Issue 46 - 21 May 2008

• Happy Birthday! – First anniversary of our Tunisian TV Series
• Viewer forming a church? – The impact of the Gospel on TV
• Wanted! – 3 job openings at Arab Vision
• UK Visit – International Director in London next month 

Dear friends, 

Last May, the first episode of our Tunisian TV series was broadcast on satellite TV.  It was the first time that Tunisian Christians, still residing in their homeland, were bold enough to testify of their faith in Jesus Christ in a TV series.  

There is much cause for celebration, rejoicing and thanking God on this first anniversary.  Not only have the productions and broadcasts continued over the course of the year – the most recent 3rd installment of 30 episodes were produced earlier this month - but we have also been receiving very encouraging viewer response and follow-up reports which suggest that many Tunisian lives are being touched, encouraged and changed through these programs. 

"Several Tunisians have made clear commitments to follow Jesus Christ, and others have revealed that they have already been secretly believing in Him,” says Arab Vision’s North Africa director. “Our program prompted them to make contact as they realized there were other Tunisian Christians; now some have joined church fellowships." 

Others, who do not have a church fellowship in their area, are ready to start their own one!  This report just in from the follow-up team in Tunisia -

Ashraf lives in a city some distance away from the capital. He is very interested in knowing the Bible. He has been watching and memorizing all of the programs on the Christian TV channel, and then, he has been preaching and telling people about these programs and the good news they bring. He contacted us through the phone numbers that appear on our program.  He is very interested in forming a congregation and meeting together with other believers!

Please pray for the many viewers like him and for the follow-up team members who are daily receiving calls and meeting with them.  The production of this series is part of an ongoing project which also involves the training of local believers.  So far, five Tunisians have been trained in various aspects of TV production, such as camera work, presenting and operating the ‘switcher’. One of these young trainees has decided to make this his career and is hoping to get involved in the TV/film industry in Tunisia. 

At the same time, Arab Vision has supported and trained the production crew of its partner organization for this project, Focusmedia. "I regard this series as one of our most successful program and partnership initiatives to date for our North African work," summarizes our North African director. 

As our work continues and expands, we require more personnel.  Currently we have three job openings for business and managing directors for our production companies in the region. If you are interested to find out more about these positions please write to us. 

For those of you based in London, I will be in your area between 15-20 June for a visit.  If you would like to meet with me or arrange for me to give a report to your church/organization about the situation in the Arab World, please write to us.

We thank you for reading this newsletter and for being interested in what God is doing through Arab Vision.  Please consider whether you can also be actively involved in supporting our work financially.  We have a number of important projects which still need funding.  You can read more about them byclicking here or go directly to theonline donation section by clicking here.

Thank you for helping us make a difference and bring the Gospel to the many men and women of the Arab World.

 

 

Abu Banaat
International Director

PS – Have you watched our new DVD yet?  It’s a 12 minute presentation featuring dramatized testimonies of our viewers and an overview of Arab Vision’s work in the Arab World: ideal to show to your house group or church.  It is available free of charge.