International (MNN) — One of the world’s fastest growing religions is always on the move, but Christians are finding new ways to reach Muslim refugees.
A study by Pew Research predicts that by the end of this century, Islam will be the most common religion on the planet. The same website says more than a quarter of the world’s population is Muslim.
Rex Rogers of SAT-7, a Christian satellite television ministry to the Middle East and North Africa, said this is “more about demographics than it is about religious conversion. They simply have more children!” Still, with so many Muslim families fleeing terror in the Middle East, some believers find it challenging to reach even such a large part of the world’s population.
(Photo courtesy of SAT-7)
That’s where SAT-7 comes in. Although the station was founded in the Middle East, produces in the Middle East, and “80 percent of what we put on the air is produced by Middle Easterners for Middle Easterners,” Rogers said their programs can reach nearly 50 European countries.
That means many refugees in those countries can use any television “and get SAT-7 in their home and heart language.”
Rogers said that’s the beauty of satellite television; it can’t ever be effectively silenced, stopped, censored, or jammed. “The only way you could do that is to physically destroy the TV or the satellite dish. And if you do that? They’ll just go out and get another one.”
Still, SAT-7 programs are careful to treat Muslim tradition with respect. “If a Muslim person has been taught to revere Mohammed since they were two and you get on the air and attack that person, their internal visceral reaction, even if they’re not really a faithful Muslim, is to turn it off.”
(Photo courtesy of SAT-7)
Instead, discussion panels and other programs allow Muslims to express their own opinions and have civil discussions with Christians about topics ranging from adoption to disease. Sports programs, movies, dramas, and even cartoons all allow believers to show Muslim viewers the truth and love of Christ across the Middle East.
To effectively enter into conversation with any Muslim, Rogers said it’s crucial to study Islamic beliefs and learn where Muslim and Christian beliefs overlap. “Muslim people believe in Jesus, they believe in one God, they believe in a holy Scripture,” explained Rogers. “Now, they don’t believe in the God of the Bible, the Lord Jesus Christ,” but the opportunity is there to discuss truth.
SAT-7 effectively and efficiently shares the Gospel with any Middle Easterner who wishes to hear. Rogers also encourages believers to go into their local communities, since the Muslim community might be closer than some Christians think. “God in His sovereignty is bringing them to us, as opposed to us going to them.”
This is really encouraging for Christian believers especially those who live in Europe, West and East. If they are not called to go and join in missions outside their “comfort zone”, it is a great opportunity to evangelize in their neighbourhoods, using the resources that SAT 7 is using via satelites. I suggest for them to use tracts and engage those Muslim refugees where they are settled. I visted the facilities in Lebanon some 15 years ago when they were airing their programs mostly to the Arab world. And we should thank our Lord for the variety of the programms they are airing amongst densly populated centers in Europe.