Welcome to 7 ways to Pray, a monthly podcast brought to you by SAT-7.

When we watch the news and see some of the huge challenges facing the Middle East and North Africa, it can be hard to know how to pray. In this podcast, we’ll share a round-up of 7 key prayer points, to guide and inspire you in your prayers for the region.

Each month, we’ll go beyond the headlines to share the human stories you won’t hear on the news – and together, we’ll lift them up before God. We’ll also pray for SAT-7’s life-giving media ministry, which brings the joy of Christ to millions across the region.

Thank you for joining us in prayer.

Show Note Resources:

Iranian couple finds warm welcome in UK Church: https://www.sat7uk.org/iranian-couple-welcome-uk/

Watch Rita El Mounayer’s vlog for the International Day of Peace: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKG-IaMx-mI  

Watch Mirna’s story of growing faith in God: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqQa7qMtBJ8

Read urgent prayer requests from Afghan Christians facing deportation: https://www.sat7uk.org/i-dont-want-to-be-killed-urgent-call-to-prayer-as-afghans-face-deportation/

Absorbing theology show The Postman sparks debate about the cross: https://www.sat7uk.org/absorbing-theology-show-sparking-debate-online/

Give now to uplift children in Iran: https://www.sat7uk.org/pages/childrenofiran/

Prayer Points:

Dear God,

1. At a time of heated discussion around immigration in the UK, please help us to welcome those from the MENA into our own churches.

1. As the war in Gaza approaches its 2-year anniversary, we pray earnestly for peace and justice in the Holy Land.

1. While peace on earth can seem out of reach, thank you that viewers like Mirna are finding true peace through a relationship with you.

1. We ask you to have mercy on people from Afghanistan who are being forced to return home to danger.

1. We thank you that Arab viewers are intrigued and engaged with the topic of the cross, and ask that these comments will turn into meaningful spiritual interactions.

1. We lift up children in Iran to you who are still struggling with the trauma of war, and pray that you will be their peace.

1. We pray for all those who will be visiting the London studio this month, that they will be inspired and encouraged by your work in the Persian world.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The whole Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has been on high alert in the last few weeks. Suffering continues in the Holy Land as Gaza’s only Catholic church was bombed last week, and a suicide bombing in a Damascus church has sent shockwaves through Syria’s minority Christian community. Despite a fragile ceasefire, tension remains high after the launch of airstrikes on Iran in June and the subsequent retaliatory attacks.

Show Note Resources:

“Our Hope is You” – Believers across the Arab world gather for a night of prayer for their region: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdB_sHNYRpM

Read the full Middle East Briefing for July: https://www.sat7uk.org/middle-east-briefing-churches-under-attack

Catch up on our full “Pray for Iran” event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hCgoClAzjY

“Filming these stories was sacramental work” – an open letter by Maggie Morgan https://www.sat7uk.org/filming-refugee-stories/

Prayer Points:

• Pray for the tiny population of Christians in Gaza, especially in the wake of a recent attack on the Holy Family Church.
• Pray for peace and unity in Syria, and for God’s supernatural comfort for those who lost loved ones in the attack on St Elias Church.
• Pray that the ceasefire in Iran will hold, and that Iranian Christians will hold on to their faith in Christ even in troubling times.
• Give thanks that SAT-7 is raising the voices of refugees and calling for kindness. Pray for the ongoing impact of the video campaign.
• Pray for all SAT-7’s viewers in the MENA who are experiencing despair and hopelessness in the face of recent violence and uncertainty. Ask that SAT-7 will continue to make programmes that speak out God’s love and joy to millions across the region.

Welcome to Voices of the Middle East, a SAT-7 UK podcast. SAT-7 is an international Christian media ministry bringing life-changing joy to the people of the Middle East and North Africa. Last year we had over 103,000 one-to-one conversations with viewers, and through these conversations we are hearing constant stories of the ways God is at work in people’s lives. In this podcast, we’ll share some of their stories with you, and invite you to pray for SAT-7 and the people of the region.