. I'm Don Hawkins with Becky Lucas of SAT 7. By the way, children in the Middle east and North Africa need to hear about Jesus. SAT 7 programming is geared to their level to tell them about it. And Becky, since this is your first time on with us, and by the way, I couldn't help noticing that you have a bit of a very cultured accent, from another part of the planet. Tell us about not only where you're from, but how you came to know the Lord Jesus and how you came to work with SAT 7.
>> Caroline: Well, you're quite right, this is not a native Texan accent I have here. so I am from the uk. I grew up in a city called Brighton in England. And really the story of how I came to work for SAT 7 starts with how I came to know Jesus. So I didn't grow up in a church going family. Brighton is a very atheistic place. It still is, although not as much as it was previously. And so by the time I was a young adult, I was a very confirmed atheist or I would have seen it that way. And when I got to college was really the first time I encountered large groups of Christians. And I had a friend who invited, invited me to attend a course called the Alpha Course, which is, if you haven't heard of it, it's kind of an evangelistic, outreach where if you're not a believer, you can come and ask questions and throw any objections you have out there and you, receive greatest answers and love. And so long story short, through, that course I met, Jesus, became a believer, and came. Yeah, my life was really turned around. I had been very anxious person before that and that it wasn't like a snap of the fingers and it was gone. But really that was the start of a complete transformation.
>> Don Hawkins: Wow.
>> Caroline: And so after I graduated I wanted to, I knew I wanted to do something in service of my faith and I was a communications type major person. And I went to a conference with the church denomination that I had become a believer in and it was a missions conference. And they said, pray and ask God to put a country on your heart. And this is a very, this is a dangerous prayer if you don't know.
>> Don Hawkins: Yes, it is.
>> Caroline: So. And I didn't know what I was doing. I was a baby believer. But I tried, I prayed and I felt that God was saying to me Afghanistan. And I thought, that's ridiculous. That's not, you just made that up yourself. Nobody goes to Afghanistan, which is not true. although very little is able to happen on the ground. But I just dismissed that and, went and followed some plans that I'd originally had and eventually I was called to go and work, at, a global ministry that ministers to persecuted Christians around the world. Different ministry than Sat 7, but this is where I got my start. And one of my very first tasks was to work on this booklet that went alphabetically through the countries in the world where the ministry worked. And so I opened the first page of this booklet that I need to work on. And what does it say? Afghanistan.
>> Don Hawkins: Isn't that amazing? I want to jump in just a second because we're coming up on a break and we're going to hear more of the testimony not only of how Becky Lucas came to Jesus Christ, through, the, the ministry of God's word and then how God laid Afghanistan on her heart. Our toll free number is 855-586-5433. Crossflix. A 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.
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60% of Christians will die with no will; only 10% have estate plans
>> Don Hawkins: 60% of Christians will die with no will. Only 10% have up to date estate plans, virtually guaranteeing that probate courts will sort out their affairs. What does being a wise steward of God's resources mean? The Bible has a lot to say on the subject. Sat 7 offers a biblical estate planning seminar or webinar that takes the mystery out of wills, trusts and estate planning. To learn more, visit sat7usa.org Plan the.
>> Jane: People of 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.
>> Jane: 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 sat7usa.org Toni 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@, tonysays.com that's T O N I tonysays.com we're back on Encouragement live, and we're getting acquainted with Becky Lucas of SET seven. And, you can learn more about that great [email protected] that ministry is using satellite television and interactive Internet to impact people in the Middle east and North Africa in Arabic, Turkish, Dari, and, some other languages as well, 24 hours a day, seven days a week of outreach. Please check out their website. Ask God if he would have you to partner with them through prayer and through your gracious giving.
Don: God brought Afghanistan to your attention through ministry work
And Becky, we've heard now that, God brought Afghanistan to your attention, in a couple of way. And what, happened next?
