NICOSIA, CYPRUS (ANS) -- For more than a week, as bombs have fallen in Gaza and Israel tragically taking innocent lives, Christian Television service SAT-7 has encouraged its viewers to pray for peace.

SAT-7 logo

According to a news release obtained by ANS, shortly after the fighting intensified, SAT-7 began running a text crawl at the bottom of its screen asking viewers to intercede on behalf of those who were suffering.

SAT-7 said the organization has also recorded prayers from Christian leaders and is broadcasting them continuously.

“What’s happening right now is particularly tragic for children in Gaza. In one of the prayers, Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb of Bethlehem mentions seeking God as a refuge. More than 50 percent of the people living in Gaza are children or youth under the age of 17, but there is simply no place available for them as a refuge, other than in the Lord,” said Terence Ascott, SAT-7 CEO, speaking in the news release.

He added, “We feel that it’s important for our viewing audience to see that Christians are serious in believing that prayer can change situations, even ones as tragic and serious as that transpiring in Gaza and Israel today.”

SAT-7 officials said the prayers, with recorded audio and an accompanying photo of the pastor, are from leaders of the Evangelical Church in Egypt and the Lutheran Church in Bethlehem.

The news release listed three prayers.

The first, from Rev. Dr. Mitri El Raheb of the Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, reads, “We pray to God for the women, children, and the elderly people in Gaza who are suffering from a lack of water, electricity and are under attack. We pray to God for real peace in this land and for freedom for the Palestinian people. We also pray for the politicians to have wisdom to seek peace not war. Christians in the West Bank pray day and night for the protection of the people of Gaza, Christians and Muslims, during these difficult moments. We ask our brothers across the world to join us in prayer. Jesus Christ by his death and resurrection changed this land from being a land of war to a land of good news. We pray that He will do the same today in Palestine and particularly in Gaza. God, you are our refuge and to you all the glory and power.”

The second prayer, from Rev. Dr. Safwat El Bayadi, head of the Evangelical Church in Egypt reads, “As we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ (celebrated in Egypt on Jan. 7), instead of hearing hymns of peace we hear the sound of fighting in the Promised Land- the land of peace. We appeal to the conscience of both sides and to the global community and to all Peacemakers around the world to stop this bloodshed and save the lives of innocent children. May peace prevail in the land where Jesus was born and may they accept the words of the Savior of the world, who commanded us to make peace. He said, ‘blessed are the Peacemakers for they shall be called the Sons of God.’ We pray this land will experience joy instead of tears.”

The third prayer, from Rev. Dr. Sameh Maurice of Kas El Dobara Church in Egypt (the largest evangelical church in the Middle East) reads, “Dear God, as we celebrate Christmas, our brothers in Gaza are suffering. God hear our prayers today. You are the God of peace – You are the Lord of peace – You are the Peacemaker. God have mercy on us. We ask this of you not only as a church, but as a community of worldwide believers. Hear our prayers, for you are merciful and compassionate.”

According to the news release from SAT-7, about 1,500 Arab Christians of several denominations live among the approximate 1.5 million people who inhabit the Gaza strip, though in recent times many have fled because of the increasing instability and violence.

Launched in 1996, SAT-7 is a Christian television service created by and for the people of the Middle East and North Africa with U.S. headquarters in Easton, Md. SAT-7 makes Christ's message of hope available to every home in the Middle East.

For more information about SAT-7 go to www.sat7usa.org (English), www.sat7.com (Arabic) and www.sat7PARS.com (Farsi).

Jeremy Reynalds is a freelance writer and the founder and CEO of Joy Junction, New Mexico's largest emergency homeless shelter, http://www.joyjunction.org He has a master's degree in communication from the University of New Mexico, and a Ph.D. in intercultural education from Biola University in Los Angeles. His newest book is "The Face of Homelessness." Additional details are available at http://www.HomelessBook.com. Reynalds' latest book is "We All Need a Little Help." It was released on October 3 2008. He lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For more information contact: Jeremy Reynalds at jeremyreynalds@comcast.net. Tel: (505) 400-7145.