Hope for Learning in Afghanistan
As access to formal education remains restricted across Afghanistan, millions of children—especially girls—are unable to attend school. In response to this growing crisis, our longtime ministry partners at SAT-7 PARS are helping families bring learning back into their homes through the television program Sun of Hope.
SAT-7 has partnered with MEDIA Alliance International for many years, and members of their leadership team have participated in our International Media Leadership Summit and regional Forum events. Together, we share a commitment to equipping Christian media leaders who serve in some of the world’s most challenging contexts.
Through Sun of Hope, families are turning living rooms and village spaces into classrooms. One viewer shared that in his village, eight children and two adults gather during each broadcast to learn reading and writing in Dari, one of Afghanistan’s primary languages. Others report that adults—especially women who never had the opportunity to attend school—are learning alongside their children.
With additional seasons planned, the program continues to expand its reach via satellite, YouTube, and the SAT-7 PLUS app. While it cannot replace formal schooling, Sun of Hope is filling a critical gap—bringing literacy, structure, and hope to communities where schools remain closed.
MEDIA Alliance is grateful to stand alongside SAT-7 as they continue using media creatively to meet urgent needs, share hope to isolated believers, and bring the message of Christ to unreached locations.
Hope for Iran Amid Growing Unrest
As protests and economic hardships have intensified across Iran in recent weeks, our longtime ministry partners at SAT-7 PARS responded with an unwavering commitment to serve viewers living under immense pressure.
SAT-7 has partnered with MEDIA Alliance International for many years, and members of their leadership team have participated in our Middle East Forums and International Media Leadership Summit events. Most recently, our president and COO had the opportunity to join the SAT-7 team in Istanbul this past November, further strengthening our shared commitment to leverage the power of media for the Gospel and encourage isolated believers.
As demonstrations spread across Iran and daily life became increasingly difficult, SAT-7 PARS shifted into live, responsive programming designed to offer hope, prayer, and spiritual refuge for Iranians searching for encouragement in uncertain days.
SAT-7 PARS has been receiving firsthand messages from believers living inside Iran. One Christian woman wrote:
“Please pray for freedom for Iran and for us Christians in the country. The conditions are very hard. I have not been able to get my medicines for weeks, food is scarce, and our children are losing hope. Please keep Iran in your prayers.”
Over the course of several days, protests spread to multiple cities. resulting in dozens of reported deaths.
Join us in praying with our Iranian brothers and sisters that Iran will be free.
Theovision Shares Clean Water
In the small farming community of Kookaa, nestled in the Wenchi District of Ghana’s Bono Region, life has never been easy. The village—home to several tribes including the Dagaare, Mossi, Lobi, and Wangla—has long struggled with the absence of basic amenities. With rough, nearly impassable roads, no school, no health facilities, and no electricity beyond two small solar-powered poles, Kookaa’s families face daily challenges that most can hardly imagine.
Until recently, even access to clean drinking water was beyond reach. The community’s only water source was a nearby stream—shared with livestock—causing widespread illness, particularly among women and children.
Thanks to the ministry of Theovision International, that reality has begun to change. Theovision has drilled a borehole in Kookaa, providing clean, safe water for the entire community.
But Theovision’s ministry goes far beyond physical needs. As part of their ongoing outreach, the team also established Bible Listening Groups—small gatherings where villagers can hear God’s Word in their own heart language. These groups are at the heart of Theovision’s mission: bringing the message of Jesus to people who might never otherwise have access to Scripture.
For years, Theovision has been a ministry partner with MEDIA Alliance International. Theovision’s leaders have participated in MEDIA Alliance Summit events, helping to inspire and equip their team to use media and technology for the sake of the Gospel.
This partnership reflects a shared vision: that true transformation happens when the Good News of Jesus is both proclaimed and demonstrated—meeting spiritual and physical needs alike.
At the borehole’s dedication, village chief Mr. Kwesi Nyan expressed his deep gratitude:
“Kookaa has come a long way, and we are indeed grateful for your show of love and generosity,” he said.
Through this act of love, Theovision has once again shown what it means to bring the hope of the Gospel to life—clean water for the body, and living water for the soul.
Bringing Hope to Widows in Ghana
For Cecelia Twumasi, a 64-year-old widow from Daa, Ghana, life changed forever when her husband—a district pastor of the Deeper Life Church—passed away seven years ago. Married for 45 years, their love had been the talk of the town. After his passing, Cecelia not only endured grief but also hurtful rumors and isolation. “What people said about me forced me to go on my knees,” she recalled. “Night and day, I pleaded with God to vindicate me. And praise God, He answered my prayer.”
In March 2025, Theovision International’s Northern Office launched the Widows’ Audio Bible Campaign to provide spiritual and moral support to widows like Cecelia. Fifty-five widows in the Ashanti Region received free audio Bibles to help them find daily encouragement, faith, healing, and hope through God’s Word in their own language.
For Cecelia, the impact has been transformative. “I listen to the Word of God all the time. Sometimes I even fall asleep while listening,” she said. “I am experiencing the love of God more than ever before, and my spiritual life is on the rise.”