>> Caroline: Yeah. Thank you, Don. So when I saw Afghanistan in that, first task that I had to do in that first job, I really realized what this call meant, that not everybody is called to go somewhere that you can, take part in the work that God is doing, by using your skills and staying where you are or through prayer or through, you know, financially partnering with ministries even. So, yeah, I work for that ministry for a few years, and then I had the opportunity to move to serve at seven, and really focus on the Middle east and North Africa full time. And that's been. This is my 11th year with this ministry. And I've gotten to see God do some really amazing things.
>> Don Hawkins: And we're going to hear some of those accounts, some of those stories, and I know our listening family loves to hear those stories tonight. If you have a question about the Ministry of Sat 7, Becky and I would love to, talk with you about it. 855-58-5433.
Last Wednesday, a gunman assassinated conservative Christian commentator Charlie Kirk
As we indicated at the beginning of the program tonight, this has been a very difficult week, not only recognizing the, tragedy of 24 years ago, 9, 11 that happened this past week. Almost 3,000 people losing their lives. And then last Wednesday, a gunman assassinated conservative Christian commentator Charlie Kirk. And both of these were assaults on what our nation was founded upon. And both of these terrible attacks demonstrated the reality of true evil in our world today. And one thing I'd like to point out is how do we, how should we respond to these two tragedies? I think it's appropriate, first of all, to acknowledge our emotions, whether we lost, loved, ones at the World Trade center or we mourned the death of Charlie Kirk. We need to follow the biblical exhortation to pray for those in authority so that we can lead a quiet and peaceable life and the message of the gospel can be clearly spread. As Christians, we can't allow fear to dominate our lives. Paul told Timothy. Timothy, God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. And while we must exercise civil discourse, it's important that we take a strong stand for biblical values and do so in the way Charlie Kirk did. Otherwise Our Nation, founded 250 years ago, will find itself in further decline.
Charlie Kirk dialogued a lot with atheists and he did so with joy
And Becky, I want to zero in on something that you said that I think makes, a tremendous transition into the death of Charlie Kirk. Charlie dialogued a lot with atheists and he did so with a smile on his face, with the joy of the Lord in his heart. he did not respond to angry atheists or angry agnostics. but Charlie Kirk was the kind of person that probably would have had an impact on you during the time when you were an atheist, wouldn't you agree?
>> Caroline: Yes, I think so. what really made a big impact on me when I first met Christians and really had a chance to talk with them was just seeing the difference that it made that they were not, affected by my opinion of them. I could say anything I liked about their views, but they were not getting their self worth from what other people thought of them. And I really was, at that time in my life, I was very affected by what other people thought of me. So the fact that I could throw an objection at these people and it would not even ruin their day, let alone make them question themselves, had a really, a huge impact on me. And they kept loving me even when I was acting quite unlovably. So yes, anyone who is, able to respond to people who think differently than them with love while demonstrating that you think differently than me. And that's not going to change how I think. I'm not, I'm not taking my self worth from what you think of me.
>> Don Hawkins: Powerful, powerful thoughts. Again, Becky Lucas, coming from a background where as an atheist she met Christians who, like Charlie Kirk, had that kind of a response. And we heard, and I've heard on the news this week, Becky, from a number of people who said I was an atheist. I dialogued with Charlie Kirk and I came to trust Christ as a result. And now here you are serving the Lord with Sat 7. If we're talking to someone tonight, you have questions about Jesus Christ and a relationship with him. Becky and I would be glad to talk with you and share with you how you can come to know the Lord Jesus Christ in a personal way, the way Becky did, the way I did when I was very young. And I'm, no longer very young, Becky, by the way, but I was very young. We. We won't go down that road. But if you'd like to call us 855-586-5433.
One in two children in Middle east and North Africa affected by conflict
I mentioned Erica, who was Charlie Kirk's widow, now made the statement that nobody is ever too young to know the gospel. And we're talking about SAT 7's ministry to children. Becky, what are the lives of children growing up in the Middle east or even in North Africa typically like today?
