Actress Nancy Stafford to Host Women of Hope

Dan Wooding : May 21, 2013
Assist News Service

Women of HOPE will provide a platform for the voices of women in the Middle East and North Africa by raising awareness of their distress, sharing their stories and asking for prayer on their behalf within SAT-7 Women of HOPE families, churches, and communities around the country.

(Easton, MD)—This month, SAT-7 Women of HOPE has launched a new international initiative developed to address the plight of women a world away who suffer from oppression, fear, and lack of hope. Many of them become victims of abuse, even so-called "honor killings," at the hands of their own family members.

Launch events across the country will feature Tunisian and Lebanese Christian women as guest speakers.

Nancy Stafford, actress, author and member of SAT-7 USA Board of Directors, will host these events and introduce the guests from the region who will share their fascinating stories.

Ms. Stafford has been an actress for twenty-seven years, starring in numerous movies and TV series, including five years as Andy Griffith's law partner, Michelle, on "Matlock," and three years on the Emmy-award winning "St Elsewhere." She also starred in the ABC series "Sidekicks," and began her television acting career as a regular in a dual role on the NBC daytime drama "The Doctors." (Dan Wooding and Nancy Stafford/ANS Photo)

According to a news release, SAT-7 Women of HOPE will provide a platform for the voices of women in the Middle East and North Africa by raising awareness of their distress, sharing their stories and asking for prayer on their behalf within SAT-7 Women of HOPE families, churches, and communities around the country.

"SAT-7 Women of HOPE and SAT-7 share a vision of positive change in the Middle East and North Africa," said a spokesperson for the group that that is currently the largest broadcaster of Christian television programming in the Middle East and North Africa.

"Many segments of SAT-7's television programs for men and women were developed to improve the public perception of Middle Eastern women while, at the same time, helping these women to better understand their rights. As a result, they will feel empowered to take more active roles in their families and in society.

SAT-7 was founded 16 years ago as a means to present an accurate understanding of Jesus—uncensored—to millions of people in the region. With five channels in three languages, SAT-7 continues to take advantage of satellite television technology to shed light on many topics that were not previously addressed in the media.

About 50 percent of women in the region are illiterate and many are housebound. Because they spend much of their day watching television, satellite television programming is the perfect medium to transmit information.