These audio Bibles are not only strengthening individual faith but also spreading the Gospel throughout the community. During monthly gatherings, widows share Scripture together, and even neighbors have begun asking for audio Bibles of their own. Cecelia now prays that Theovision will be able to place many more devices in households across nearby villages.
Theovision International, a longtime ministry partner of MEDIA Alliance International, has been pioneering audio Scripture distribution across Africa for decades. MEDIA Alliance is grateful to see how ministry training and partnerships are helping leaders like Theovision expand their reach and bring the hope of Christ to those who need it most.
Media 7 Breaks Ground on New Studio
This summer marks a historic milestone for Media 7, a longtime ministry partner of MEDIA Alliance International, as construction has officially begun on the ministry’s new TV 7 studios in Tiranë, Albania.
The vision for Media 7’s television ministry began years ago with little more than faith. Without a studio, budget, or building, founder Leda Shelburne and her team transformed a small training room inside the Radio 7 building into their first TV studio. Over time, office spaces, hallways, and makeshift sets became the birthplace of original programming that brought the hope of Christ to viewers across Albania and beyond.
Since then, the team has grown to produce six original shows every week, often dismantling and rebuilding sets between shoots. Even during seasons when remote production limited quality, Media 7 pressed forward praying, “Lord, provide us a place to serve You better.”
Now, after nearly eight years of waiting and praying, God has provided.
Construction on Media 7’s new studios began in June 2025. By September, the ministry expects to complete the underground floor, which will house set storage, donated materials, and humanitarian aid resources for the local community.
The next phase will include the main TV studio, a prayer room, and a welcoming space for guests and ministry partners. This new facility will allow Media 7 to expand its media ministry, create more impactful content, and serve as a hub for prayer and outreach in the Balkans.
“Together, we’re not just building a studio—we’re building a platform for the Gospel,” the ministry shared. “A lighthouse in the darkness. A place where stories will be told, lives will be changed, and God will be glorified.”
MEDIA Alliance International has walked alongside Media 7 for many years. Leda Shelburne and several of the Media 7 team have participated in Leadership Forums and the International Media Leadership Summit, and they will again join with over one hundred ministry leaders this September for the Balkans Media Training in Albania.
From Imam to Follower of Jesus
The story was unfolding right before us. A former imam named Ahmed* had given his life to Christ and was now an active member of a Christian church. The country’s secret police had asked this Muslim background believer to come in for questioning where he was interrogated for three hours. After the ordeal was over, we met him after the evening church service. He was smiling because he boldly faced the intimidation without backing away from his new faith.
This is not an unusual story of life in the Middle East. Intimidation, imprisonment, torture, and even death are the tools that are used to try to dissuade Christians from living out their new faith in Jesus. The boldness of these Christians is amazing. They often stand up to authorities. Like the Christians in the New Testament, they realize, that nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:39)
God is actively working in lives around the world, including the Middle East and North Africa. MEDIA Alliance International has been given opportunities to strengthen and encourage these ministry leaders who are leaders of good work in their communities.
Your generosity and support of MEDIA Alliance International allows this important work to continue.
*name changed for his protection.
Faith Under Pressure in Iran
In the shadow of political unrest and economic collapse, Iranian Christians are holding fast to a hope that cannot be shaken.
Our partners at Iran Alive Ministries, whose teammates participated in our MEDIA Alliance 2024 training, recently shared heartbreaking yet inspiring updates from believers inside Iran—men and women who worship Christ in secret, live under constant threat, and suffer the crushing weight of poverty and isolation.
One woman, Elham*, shared, “In Iran, we believers don’t even exist in the eyes of the law.” Owning a Bible, praying with others, or even whispering the name of Jesus in public can result in arrest—or worse. Still, she says, “In this secrecy, in this darkness, we hear God’s voice.”
Others echoed that same faith under pressure. Azad*, a mother living below the poverty line, described crying out to God in fear and hunger, only to see Him answer with small signs of His presence—“a prayer, a verse, a friend, even a piece of bread.”
In these deeply challenging times—amid ongoing bombings, economic hardship, and surveillance from authorities—Christians across Iran continue to worship in silence, raise their children in faith, and believe that God is near, even when the world has forgotten them.
MEDIA Alliance is honored to stand alongside Iran Alive in equipping believers like Elham and Azad—amplifying their voices and strengthening the message of Jesus through media.
We invite you to join us in praying for and supporting the Iranian Church. Together, we can help shine the light of Christ in one of the world’s darkest places.
*Names and photo changed for security purposes.
A Radio Broadcast Changed Flora’s Life
In a small town in northern Albania, 18-year-old Flora longed for more than what her culture and circumstances allowed. Living in a place where girls couldn’t walk the streets unaccompanied and opportunities were few, she turned to the only escape she could find—radio.
One night, she stumbled across Radio 7 Nord, a Christian station produced by MEDIA Alliance partner Media 7. Something about the message gripped her—words of peace, truth, and hope that felt personal. As she continued to listen, Flora gave her life to Christ.