>> Caroline: Yeah. Thank you, Don. So this is a region with 25 countries in it, so we could probably take the whole time just to answer that question, But I can give a bit of a snapshot through some numbers. So talking about dark situations and difficulties in the Middle east and North Africa, one in two children are affected, affected by conflict and violence. So an actual war or civil violence. and there are 6.4 million child refugees in the region who've been displaced from their homes, usually by, violence, or war. And then 30 million children are out of school, and not because that's a choice that, their families have made for them, but because they've been displaced, their school's been destroyed, for those kinds of reasons. So there are some really, there are children growing up, facing real difficulties, and this creates a lot of hopelessness, especially amongst older youth. And as believers, we know the only truly reliable hope is found in Jesus Christ. But for many of these kids, they don't have opportunities to hear of the gospel, to hear that there is a God that loves them and who Jesus is. and even for those who are in Christian families, in some places, they also face persecution and they have no access to church or Sunday school.
>> Don Hawkins: Wow. Just thinking about the kind of lives that so many of those children I think about you mentioned Afghanistan and the terrible conflict that went on there for so long. And then of course, the conflict happening in Gaza right now and that kind of situation where things have just been devastating, in reality, those children need the gospel of Jesus Christ. And, you're providing through Sat seven, through the satellite delivery. And there's so many homes, as I've learned in that part of the world, that have satellite dishes and, even though the governments of some of those countries do everything they can to block that. They really cannot block that. So children can, can hear the gospel and come to know Jesus Christ. Tell us about the programming and maybe even some of the stories about children coming to Christ and ah, that's right.
>> Caroline: So first of all, we could talk about Arabic, which covers 20 different countries in the Middle east and North Africa. We actually have a 24,7 satellite TV tunnel just for children in these countries. And we have to reach people where they are. Right. So young kids are still sitting watching satellite TV in these countries in ways that they are not in this country. but that is where they are. So on that channel we have, live programs. So we have one which is a real favorite called Jesus Our Strength.
>> Don Hawkins: And that area faithfulstewards.com and the link to webinars his faithful stewards.com when.
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Don Hawkins: SAT 7 broadcasts Christian programming to over 8 million truckers
>> Steve: Welcome back to Encouragement Live. Our toll free number is 855-586-LIFE. Here again is your host, Don Hawkins, author of Master Discipleship Today.
>> Don Hawkins: Becky Lucas is on with me. She's from SAT 7 and we're talking about their ministry to children. Good to have those of you who are listening on Lonesome Road Radio. Becky, this is, an Internet radio station and they've been heard by over 8 million truckers and they carry our broadcast on Tuesdays at 8:30am and 8:30pm Central Central Time. And in addition to our live coverage on American Family Radio and Life Changing Radio and enjoy Christian radio and a number of other stations and networks, we're very thankful for that ministry. Can you imagine 8 million truckers listening to Christian programming driving all up and down the freeways in this country? Pretty amazing, isn't it?
>> Caroline: That is so amazing. That's so encouraging to me to hear so many people are listening and while you're driving too. Praise God.
>> Don Hawkins: we thank the Lord for it and we hope they'll keep it between the ditches and out of the on the road safely. And by the way, we're so glad to be able to share encouragement during this heavy time and we want you to be encouraged with the fact that God is at work even in times and places that feel very dark and even impossible. We've been learning about what God is doing through set seven and so thankful for that. Our toll free number is 855-586-554. We mentioned the tragic death of Charlie Kirk earlier this past week on Wednesday. Assassinated, his voice taken out. but we've learned tonight that Becky Lucas at one time was an atheist and that Christians very much like Charlie Kirk had talked to her and lived the love of Jesus before her and she came to faith in Christ. And maybe some of you have relatives who are atheists and you're concerned about them. We'd love to pray with you about that. Maybe you have questions about what SAT7 is doing, in this part of the world. Becky's told us about the programming on Sat 7. Kids in Arabic, 24 countries there. you also broadcast in Turkish, Farsi and Dari. do you have children's programs in some of those languages as well?
