Issue 50 - 16 February 2009

Imam turns to Christ – Amazing report from North Africa
Arab Teenagers – New TV programs just for them
Testimonies of Arab Women – 26 new TV episodes
Special book offer! – Doing Mission in the Arab World

Jesus said, “There is great rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents.” Well, there has been plenty of that recently if the reports coming in from our North Africa response team are anything to go by. Our hearts are thrilled that many Muslim men and women have recently decided to put their faith in Jesus Christ after watching our TV programs, but we must confess to some extra earthly rejoicing over one particular viewer – an old Imam!

The follow-up team talked with an older man and his wife. They were both very excited and even argued over who could hold the phone! They said they watch all the Christian satellite programs and believe everything they have heard. At first they didn’t want to meet with anyone because the man said he was in a ‘sensitive’ position. The team member thought that the old man might be a police officer or have another government job. Eventually the man confessed to being an Imam, an Islamic religious leader. In fact, he had just returned home from leading the prayer at the mosque. Finally, the couple asked for a visit.

The Imam explained that all of his life he had taught in the mosque, but the truth of the gospel touched his heart, especially when he saw how different the Bible’s teachings were on how a husband should treat his wife. He and his wife accepted Christ, and three of their children are also now Christians. With tears in his eyes he testified to his faith in Christ and said that he had no fear of dying. He talked of how good God is to allow such an old man to see the light of Christ.

When he was given a Bible, the old man became very emotional because he had never held one in his hands. He had only heard parts of God’s Word on TV.

The light of Christ is shining in many Arab homes. Here, at Arab Vision, we are humbled and honored to see God at work through our TV programs, and we virtually join the rejoicing in heaven. Would you like to read more testimonies? Click here.

The task is not over though. Many more Arabs still need to hear the Gospel, so our production teams have their schedules full. Let me highlight two programs currently being worked on.

Arab teens are growing up in a confusing and often tumultuous world. Their families and societies are frequently conservative, so they hardly find any room for open discussions on issues that are important to them. Lacking freedom of expression and without motivation to be creative, many Christian teens wonder about their future and search for direction in a world dominated by Islam.

Each 28-minute episode of our new TV series, Super Teens, provides informative, innovative, funny and challenging advice that encourages Arab teens to live out their faith in the Arab World. The programs feature reports by and about Arab teens, testimonies of contemporary Christian singers and artists, advice for difficult situations, information about health and hygiene, and a ‘Letters to God’ section. And as is the norm with this interactive generation, the teen viewers are encouraged to share their own ideas and feelings on a range of important topics.

The second program features the Testimonies of Arab Women from different parts of the region, including Lebanon, Iraq, Sudan, Jordan, Algeria, Morocco and Egypt. These Christian women ‘feel the heat’ because of their minority status – Islam is evident virtually everywhere they go. The program seeks to inspire and motivate Arab Christian women to continue living by faith, demonstrate Christian values in their homes, and stand as examples of the love of Christ in their communities. Each program, produced in a new modern magazine format, focuses on a personal testimony, with dramatic elements added to recreate the real-life experiences in them.

If you would like to know more about these two programs, and indeed the many others we are producing, don’t hesitate to write to us. Maybe you can consider praying for and supporting a particular episode. Please join us!

Finally, if you have a heart for mission and are particularly interested in the Arab World, we would recommend to you a new book called Doing Mission in the Arab World. The book is a collection of articles by ten missionaries whose experience, thinking and track records have developed during their years of service in the Arab World. It is available for US $12,95 (excluding shipping and handling).

You can read more about this book by clicking here. To order your copy contact us via this website.

Thank you for reading this newsletter and supporting the work of Arab Vision.

In Christ,

Abu Banaat
International Director