Lebanon (MNN) — Following Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah in southern Lebanon earlier this week, Israeli troops are preparing for a potential ground offensive. Hezbollah fired 40 projectiles into Israeli territory yesterday and even fired a ballistic missile for the first time in history at Tel Aviv, which Israel intercepted.
The violence has already displaced more than 90,000 Lebanese from the south, and over 600 people have been killed in the airstrikes.
SAT-7, a Christian satellite television ministry, has a studio in Beirut. Joe Willey with SAT-7 USA says, “There are people leaving southern Lebanon headed north, which is again where our studios are.”
Refugee child in Lebanon. (Photo courtesy of Ahmad Bader/Unsplash)
For many, the surge in violence is a haunting reminder of past conflicts. “The Executive Director of SAT-7 Lebanon as well as the CEO of SAT-7 both grew up in the Lebanese civil war,” Willey says. “Now that they’re in their older years, now they’re seeing young children who are going through a similar situation.
“I think [this] is heartbreaking, because the desire is instead of young children growing up and understanding warfare, we at SAT-7 want these young people – who are the next generation of leaders – to know the Gospel.”
Despite the growing unrest, SAT-7’s staff remains committed to their mission, broadcasting hope and encouragement through Jesus. Willey describes how, a few weeks ago, SAT-7 staff working at the Beirut studio heard rockets strike in the distance and could see smoke from the impact.
“I’m struck by the professionalism of our colleagues in Lebanon because…they kept working. Just that, in a sense, encouraged me [and] also I just stood back really surprised. But also understanding, first and foremost, their passion to say, ‘No, what we’re doing is important.'”
One-third of Lebanese people are Christians (mostly Catholic). The rest are majority Muslim.
Willey says, “When tragedy strikes, people ask this question, ‘Where is God? Why did God let this happen? ‘And even there’s the expression that there are no atheists in a foxhole. When there is tragedy, people will question God now. Perhaps they will raise their fist. Perhaps they will ignore Him. Perhaps they will actually call on Him for their hope.
“The work of SAT-7 is broadcasting answers to questions that people have in the light of these tragedies and in the light of warfare.”
(Image courtesy of SAT-7)
Please pray with these fellow believers for protection and peace.
“We have so many brothers and sisters in Christ in not only Lebanon, but the Middle East and North Africa, that I think sometimes they’re just forgotten because that’s not the predominant religion. But they are there and they suffer and they keep praying. It’s important that we pray with them.”
Ask God to use SAT-7’s programming to open the eyes of Muslims and those seeking truth across Lebanon to Christ’s hope.
You can find ways to support SAT-7 here.
Header photo of Beirut, Lebanon (Photo courtesy of Sara Calado/Unsplash)