But her new faith was met with ridicule and rejection from her family and community. With no church and no other believers nearby, she began to lose hope. Eventually, she was sent into an arranged marriage that took her to Australia, only to be abandoned by her abusive husband and rejected again—this time by her own mother.
Alone in Brisbane, broken and unable to speak the language, Flora remembered the radio voice that once brought her comfort. She sent a simple message back to Radio 7: “Hello, can I talk to you?”
On the other end of that message was Jonida, Programming Director at Media 7 and a longtime MEDIA Alliance ministry partner. Jonida had participated in multiple International Media Leadership Summits and is preparing to teach radio production at our upcoming Balkans Media Training this September in Albania.
Jonida didn’t hesitate. She listened. She prayed. And she acted. Within days, she had mobilized contacts through MEDIA Alliance’s extended network, and a local pastor in Australia was ready to receive Flora, connect her to a church, and help her take her next steps in faith.
One message. One response. A changed life.
This is the power of Gospel-centered media. From a small town in Albania to the streets of Australia, God used the voice of one radio broadcast—and a faithful team behind it—to rescue and restore a young woman’s life.
Photos with Jonida, the Network Program Director for Media 7
Sharing Christ to Reach Egypt
In one of the most spiritually complex regions of the world, our ministry partner Great Commission Media Ministries (GCMM) is boldly proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ to millions across Egypt.
Launched in early June in Cairo, GCMM’s latest Mega City Media Campaign is designed to reach the country of Egypt with a strong focus on the younger generation. In a nation where public preaching of the Gospel remains illegal, the campaign harnesses the power of social media and short-form video to share the hope of Christ.
For decades, GCMM has stood at the front lines of Gospel communication in closed and unreached nations. Their Executive Director, Hannu Haukka, a longtime friend of our MEDIA Alliance, has been a frequent participant in our International Media Leadership Summits and regional Leadership Forums. We count it a privilege to partner together in this shared calling—to equip and support those using media to reach unreached peoples with the message of Jesus.
A Strategic Moment in Egypt
Though Egypt is rich in Christian history, its majority-Muslim population makes open Gospel outreach extremely difficult. And yet, despite the challenges, something is stirring.
“Young people are searching,” said Hani Henein, Director of Arab Affairs at GCMM. “The need is great—and the opportunity is now.”
With over 50% of Egypt’s population under the age of 30, GCMM’s digital-first approach is already producing fruit. Testimonies are being shared, campaign videos are generating response, and local churches are being mobilized behind the scenes to engage with new seekers.
Thousands of Egyptians are connecting with the Gospel each month through YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and even TikTok. GCMM is also preparing a printed campaign book filled with powerful stories of life transformation to be hand-delivered into homes across Egypt.
Celebrating the Partnership
As GCMM steps into this critical season of outreach, MEDIA Alliance stands alongside them in full support. Their vision, strategy, and courage reflect the very heart of what we strive for: empowering media leaders to bring the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
We thank God for our long-standing partnership with Great Commission Media Ministries and pray that this effort in Egypt will continue to bear fruit that lasts for generations.
God is still speaking—and we’re honored to walk beside partners like Hannu Haukka and GCMM as they help make Him known.
Dr. Ron Harris Brings Keynote at ACM Conference in South Africa
DALLAS, Texas – June 19, 2025 – MEDIA Alliance International is pleased to announce that Dr. Ron Harris, founder and president of MEDIA Alliance International, will be a keynote speaker at the upcoming Association for Christian Media (ACM) Conference this July in Gauteng, South Africa.
Dr. Harris will lead a plenary session on the need for media in today's volatile world. He will also lead a practical workshop titled “Spiritual Leadership: Moving People on to God’s Agenda,” equipping Christian media professionals with leadership principles rooted in faith and spiritual integrity.
With decades of experience in Christian broadcasting and leadership development, Dr. Harris has trained and mentored media leaders across the globe. He is known for his passion for strengthening the spiritual foundation of Christian communicators and expanding the impact of the Gospel through media.
As president of MEDIA Alliance International, Dr. Harris currently focuses on training and mentoring Christian media leaders in strategic regions around the world. His work includes developing spiritual leadership, encouraging excellence in content and communication, and fostering partnerships between Christian broadcasters globally. Through conferences, consulting, and one-on-one mentoring, Dr. Harris helps guide leaders to use their platforms to share the hope of Christ with greater clarity and impact.
Prior to launching MEDIA Alliance, Dr. Harris served for fifteen years at KCBI Radio in Dallas, Texas, leading as Executive Vice President, General Manager, and host of the Morning Program. In recognition of his faithful integration of Christian service and media leadership, he was awarded the honorary Doctor of Divinity degree by Dallas Baptist University in 2004.
A veteran of the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB), Dr. Harris has served as Chairman of the Board and in numerous other leadership roles over the past three decades. He now serves on the Board of Governors.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Ron Harris to this year’s ACM Conference,” said ACM organizers in a recent announcement. “His heart for equipping leaders and his global perspective on media ministry are invaluable to our community.”
For more information about MEDIA Alliance International or to schedule an interview with Dr. Ron Harris, please contact Kyle Gilbert at kyle@mediaalliance.net.