Television for COPTS

Friday, June 16, 2006

Reaching To The Sky For Arabic Speakers In The United States

How an Egyptian couple launched America’s first 24/7 Arabic Christian television channel -- out of their home

By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries

SANTA ANA, CA (ANS) - Jun 16/06 - When you first meet Samuel and Mona, an Egyptian couple now living in Southern California, you would have no idea that they have made history.

Alkarma TV logo

But they have. This self-effacing couple has dug deep into their own pockets to launch the first 24.7 Arabic Christian television channel in America called Alkarma TV, which means “The Vineyard” in Arabic. They run it out of their own home and aim it to the estimated 12 million Arabic speaking people in the US, Canada, and Mexico.

I talked with Samuel and Mona recently for my Front Page Radio show, and Samuel, who was born into a Christian family in Cairo, began by explaining, “I grew up in Egypt. I was a mathematics and computer teacher, and graduated from the same college as Mona. She was in the English department and graduated from that department.

Mona, Samuel and Michael Drzymkowski in KWVE studios after recording interview for Front Page Radio

“My Father was responsible for a church in Cairo when I was young and I grew up in the church. I was responsible for the Sunday School and then the youth meeting. After that, I was ministering in a counseling ministry until 1998.”

Mona then gave details of her early life. “I grew up in a Christian family and I went to church since I was young. I knew about Jesus and the Bible and everything, and then I got saved around the age of fourteen. I was serving God in different ministries and then I met Samuel at the college. We were married in 1995.”

Samuel said that he first came to the United States in 1998 and after a time in the country, returned to Egypt and brought his wife and their son, Mark, back in February of 1999.

9/11 Changed Everything

He said that he had settled down to a successful life in business in Southern California when his whole world was turned upside down by the 9/11 attack on the United States.

“After seeing the terrible events unfold on television, I felt God's call to do something so strongly that I couldn't resist. I kept telling my Egyptian friends about the need of using the media to reach the Arabic people of the United States. But they kept telling me, ‘What you want to do is too big of a dream and you do not have the money to launch a project like this.’

“However, I could not let go of the dream I had to have an Arabic channel here. I was aware that there were some 35 or more Arabic channels coming into the United States from the Middle East, but there were no Christian channels among them. Some nights, the feeling I had was so strong, that I could not sleep. I knew that I had to take action.”

I asked Mona what she thought about her husband’s constant dream of launching a Christian Arabic channel, and she said, “It was a shock for me in the beginning. I would ask him, ‘Are you really serious about this? Did God put this in your heart?’

“Samuel eventually convinced me that the Lord put this on his heart and so, after many days in prayer, I finally told him, ‘If it is God who is guiding you, then we are going to submit to whatever He wants.’”

An Equity Loan

The next step of faith was for Samuel to take out an equity loan on his home to help pay for the television equipment that would be needed for the channel. He said that he had been unsuccessful in raising funds for the equipment, so in 2004, he borrowed about $200,000 to buy the equipment.

“I was convinced that I had to give up everything I had to God to get this started,” said Samuel. “I then began studying television production and editing and we started producing programs which we initially made for the six Christian Arabic channels in the Middle East. We would make them here in Southern California and then send them over.”

It was then that he met Christian businessman, Michael Drzymkowski, who loaned vital equipment for the start of Alkarma TV. Globecast, the world's leading provider of satellite transmission and production services for professional broadcast, enterprise, and Internet content recommended him to me.

Samuel and Michael
at KWVE studios

Michael, who attends Calvary Chapel in Orange County, California, said, “I own a TV company, meaning that we manufacture and install master control equipment for TV stations all over the country. When I met Samuel, we had received an inquiry from him about our business and we supplied him a very small piece of equipment. I got to know him a little bit and two years later, I heard again from Samuel and so I decided to see what he was up to.

“When I arrived at his house, I was absolutely amazed! I saw that this guy was putting his whole life on the line to spread the Gospel in the Arabic language. I immediately realized that here was my chance to get involved and help this wonderful man spread the Word in the Arabic language.”

Michael is now the only American on the Board of Alkarma TV.

