Friday is a weekly religious day in Muslim cultures. That’s why we film Raze Zindagi (Secret of Life) on Fridays: so that it airs live on the day that most Persian-speaking people have off. Because Christmas and New Year’s Day both fall on a Friday this year, our tech crew wants to come in on those Fridays and produce a special program.
People all over the world know about the big western holidays, but they get mixed messages about what those holidays mean. Explains Shoaib Ebadi, host of Raze Zindagi, “We think it’s worth it to come in on those days to show people what Christmas is really about – that it’s about the coming of the Messiah.”
Shoaib will host both programs, with a variety of Afghan pastors and evangelists who will join the program through Zoom. Each guest will have a few minutes to share about what the holiday means to them. The Christmas Day program will focus on the Good News that Jesus was born as a baby to be the Saviour for all people. The program on New Year’s Day will focus on God’s plan for people to have new life through Jesus; that people everywhere can be saved from their sin through Jesus; and that God has a good life planned for them.
By keeping our tech crew to as few people as possible and by hosting guests remotely, a minimum of people will be in our studios on Christmas and New Year’s to comply with the pandemic restrictions. All those involved are excited about the opportunity. “We are doing it from our hearts,” says Shoaib. “Out of our desire to serve Jesus and help others know him.”
Produced in partnership with Pamir Ministries (a division of Operation Mobilization Canada) and hosted by Shoaib Ebadi, Raze Zindagi (Secret of Life) is a live Dari / Persian language TV program that brings the Gospel right into the homes of people in Afghanistan and Iran.