>> Caroline: Yes, that's right, we do. So we have a channel that broadcasts in Farsi and Dari, which is covering Iran and Afghanistan. So talk about hostile, environment to the gospel. But we have hours, every week of live children's programming to Iran. I recently was able to visit the studio where this live program goes out from in Cyprus. We have Iranian believers who present these programs, but they can no longer live in Iran because they've shown their face on the screen and they cannot visit their families in Iran either. So it was so meaningful to be there in this room while they're broadcasting. But even more meaningful was to hear the voices of the children who are calling in from Iran to answer, the questions about Bible verses or to ask a question or to pray, live on air. And some of the prayers of these kids in Iran, Don, are ah, some of the most, just deep and just mature prayers that I've ever heard kids pray. And I have two kids of my own too, so.
>> Don Hawkins: Wow.
>> Caroline: Yeah, so. And Turkish too. We have a channel called Flat7Turk and they have a relatively new program called Great News which is really exciting because it's using virtual production and AI tools to make a really eye catching program, sharing Bible stories, with children in Turkey. And we had one, parent recently in Turkey, Turkey, say to us, that their child had asked for a worship song to be put on before they went to sleep. And this is a child that every day goes to school and is taught a different religion and a different curriculum and, and struggles with being a Christian in, in that world. and the parents said they were so excited when their child, after this song that they had heard on Sat 7 Turk that they said, I felt like another child had just been born. I was so excited. so it really makes such a difference for these families that are living in isolation as Christians to have content for their kids. That's encouraging for them.
>> Don Hawkins: We have friends who live in Pakistan and Christian family living surrounded by people of a different religion. They have two young girls and those girls are often harassed. And I think you're talking about the same kind of thing happening in these countries in Turkey and some, of the other places there as well. and it seems to me one of the things that we need to emphasize, Becky, is to pray for the people who are producing these programs. You know, they may be using AI and technology and all that, but it really takes people to put all this together. Doesn't.
>> Caroline: Does. And you know, some of the people that I'm talking about in Iran, they're really young, they're teenage presenters. I was really, really struck when I was there by one of the young men was checking before he went to host this live program that he had all the answers to the Bible verse questions correct himself. And it really came home to me. This is a, this is a teenager. This is someone who is, you know, he's very strong in his faith and he knows a lot, but he's a young person and he's going on air every week to minister to younger kids. and because of that he cannot go to be with his family who still Live in Iran. His parents live in, Cyprus too. But he, cannot go back to the country of his heritage. so the cost of this is high for some of our presenters. and yeah, no matter, no matter the country, in Lebanon too, we have presenters that have been living through literally bombs falling in the background of their, of their broadcasts. And I have been so amazed because they didn't want to do less when this was happening, they wanted to do more. And they actually increased the number of days they were broadcasting. the studio is in a state, you know, a safe, it's not a target, but it's very scary. They were being kept up all night by the sounds of drones and bombs falling. And they want to come to work the next day to share the love of Christ with these kids. So I'm so thankful for all my colleagues and yes, please do pray for them.
>> Don Hawkins: Let's take a moment and just lift these people to the Lord, heavenly Father, how thankful we are for the privilege of letting our encouragement live. Listening family know about the sacrifices that many of these people are making through Sat seven, both in the studios in Cyprus and also in Lebanon and, and even some in some other parts and maybe even some places we can't even mention and shouldn't mention because of security issues. Lord, we know that you, you protect your children. And I pray, Lord, for protection. I pray for strength. I pray for your provision. Lord, you know that there is a significant need for funding, and you are able to lay it on the hearts of your people to visit the sat7usa.org website and to generously give to help keep these ministries broadcasting the Gospel of Jesus Christ into the Middle east and North Africa and especially to reach these precious children. It's been said, Lord, that if you can win a child, you literally win a life. And Lord, that's our prayer, that this ministry will not only continue, but increase and grow. And we thank you for it and for each one who's willing to make the kind of sacrifices and sometimes in the face of danger. And thank you for Becky who's sharing this with us tonight. I pray in Jesus name. Amen.