Samuel explained how people in the US can pick up his channel. “There are choices of various channels that Arabic speakers can subscribe to,” he said. “There are two kinds of dish that they can have in their homes. There is the Dish Network or the GlobeCast which is a one time buy and requires no monthly subscriptions. It has over twenty channels and Alkarma TV is the newest channel on the dish.”

When asked about what kind of programming they provide, Mona replied, “We have all different kinds of programs. There are those for women that deal with issues that the woman need to learn about, like raising Godly kids and family life. We have songs -- wonderful video clips, preaching programs, drama, and also live church programs. There are also Bible Study Programs and many others that are for kids.

“Talk shows are also popular when the host deals with practical issues and we have shows that deal with addiction, drugs, and depression. No matter what age you are or what your show preference is, you will find the right program on Alkarma TV.”

Samuel then spoke about how the phone often rings off the hook from listeners who call their contact numbers.

“They tell us that they had been flipping through the channels and had come across Alkarma TV. They want to know more about what we were saying. They ask, ‘Who is Jesus and what is this message of love? Some of them cry over the phone and keep asking us to help them. People are really hungry for the truth.

“We talk with them and send them Arabic New Testaments or Bibles and we also send them a DVD of the JESUS Film.”

Michael then entered the conversation. “If we don’t capture the Arabic youth of America with the Gospel, don't you think they will try to capture us with another problem?”

He went on to say, “An excellent thing about the programming on Alkarma Television is it is not the type of Christian channel where it’s just a pastor telling you about how badly he needs money. Alkarma TV does need money because they have to buy their airtime like anybody else but they don't beg. Meanwhile, they have dramas, children’s programming, and yes they do have teaching. So it’s very centered around the Gospel. What's so wonderful is that they have a number of different types of programming that attracts a variety of folks of all ages to their channel. So that’s very exciting.”

When I asked Samuel what his days looked like, he admitted that he often doesn’t get much sleep. “My days are long,” he said. “Sometimes its twenty hours; other times its twenty-two hours. It varies because we are very shorthanded. We don’t have too many people working and it is a 24/7 television station. Plus we produce programs every week. Like last week we produced thirteen episodes of a program that’s mainly about salvation.

“Today we are producing three episodes about drugs and addiction for youth. The day after tomorrow we are producing thirteen more about family issues. So every day we produce programs. The channel runs 24/7 so we have to do traffic control. We constantly have to check on how everything’s going. On top of that we answer the many phone calls and we always have different little stuff that comes up during the day and on top of that…”

I then asked Mona how their two sons cope with having their home turned into a TV production facility.

“It’s a challenging thing for them,” she said. “Samuel and I have been enjoying serving God since we have had the breath of life, but sometimes they feel like Mommy and Daddy are not theirs anymore; they are Alkarma’s.

“I’m trying to do my part as a Mom. I try to free myself of some activities so that I could give them some time and attention to go out and do some fun stuff. Sometimes, I have to take Samuel out of what he’s doing so we can take some family time and enjoy being with our kids together. So it’s a big thing for them. Even though it is hard for them they love people. They are very sociable and enjoy company in our house. They love to have people around.”

Michael Drzymkowsk spoke about why he feels it is important for other Americans to become involved in supporting Alkarma TV. “After 9/11, many of us have wondered what we could do, well now, Samuel and Mona have launched this TV channel and many of these viewers are coming to Christ from another faith system.

“So, I challenge American Christians and others from around the world to pray about becoming involved with Alkarma TV. They need your help and support. They have the truth and we have to help them get it out. If we don’t reach these people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who knows what they will ‘reach’ us with!”

Alkarma TV needs at least $60,000 a month to keep it on the air. We encourage you to help support them.

Note: I would like to thank Robin Frost for transcribing this interview.

CLICK on IMAGE TO BE TAKEN TO THE ARABIC NEW TESTAMENT INSTANT-DOWNLOAD PAGE

THERE IS NOT ONE CHRISTIAN NATION ON EARTH WHERE MUSLIMS ARE PERSECUTED.

Yet in most nations where the majority of the population are Muslims, there is systematic government persecution of Christians.

