Iran (MNN) ― Iran remains defiant over its nuclear program in the face of United Nations sanctions.
Besides a wider arms embargo and new economic penalties, diplomats are considering new, tougher measures that could include a mandatory travel ban against individuals on the U.N. list and an expansion of the list to make more individuals and companies subject to sanctions.
Meanwhile, seven Muslim nations are trying to resolve tensions in the Middle East, including Iran and Iraq. SAT-7's David Harder. "There's already been several wars in recent years and people are very concerned about the possibility of another one, and people are concerned in Iran about economic sanctions. The economy is very poor. There's a great deal of depression and hopelessness." While not political, SAT-7 PARS "...addresses how to deal with difficulty; how to deal with challenges, hurts. We have many programs that touch in on those and look at what the Bible has to say."
SAT-7 Pars is a semi-autonomous unit of SAT-7, providing quality Christian TV programming for Persian satellite viewers in Iran, Afghanistan and adjacent countries. The new channel, SAT-7 Pars offer Farsi Christian programming daily and another four hours a day in Turkish.
"I'm so excited because we are working closely with local Iranian churches and", says the channel's executive director, "members of those churches will be able to turn on SAT-7 Pars at anytime of the day and watch programs for youth, children, women and every member of the family."
Acknowledging the challenge an average Iranian believer has living and practicing their faith in this hard-line Islamic country, Harder says they are trying to help. Many of these believers have very little teaching. "Be praying that they would be encouraged and built up in their faith and that they would know more about the Bible and how to show others why they have hope in Christ."
One SAT-7 Pars Board member reported that, "Churches in Iran and neighboring countries are experiencing tremendous growth", adding, "In spite of an official ban on dish ownership, the government estimates that millions of households own and regularly use satellite television equipment. SAT-7 Pars will continue what it started in the name of ICB, to provide a contextual witness to Christ for viewers of all ages and backgrounds, as well as authoritative teaching on the application of Christian doctrine."