About 30 million children are out of school in Middle east and North Africa
Now Becky, we, not only have programming sharing the gospel in these different languages, Arabic and Turkish and Farsi and Dari. but, you mentioned the fact that there, may be 30 million children ages 5 to 18 who are out of school in the Middle east and North Africa. What is Set seven doing, to address, these, educational needs.
>> Caroline: Yes, that's right. So, so when the Syrian Civil war broke out and many more children were displaced. This really was an emerging need and one that SAT seven felt called to do something to help meet. And so we launched an on air school in Arabic. It's called My School. And over the course of five years we produced five seasons that covered five years of elementary curriculum. So from learning to read all the way through kind of fourth, fifth grade level, covering math and Arabic and English and science and also some ah, sort of trauma healing and social, emotional, just things to help them get through the things they were going through. and so we know of kids that were displaced and then were able to go back to school and they had kept up with their learning during that time and their new teachers were able to say, wow, it's like you had stayed in school. And we just, we thank God for that. This is just another way that we can demonstrate God's love. and recently we are very excited because obviously many children, especially girls in Afghanistan, were going to school before the Taliban takeover and now they're not going, they're no longer allowed to go to school, especially girls over a certain age. So we actually made a new series called sun of Hope S U N of Hope. And it's a similar thing, it's teaching basic literacy, but also as we're doing that, showing that there is a world outside, and that there is hope. And what we hope also is as well as kids learning to read and to start to think critically through watching this broadcast, that they will stay on the channel and then the very next program may share with the gospel with them. So we want to do both. We want to help these kids have a better future in earthly terms and we want to share primarily the message of the gospel with them.
>> Don Hawkins: Becky Lucas of Sat7 sharing with us details about the incredible ministry that sat 7 is having to children in the Middle east and North Africa and their specific programmings that, that she has mentioned that are taking place. Great news. And my school. And if you want to learn more about this, Visit the website set7usa.org again that set7usa.org and, and Becky, there are needs associated with getting the ministry out, both to children and to adults. Talk to us about how people can partner with sat7.
>> Caroline: Yeah, absolutely. So first of all, please do continue to pray for us, for our viewers for the Middle east and North Africa. please share about what God is doing through Sat7. We also have a on demand platform called Sat7PlusPlus, if you go to sap7plus.org that gives you a URL, a website address that you can share with any Arabic speaker, Iranian, Turkish speaker that you know, and that also will help to, to spread the word.
>> Don Hawkins: Check out. Yeah, excuse me, let me jump in. We're going to come up on the break and we'll pick it up right after that. Becky Lucas is with me on the broadcast again. She's mentioned Sat Satisfaction plus. Google that and click on it. And we'll be back with more right after this break.
Dallas Theological Seminary offers practical financial advice for all ages
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>> Jane: 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 stress of of probate.
>> Don Hawkins: You can schedule a free and confidential time m to talk with Roxanne at her 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.
Becky Lucas says SAT 7 curriculum helps children deal with trauma
This is the final segment of this edition of Encouragement Live. I'm Don Hawkins. So glad, friend, to have you along with us on this program. It's been encouraging to me to hear from Becky Lucas about how SAT 7 is reaching into the lives of children in so many countries in the Middle east and North Africa, languages that those, children speak, and programming to share Christ with them and also to provide education. And, Becky, one of the things you mentioned is that incorporated in some of that curriculum, is help with trauma. I'm sure a lot of those children have been traumatized by some of the things happening in that part of the world.
>> Caroline: Yes, absolutely. They have, unfortunately, and we do have several theories that are specifically focused on this. and they really meet the kids where they are. They will talk about, a specific issue that they may have gone through, something that they may have witnessed. And then, in one program I'm thinking of, there is an older uncle kind of character, and he acknowledges, just like you said, he acknowledges the difficult feelings that they may still have about this issue and then goes to the Bible and says, this is what Jesus says about this. Did you know Jesus loves you? He loves you even when you feel this way. and they go through this kind of curriculum together. But yes, trauma is unfortunately a really big issue.