CI NON È UNA NAZIONE CRISTIANA SU TERRA DOVE I MUSULMANI PERSECUTED. Tuttavia nella maggior parte delle nazioni dove la maggior parte della popolazione è musulmani, ci è persecution sistematico di governo dei cristiani

ER IS NIET ÉÉN CHRISTELIJKE NATIE TER WERELD WAAR MOSLIMS WORDEN VERVOLGD. Maar toch in de meeste naties waar de meerderheid van de bevolking Moslims is, is er systematische overheidsvervolging van Christenen

ES GIBT NICHT EINE CHRISTLICHE NATION AUF MASSE, IN DER MOSLEMS VERFOLGT WERDEN. Dennoch in den meisten Nationen, in denen die Majorität der Bevölkerung Moslems sind, gibt es systematische Regierung Verfolgung der Christen.

"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."

--Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights--

Christian Conversions - According to the Bible - Can NEVER be forced.

Any Conversion to Christianity which would be "Forced" would NOT be recognized by God. It is in His True and KIND nature, that those who come to Him and choose to believe in Him, must come to Him OF THEIR OWN FREE WILL.

Don't Let anyone tell you that Christians support Forced Conversions.

That is False. True Christianity is NEVER forced.

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Las conversiones cristianas - según la biblia - pueden NUNCA ser forzadas. Nadie que son un cristiano verdadero forzarían o compell cualquier persona a hacer un cristiano contra sus el propios . La razón de esto es ésa que toma la acción contra la voluntad o contra la intención alguien sea una acción del desacato al dios. Ninguna conversión al cristianismo que sería "forzado" no sería reconocida por God. Está en su verdad y la naturaleza BUENA, esa los que vengan a él y elijan creer en él, debe venir a él DE SU PROPIA VOLUNTAD LIBRE. El dios cristiano es bastante grande entender cómo responder a los que decidan que no desean conocerle o entender. El trabajo de cristianos es continuar comunicando el amor del dios a cada uno que esté dispuesto a oír hablar él. Muchos pueblan incluso hoy, no desean oír hablar el dios cristiano. Más específicamente, qué esa gente no desea está para que USTED oiga hablar la amabilidad del dios cristiano. Esa gente está asustada que si usted descubre sobre la amabilidad y la calidad y el amor del dios cristiano, eso que usted puede desear para descubrir más sobre él. Y esa gente está asustada que opondrían a su descubrir la verdad sobre el dios del cristianismo que ofrece vida eterna por siempre a las que pidan ella y decide al dios a que ella sirve creer en él y descubrir más del libro llamado el "nuevo testamento". Ése es el miedo verdadero de los que opongan a dios cristiano. No deje cualquier persona decirle que la ayuda de los cristianos forzara conversiones. Eso es falso. El cristianismo verdadero NUNCA es forzado.

Le conversioni cristiane - secondo la bibbia - possono MAI essere forzate. Nessuno che fossero un cristiano allineare forzerebbero o compell chiunque da diventare un cristiano contro il loro propri. Il motivo per questo è quello che agisce contro la volontà o contro l'intenzione di qualcuno sia un'azione di disrespect al dio. Alcuna conversione a christianity che sarebbe "forzato" non sarebbe riconosciuta da God. È nel suo allineare e la natura GENTILE, quella coloro che viene a lui e sceglie credere in lui, deve venire a lui della LORO PROPRIA VOLONTÀ LIBERA. Il dio cristiano è abbastanza grande capire come rispondere a coloro che decide che non desiderano conoscerle o capire. Il lavoro dei cristiani deve continuare a comunicare l'amore del dio a tutto che sia disposto a sentire parlare di esso. Molti popolano persino oggi, non desiderano sentire parlare del dio cristiano. Più specificamente, che cosa quella gente non desidera è affinchè senta parlare della bontà del dio cristiano. Quella gente è impaurita che se scoprite circa la bontà e la qualità e l'amore del dio cristiano, quello che potete desiderare per scoprirgli più circa. E quella gente è impaurita che il dio che servono sarebbe opposto a vostro scoprire la verità circa il dio di christianity che offre per sempre la vita Eterna a coloro che chiede esso e decide credere in lui e scoprire più dal libro denominato "il nuovo Testamento". Quello è il timore reale di coloro che oppone il dio cristiano. Non lasci chiunque dirvi che il supporto dei cristiani abbia forzato le conversioni. Quello è falso. Il christianity allineare non è MAI forzato

