Growth Through Trial in Romania
Six years ago, Daniel Grigoricuic faced a life-threatening battle with COVID-19. After being intubated, facing a coma for three days, and spending weeks in intensive care, there was no certainty of recovery.
Today, by God’s grace, Daniel is not only recovered, he is also celebrating remarkable growth in Gospel broadcasting across Romania.
As Director of Radio Voice of the Gospel, Daniel recently shared that new broadcasts have launched in Rădăuți, Câmpulung Moldoveneac, and Bârlad. And against all odds, the network has received approval for five additional stations in cities including Piatra Neamț, Bacău, Făgăraș, Luduș, and Sovata—bringing the total to 21 stations across the country.
This expansion represents more than numbers. It reflects years of perseverance through spiritual, logistical, financial, and operational challenges and a deep commitment to sharing the hope of Christ through media.
MEDIA Alliance has been privileged with building a relationship with Daniel over the past two years through our European Forum, international training in Romania, and time together at this past National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Nashville. We have also had a longstanding relationship with Cristina Olariu who leads their team in Timișoara. It has been a joy to see how God continues to work through their faithful service.
In a region where media plays a vital role in reaching people with truth and encouragement, this growing network stands as a powerful testimony of God’s faithfulness.
While challenges to the work in Romania continues on many fronts, we celebrate this incredible opportunity for the Gospel across the country of Romania and pray for their success as they take on this expansion.
We Couldn't Show Their Faces... Until Now
Two years ago, MEDIA Alliance International hosted a two-day media training in the Middle East for Iranian believers—some of whom had quietly traveled out of Iran to attend. Because of the risks they faced, even simple moments like taking photos together required caution. Faces could not be shown. Even notes from the conference were dangerous for their travel.
The cost of following Christ in Iran is real and ongoing. Recently, we learned that one woman from that training, who has since returned to Iran, was beaten for her faith, suffering a fractured jaw. Her story is a sobering reminder of the daily risks faced by believers across the country.
And yet, the Gospel continues to move forward.
Just last week, MEDIA Alliance had the opportunity to reconnect with two of those same leaders—now in the United States on visas and serving with Iran Alive Ministries. This partner ministry uses satellite television and digital platforms to bring the message of Jesus directly into homes across Iran, where public expressions of faith are often dangerous or impossible.
During the visit, one of the leaders shared a heartfelt message of gratitude, reflecting on the impact of that training:
“When we can’t share the gospel in the streets, media is the most powerful tool we can use for the Kingdom of God. There are things that we learned in that training that have completely changed the way we’re doing ministry. Those ideas are now being used by everyone across our organization. This conference really helped us a lot, and we saw very good results.”
His words capture what MEDIA Alliance has long believed: when traditional avenues are closed, media becomes a vital pathway for the Gospel. Through training, encouragement, and partnership, leaders are being equipped to reach their own people—even in the most restrictive environments.
This story is also a reminder that the work does not happen in isolation. MEDIA Alliance’s partnership with ministries like Iran Alive reflects a shared commitment to strengthen leaders, expand the reach of Christian media, and stand alongside those serving in some of the hardest places in the world.
Even in the face of persecution, fear, and uncertainty, the light of Christ continues to shine in Iran.
Please continue to pray for believers across the country—for protection, for courage, and for freedom. And pray that through every available means, including media, the hope of Jesus would reach hearts in even the darkest places.
Here’s Ali to share his thanks to MEDIA Alliance donors for providing training in the Middle East.
Serving Ukraine in a Time of Crisis
As the war in Ukraine continues, the humanitarian situation has become increasingly severe—especially during the harsh winter months. Our ministry partners at Great Commission Media Ministries have remained on the ground, providing both practical aid and spiritual encouragement to families facing extraordinary hardship.
Founded by Hannu Haukka, Great Commission Media Ministries has been a valued partner of MEDIA Alliance International for many years. Hannu has participated in MEDIA Alliance regional forums and the International Media Leadership Summit, helping strengthen collaboration among Christian media leaders serving in challenging contexts.
Earlier this year, MEDIA Alliance staff also had the opportunity to connect with Hannu and members of the GCMM leadership team while attending the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Nashville, continuing the conversation about ministry opportunities and needs across Eastern Europe.
A Growing Winter Crisis
In recent weeks, repeated missile and drone strikes have targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, creating one of the most serious heating and electricity crises the country has faced since the war began. According to Ukraine’s Energy Research Center, Kyiv is now facing a combination of factors rarely seen together anywhere in the world: widespread infrastructure damage, a centralized heating system vulnerable to disruption, and prolonged sub-zero temperatures.
The situation is not limited to the capital. Regions including Dnipropetrovsk, Chernihiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv have experienced severe damage to electrical distribution systems, leaving many communities without reliable power, heat, or running water.
For families living in these areas, daily life has become an emergency.
Practical Help in Difficult Conditions
Despite the dangers and logistical challenges, the team at Great Commission Media Ministries continues to deliver critical relief to those most affected. Their efforts include providing heating stoves for families struggling to stay warm, food supplies for communities facing shortages, and fire extinguishers and other essential equipment.
GCMM has also delivered ambulances and medical support equipment to Ukrainian border guard units serving in eastern regions of the country.
These acts of service reflect the ministry’s ongoing commitment to stand with the Ukrainian people during a time of immense uncertainty.
Through the work of partners like Great Commission Media Ministries, practical help continues to reach those who need it most. Even in the midst of war, acts of compassion—delivering food, heat, medical aid, and encouragement—are bringing light to difficult circumstances.
MEDIA Alliance is grateful for the opportunity to stand alongside ministry leaders like Hannu Haukka and the GCMM team as they faithfully serve communities across Ukraine.
Their work is a powerful reminder that even in times of crisis, the love of Christ can be demonstrated in tangible ways.
MEDIA Alliance COO named to NRB Committee
During the 2026 National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Nashville, Kyle Gilbert, Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Communications at MEDIA Alliance International, was voted onto the NRB International Standing Committee.
The International Standing Committee is a small group of approximately a dozen leaders tasked with helping shape NRB’s engagement with global Christian media. Committee members provide guidance and planning support for NRB events and initiatives that focus specifically on international ministry, collaboration, and the effective use of media to advance the Gospel worldwide.
This committee also serves as part of the broader NRB Advisory Council, which helps advise NRB leadership on strategic direction, emerging challenges, and opportunities within Christian broadcasting and digital media.
Kyle’s appointment reflects MEDIA Alliance’s longstanding commitment to serving and strengthening Christian media leaders around the world. For many years, MEDIA Alliance has worked alongside international partners to equip leaders, encourage collaboration, and foster wise and faithful use of media in diverse cultural contexts. Kyle’s role on the International Standing Committee provides an additional avenue to represent the voices, needs, and experiences of global ministry leaders within the broader Christian media community.
“I’m grateful for this opportunity to serve,” Gilbert said. “NRB has long played an important role in bringing Christian media leaders together, and it’s an honor to contribute to efforts that help strengthen international ministry and collaboration.”
MEDIA Alliance looks forward to continuing its partnership with NRB and its global network of leaders, working together to see the Gospel shared clearly, creatively, and faithfully around the world.
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.