Paul Calvert spoke with Nizar Shaheen, Founder and President of Light For All Nations, about the impact of their work and why the medium of TV is important in Arab nations.

Nizar: Yes it costs a lot of money. God does provide. When you have a vision from God, God will provide the needs. Of course it has a lot of challenges, because the Christian community are a minority to support, but these days we see that Christian communities are growing bigger and faster so God does provide our needs.

Paul: Is the message you have very important for the Middle East?

Nizar: Absolutely, because we talk about Christ Jesus and Jesus is the most important person in history. He is unique. There is none like Jesus. He was born of a virgin and He fulfilled hundreds of prophecies, which is unique only about Jesus. He is the only one that is sinless. He is the only one who is perfect man and perfect God and perfect unity. As a man to be qualified to be the redeemer, to offer Himself as a sacrifice, as a redemption for us, because He is without sin, He can appease and satisfy God, but because He is a man and perfect man, He could be the Lamb of God, sacrificed for all the sins of the world.

Another unique thing about Christ is He is the only one raised from the dead. He raised Himself from the dead and He is the one to give salvation and security of salvation. This message is extremely important in the Middle East, because in the Middle East what is taught is there is no hope after death. People believe in religion, but they are not sure they are saved, or they can make it to heaven. When we offer Christ, we offer salvation and security of salvation.

Paul: You are a TV channel. Is it important for you to be working with the local Church?

Nizar: We have to work with the local Church, because God's vision is with the local Church not with TV. TV is more like an instrument, like a commercial element to invite people to believe in Jesus, but God's plan and God's purpose is for the local Church. Jesus said, "I will build my Church". The Church is the body of Christ and that is why it is extremely important to work with local ministry.

Paul: Your show Light For The Nations began in 1984 and I understand it is the longest Arabic running Christian TV programme?

Nizar: Yes it is until today. This is the flagship of the ministry, but we are producing a variety of productions. We produced programmes for children, women, for family and we have a lot of talk shows dealing with different topics pertaining to the mind-set in the Middle East.

Another programme is we deal with many topics dealing with the character of Christ; concerning His birth, crucifixion, resurrection and concerning His deity and the trinity. All these topics that have misconceptions in the Middle East. We try to explain them.

The most popular in the Light For All Nations ministry is teaching on Bible locations. I travel. I've been in Patmos, Turkey, in Greece, Syria, and Lebanon, in Israel and in Palestine. I've been to all these biblical sites and teaching on Bible locations that brought authenticity to the scripture to help people to see the site with the word of God.

We also have a weekly live show where we invite people to call us to answer the questions directly in the live show.

Paul: When did you become a Christian and how did you become a Christian?

Nizar: I became a Christian in 1980. I became a Christian through a missionary who came to Cana in Galilee.

I was born in Nazareth and lived in Cana in Galilee. I met this missionary and he asked me this question, "Do you know Jesus?" For the first time I did not understand what he meant with this question. He repeated the question a second time and then I looked into his eyes and said, "Of course I know about Jesus. Are you coming from the United States to tell me about Jesus? He is from my hometown and right here in Cana, in Galilee, He changed water into wine." But then he said something that began what I call a journey of faith, searching for Jesus. He said, "I know that you know about Jesus, my question is not knowing about Him, but knowing Him and experiencing Him as Saviour and as Lord into your life."