Οι χριστιανικές μετατροπές - σύμφωνα με τη Βίβλο - δεν μπορούν ΠΟΤΕ να αναγκαστούν. Κανένας που είναι αληθινός Χριστιανός θα ανάγκαζε ή compell καθένας για να γίνει Χριστιανός ενάντια δικοί τους. Ο λόγος για αυτό είναι ότι η λήψη μέτρων ενάντια στη θέληση ή ενάντια στην πρόθεση κάποιου θα ήταν μια δράση της ασέβειας στο Θεό. Οποιαδήποτε μετατροπή στο χριστιανισμό που "θα αναγκαζόταν" δεν θα αναγνωριζόταν από το Θεό. Είναι στην αληθινή και ΚΑΛΗ φύση του, ότι εκείνοι που έρχονται σε τον και επιλέγουν να πιστεψουν σε τον, πρέπει να έρθουν σε τον ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΟΥ ΤΟΥΣ. Ο χριστιανικός Θεός είναι αρκετά μεγάλος να καταλάβει πώς να αποκριθεί σε εκείνοι που αποφασίζουν ότι δεν θέλουν να τον ξέρουν ή να καταλάβουν. Η εργασία των Χριστιανών είναι να συνεχίσει να διαβιβάζει την αγάπη του Θεού σε τον καθέναν που είναι πρόθυμος να ακούσει για την. Πολλοί άνθρωποι ακόμα και σήμερα, δεν θέλουν να ακούσουν για το χριστιανικό Θεό. Πιό συγκεκριμένα, τι εκείνοι οι άνθρωποι δεν θέλουν είναι για ΣΑΣ να ακούσει για την ευγένεια του χριστιανικού GOd. Εκείνοι οι άνθρωποι είναι φοβισμένοι ότι εάν ανακαλύπτετε για την ευγένεια και την καλοσύνη και την αγάπη του χριστιανικού Θεού, ότι μπορείτε να θελήσετε να ανακαλύψετε περισσότερων για τον. Και εκείνοι οι άνθρωποι είναι φοβισμένοι ότι ο Θεός που εξυπηρετούν θα αντιτασσόταν στην ανακάλυψή σας της αλήθειας για το Θεό του χριστιανισμού που προσφέρει την αιώνια ζωή για πάντα σε εκείνοι που ζητούν την και αποφασίζουν να πιστεψουν σε τον και να ανακαλύψουν περισσότερων από το βιβλίο αποκαλούμενο "νέα διαθήκη". Αυτός είναι ο πραγματικός φόβος εκείνοι που αντιτάσσουν το χριστιανικό Θεό. Μην αφήστε καθενός να σας πει ότι οι Χριστιανοί υποστηρίζουν τις αναγκασμένες μετατροπές. Αυτός είναι ψεύτικος. Ο αληθινός χριστιανισμός δεν αναγκάζεται ΠΟΤΕ.

De christelijke Omzettingen - volgens de Bijbel - kunnen NOOIT worden gedwongen. Niemand wie een ware Christen is zou dwingen of compell zal iedereen om een Christen te worden tegen hun. De reden voor dit is dat het Voeren van Actie tegen de Wil of tegen de bedoeling van iemand een actie van disrespect aan God zou zijn. Om het even welke Omzetting in Christendom dat "zou gedwongen worden" zou NIET erkend worden door God. Het is in Zijn Ware en VRIENDELIJKE aard, dat zij die aan hem komen en om in hem verkiezen te geloven, aan hem VAN HUN EIGEN VRIJ moeten komen ZULLEN. De Christelijke God is Groot genoeg begrijpen hoe te aan zij te antwoorden die besluiten dat zij niet hem kennen of willen begrijpen. De Baan van Christenen moet blijven de Liefde van God aan iedereen meedelen wie bereid om over het is te horen. Vele mensen zelfs vandaag, willen niet over de Christelijke God horen. Specifieker, moet wat niet die mensen willen voor U over de Vriendelijkheid van Christelijke GOd horen. Die mensen zijn bang dat als u over de vriendelijkheid en de goedheid en de liefde van de Christelijke God te weten komt, dat u meer over hem kunt willen te weten komen. En die mensen zijn bang dat de God die zij dienen zich aan uw het te weten komen van de waarheid over de God van Christendom verzetten die voor altijd het Eeuwige Leven aan zij aanbiedt die om het vragen en om in hem beslissen te geloven en meer van het boek te weten te komen genoemd het "Nieuwe Testament". Dat is de echte Vrees voor zij die zich de Christelijke God verzetten. Laat iedereen niet u vertellen dat de Christenen Gedwongen Omzettingen steunen. Dat is Vals. Het ware Christendom wordt NOOIT gedwongen.

