Five years ago an offshoot of BMS' partner organisation SAT-7 - which provides Christians of the Middle East and North Africa with a Christian voice via TV programmes - began broadcasting.
One caller had had a dream in which Jesus appeared, told the counsellor he had become a Christian, and that he needed to call a phone number and talk to a woman. The phone number was the PARS counselling number. The man called and talked to the phone counsellor (a man). As soon as the caller started sharing, the phone counsellor felt his wife should talk to him. The caller was from a part of Iran where most people are Azeri. The phone counsellor didn't speak Azeri, but his wife did! In the course of the conversation with the counsellor's wife, the man gave his life to the Lord.
Another man called and said that he had been speaking with a Christian friend, but had rejected all religion. But after watching a teaching programme on SAT-7 PARS he really understood what Christianity was all about. And the man said he was completely stunned. He didn't realise what Christians believed. He also prayed with a counsellor to give his life to the Lord.
SAT-7 PARS has also recently acquired the Farsi version of the Alpha course programme. They believe they are one of the few channels - if not the only channel - to be broadcasting Alpha in Farsi.
The channel broadcasts many types of programmes including talk shows, programmes that model how house churches can study the Bible, drama, documentaries, films, cartoons and children's programmes. Most of these programmes are made by Iranian Christians themselves. Some callers have said that SAT-7 PARS is their only source of Christian teaching, training and encouragement. Others have called or written to the channel's counsellors to learn how they can follow Christ.
Over the last year, church leaders in Iran have contacted the SAT-7 PARS team to say the channel is having a huge impact on the growth of local churches. They also say it is helping to disciple and train new believers.
BMS can only invest in touching and changing lives through Christian TV programmes because of people's financial support. If you would like to make a donation to BMS' work click here.