SAT 7 shows children sharing God's love with their teachers
>> Don Hawkins: Becky, one of the things I've been looking forward to is hearing some of the stories, that you've seen through SAT 7 that demonstrate the lifelong transformations that come from sharing God's love with children.
>> Caroline: Yes, I would love to tell you one from Iran. so we heard recently from a mom in a Christian family in Iran. She has two kids and they, are living under persecution arrests, in Iran have increased over the past year of, Christians. And it's a very difficult situation. But her two kids every week join in with this live program I was talking about that goes out from Cyprus. And they have, We hear often from kids who have become believers through watching this program, also of these isolated Christian families who have been encouraged. And this mom told me some, told us something amazing recently. She said, my kids went to the school and they shared Jesus with their teachers. And now their teachers are asking them to pray for her, for them. And there are three teachers. And she name checked, it was the gym teacher. It was the assistant principal. she said, these teachers are going to watch your next broadcast. Please pray for them. So these. It doesn't. The impact doesn't stay with the kids that are watching. Don it. They share with their parents, they share with their teachers, even in these kind of scary situations. but it's like you said, if you win a child, it's a life. And it's more lives than one, too.
>> Don Hawkins: Yeah, that's a wonderful thought. And particularly, we should pray for those children, remember them, and lift them up with the courage that they're demonstrating. Because again, there are times that children do suffer persecution, especially in countries where there's a different religion that maybe is an official religion, and. And yet they have courage to share with their teachers. but, Becky, you've reminded us again, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God to salvation to everyone that believes. And that includes, children, that includes adults. And, you know, I think of the words of scripture out of the mouth of babes. you know, some of these young children sharing with their teachers, can have a profound impact and maybe bring some of them to Christ. You have some other stories to share with us as well, I'm sure.
>> Caroline: Oh, yes. I could talk all day. let's think about some other kids to talk about. so there is a little girl right now who lives in the Holy Land, and she was living near the border of Gaza. She comes from a, Palestinian Christian family. we don't always realize there are Palestinian Christians, but there are. and she was living near the border, and so she was affected by the conflict. She was displaced. She has called in to that Jesus Our Strength program, the live one I told you about something like 20 times. since the start of the conflict, she is regularly sharing, what she's going through, but also she likes to share things that she thinks will encourage the other kids. So she'll say something like, I was. I was feeling scared, but I prayed and God comforted me, to things like that all the way to. I was mad at a girl in my class, and then I remembered I'm supposed to forgive her.
>> Don Hawkins: Wow.
>> Caroline: And I forgave her. And then she. This is how she responded to me, and it was not how I expected. And so this little girl who's, you know, going through some of the toughest things that we could imagine, a child going through, is still. Is still encouraging other people. yeah, we call her Pfizer. And. Yeah, please pray for her, too.
>> Don Hawkins: Yeah. What a wonderful story. Heavenly Father, we pray for this young girl. We just ask you, Lord, to wrap your loving arms around her. Give her courage, give her safety, Lord. May your angels watch over her. And, Lord, may she continue. Continue to boldly confess her Christian faith. And for others like her, many of them listening to the satellite programming coming out of, the ministry, of SAT 7, encouraging them, giving them the courage to face the difficulties. And we pray this in Jesus name, Amen. You know, Becky, as I think about it, this ministry to children not only is an evangelistic ministry ministry, it's a ministry of encouragement. You're coming alongside them, you're helping them. And just the testimony of this young lady that she was mad at her teacher and realized that as a Christian, she needed to have a testimony that did not include that, that's. To me, that's pretty profound.