Christliche Umwandlungen - entsprechend der Bibel - können Zwangs NIE sein. Niemand, die ein zutreffender Christ ist, würden oder compell jedermann zwingen, zum ein Christ gegen ihre Selbst zu werden werden. Der Grund für dieses ist der, der Maßnahmen gegen den Willen ergreift, oder gegen die Absicht von jemand seien Sie eine Tätigkeit der Respektlosigkeit zum Gott. Keine Umwandlung zum Christentum, das "Zwangs" sein würde, würde NICHT von God erkannt. Sie ist in seinem zutreffenden und die FREUNDLICHE Natur, diese die, die zu ihm kommen und beschließen, an ihn zu glauben, muß zu ihm IHRES EIGENEN FREIEN WILLEN kommen. Der christliche Gott ist genug groß, zu verstehen, wie man auf die reagiert, die entscheiden, daß sie nicht ihn kennen oder verstehen möchten. Der Job der Christen soll fortfahren, die Liebe des Gottes zu jeder mitzuteilen, das bereit ist, über sie zu hören. Viele bevölkeren sogar heute, möchten nicht über den christlichen Gott hören. Spezifischer, was jene Leute nicht wünschen, ist, damit SIE über die Freundlichkeit des christlichen Gottes hören. Jene Leute haben daß, wenn Sie über die Freundlichkeit und die Güte und die Liebe des christlichen Gottes herausfinden, das Angst, das Sie mehr über ihn herausfinden wünschen können. Und jene Leute haben Angst, daß der Gott, den sie dienen, Ihrem die Wahrheit über den Gott des Christentums herausfinden entgegengesetzt würde, das ewiges Leben für immer denen anbietet, die um sie bitten und, an ihn zu glauben entscheidet und mehr vom Buch herauszufinden, das das "neue Testament" genannt wurde. Die ist die reale Furcht vor denen, die dem christlichen Gott entgegensetzen. Lassen Sie nicht niemand Ihnen erklären, daß Christunterstützung Umwandlungen zwang. Das ist falsch. Zutreffendes Christentum ist NIE Zwangs.

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キリスト教の転換は- 聖書に従って- 決して強制である場合もない。本当のクリスチャンである誰もまたは彼らの専有物に対してクリスチャンになるcompell だれでも強制しない。これの理由は意志に対して処置をとるそれであるまたは誰かの意思に対して神へ無礼の行為でであつて下さい。 "強制" であるキリスト教へのどの転換でもGod によって確認されない。それは彼の本当にあり、彼に来、彼を信じることを選ぶ人々その親切な性質は彼らの自身の自由意志の彼に来なければならない。理解するにはキリスト教の彼を知るか、または言うことがわかりたいと思わないことを神は決定する神に答える方法を十分に大きい。クリスチャンの仕事はそれについて聞いて喜んでの皆に神の愛を伝え続けるべきである。多数は、キリスト教の神について聞きたいと思わない今日民を住まわせる。それらの人々はほしいと思わない何がとりわけ、であるキリスト教の神の親切さについて聞くべきあなたのため。それらの人々はキリスト教の神の親切さについておよび長所および愛見つければ恐れていること、あなたが彼についての詳細を見つけたいと思う場合もあるそれ。そしてそれらの人々は役立つ神があなたのそれを頼む反対され、彼を信じ、"新約聖書" と呼ばれた本からの多くを見つけることにするそれらに永遠の生命を永久に提供するキリスト教の神についての真実を見つけることにこと恐れている。それはキリスト教の神に反対するそれの実質の恐れである。クリスチャンサポートが転換を強制するようにだれでも言わないために注意してはいけない。それは偽である。本当のキリスト教は強制決してでない。

The right to believe, to worship and witness
The right to change one's belief or religion
The right to join together and express one's belief

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