1 The unbelieving West has used television as its main vehicle to export values of hedonism, greed and immorality to the rest of the world. This led to grave misconceptions of Christian values in the non-Christian, non-Western world who often equate ‘the West’ with ‘Christian’. Pray that believers may work through the medium of television to bring salt and light to the world so that non-Christians everywhere can hear the good news and the ‘strong man’s’ goods be plundered.
2 Freedom of the airwaves. The entertainment industry in general derides any honest sharing of the gospel as proselytizing, recruiting or manipulating people. The widespread pluralism and lack of ethical absolutes cause Evangelicals to be denied reasonable access and their message to be diluted or denied air-time. Pray for more Christians to actively minister redemption into the secular television industry.
3 National initiatives. Christian radio is increasingly broadcasting indigenously written and produced programmes which more capably speak to the hearts of listeners — pray for television to follow suit. This will require national believers with calling and gifting, and the provision of training and equipment.
4 Pray for these specific ministries:
a) The Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) airs evangelistic television programmes in 155 nations. Over 135 million watched CBN programmes in 2000. CBN has production teams in 10 countries, producing original material in over 10 languages. Two of the most successful shows worldwide have been the long-running The 700 Club and the children’s animated series Superbook.
b) SAT-7 is a satellite television channel that arose as the fruit of a grassroots Christian media movement in the Middle East, broadcasting daily since 2000. Its threefold goal is to sustain and encourage Christian communities in the Middle East, to provide its whole audience with a culturally appropriate presentation of Christianity in their own language, and to provide a balanced Christian worldview which complements public education and information channels available in the Arab world. The presentation of Christianity as a Middle Eastern religion is a vital part of SAT-7’s strategic ministry.
c) The Bible Channel (TBC) aims to plant house churches and equip church leaders to be effective throughout the Arab world and in the 10/40 Window. TBC focuses on Bible teaching programmes broadcast by satellite for discipling the whole Arab Church in the Middle East and North Africa, both the ancient confessions and the newer groups.
