The international CEO/Founder of the first Christian television network for the Middle East, Terry Ascott, spoke on Tuesday about SAT-7’s impact on Christians and Muslims in the Middle East.
The following are excerpts from the interview:
SAT-7 can be seen as a ministry or even a powerful evangelism tool. How is it that Islamic governments allow SAT-7 to remain on air?
Ascott: While Christians are a minority, they are allowed the freedom to worship and the freedom to share their faith in some areas. It is not totally unthinkable for Christians to have satellite TV.
We have programs that never attack other religions and they are not in the position of evangelising Muslims. Instead they are there foremost to support Christians.
There is growing divisions in Sudan between the Islamic government and Christians. Can you explain why this is occurring and what kind of effects this has on Christians?
Ascott: There has been ongoing conflict between the Muslim North and Christian South, but mostly this is an ethnic conflict between a Muslim North and a non-Muslim south. Darfur is more of an African-Arab conflict.
Christians have been suffering terribly from the conflict, including slavery and exile by the thousands into deprived social services. There has also been a lot of misery and forced conversion.
At the same time, the church in Southern Sudan is the fastest growing in Africa. So it’s like when the extremist Islamic groups have done their worst, often the result is growth in the church. .
Reports have indicated that there is an accelerating population decline of Christians in the Middle East. What is your take on this statement?
Ascott: This has been going on for the last century.
Many of the people who leave are doctors, engineers and they leave behind an improvised church which lacks leadership and resources. It is very tragic because the cream of the church is the first to leave – they have the means, they have the connection and all of this does not bode well for the future of Christians in the Middle East.
Do you think that SAT-7 has any role to play with the Christians remaining in the region?
Ascott: Certainly, because we can provide systematic, good, and sound teaching as well as encouraging Christian music. We can provide children programming for Christian families who live in isolated places where there isn’t even a church that they can attend.