>> Caroline: Yeah, I think so too. And we see it really surprisingly often, especially in these programs that broadcast multiple times a week. These kids are really, you know, they. They're. They're young believers, and they're sharing in this really open way. They really built trust with the presenters and with the viewer counselors who are behind the scenes, and they will share. I thought about cheating on an exam. but then I remembered what you taught me and I didn't. Or even I did this thing, and now I feel bad about it and what should I do? And then we're able to walk with them through it. and I don't know that I see. Maybe it's because sometimes we take these things for granted. But I pray that my own kids and other, kids living here in the States who have a church to go to will feel able to be that open with the youth ministry at their church and really get that daily encouragement.
>> Don Hawkins: You know, Becky, I can't help thinking that our program tonight may have encouraged some of our listeners who live in the United States who are not. Not under persecution, like some of these people that live in Iran or live in Afghanistan or places like that, to be more courageous, to be more outgoing, to be more willing to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. And. And, I can't help thinking that some of you listening to the broadcast need to do that.
Don asks people to consider a partnership with Set seven to help sustain ministry
Now. I want to send, four minutes or so that we have left on the broadcast, to just ask people, example, to consider a partnership with Set seven in keeping this ministry sustained and growing. and, Becky, you might talk a little bit about how those of us who are part of the Western church, can partner with SAT7.
>> Caroline: Yes. Thank you, Don. So we talked about prayer and about sharing that seven with others. also we would ask you to consider a financial partnership if you're able to. So $28 broadcast, one channel for one hour. That is the satellite, broadcast only, not the production of the, of any of the programs. But this is the really vital part. If we don't have this, it doesn't matter what we produce, it's not getting.
>> Don Hawkins: Any stays in the studio. So we need that $28 for each channel. And how many channels do you have all together? Do you know?
>> Caroline: So we have four, 24, seven satellite channels. So that $28 broadcast, one whole channel for one hour. We also have digital ministry, so we have seven plus we also have social media. And so through satellite we're reaching more than 15 million Arabic speakers alone. And that is external reliable research that has shown us that. But we also have tens of millions of online views every year. so God is working powerfully through this ministry. And we also had 87,000 one to one conversations last year with bureau counselors. And those are where some of the most clearest presentations of the gospel can be made and where people are responding.
>> Don Hawkins: And you people use WhatsApp and yes, secure channels.
>> Caroline: So WhatsApp Telegram, many people are also messaging through ah, Facebook messenger and things like that, that, but oftentimes they will want to switch to a, if it's a very sensitive context they will want to use an encrypted platform like WhatsApp.
Approximately how many counselors do you have for those who call in
>> Don Hawkins: Approximately how many counselors do you have that are on the the other end of the phone for those who call in? any, any thoughts about the number of those?
>> Caroline: Yeah, so I got, had an updated number recently. I think it was about 18 in the Arabic counselor team. Not all of them are full time and they're spread across the, across the region. and then we have, in Turkey we have two people and in the Iranian team I think we have maybe four or five more. So altogether, less than 30 I think. but yeah these are, and talk about trauma also we have to take really good care of these precious colleagues who are hearing many different things, all the way from people hurling abuse at them to people sharing their, their darkest, deepest thoughts. So we need to pray for these, these co workers too. But they do an amazing job and.
>> Don Hawkins: Let me just encourage our listening family to lift these people up in prayer. 18 in Arabic, 2 in Turkey and 4 to 5 in Iran, maybe some others as well. They, they need to, to hear, to know that you are praying for them. And if you would please check out the website sat7usa.org ask God to lay it on your heart to pray even to pray every day, for the ministry to children, and for these children that we've heard about tonight, the, the young man, the young lady, and what a tremendous opportunity, opportunity for us. And Becky, I want to thank you so much for your being a part of our program tonight. It's been a joy to get to know you and I look forward to having you on again.
>> Caroline: Thank you so much. It's been such a joy.
>> Don Hawkins: It has been a blessing and friend. It's been so good to have you with us tonight. we are so thankful that people like Charlie Kirk have set an example that we can be bold and courageous and people who are reaching out to the Middle east, east and North Africa through SAT7 are doing so. Pray for them. Check the website sat7usa.org Ask God to lay it on your heart to give. Thank you for joining us tonight for encouragement live.
