MEM was founded in Lebanon in 1975. In the beginning MEM used literature and magazines to communicate, including Magalla, which was one of the best-selling magazines in the region. In the mid 1980s we created a TV department, focusing initially on high quality children’s animation.
As technology developed, new opportunities arose – MEM now uses websites, 3D animation, online radio, mobile apps and more to communicate transformative messages of God’s hope to the people of the region.
To date, MEM has trained over 12,000 people in media and development throughout the Middle East. We are currently aware of at least 240 people working full time in Christian media throughout the Middle East who were trained by MEM, including Christian satellite TV staff and media ministry leaders in many large Arabic churches.
1975 Middle East Media founded in Lebanon.
1977 First issue of Magalla published, which became one of the best-selling imported magazines in the Middle East by 1983.
1986 TV ministry launches, focusing on children’s animation. We were one of the original investors in Veggie Tales, and partnered with them in training our own animation department. We also created His Kids, which became a phenomenally popular children’s series.
1989 MEM helps found the Arabic Broadcasting Convention (ABC).
1993 MEM creates SAT-7, the first ever Arabic Christian Satellite TV station. Dubbing of Veggie Tales is completed and many new video projects launched. MEM is involved in establishing Middle East Concern.
1995 SAT-7 becomes a stand-alone entity. MEM celebrates its 20th anniversary and sets the vision for the next 20 years!
1999 Launch of our internet ministry, reaching both seekers and new believers with chat rooms.
2005 Produced the first Arabic Bible download. Local charitable organisation is established.
2007 A second base in the Gulf is established: from here we work throughout the Arabian peninsular including Yemen.
2008 MEM’s first multi-media cross-platform ministry launches with Mariam’s Diary (now known as Nisa’a project).
2009 Training of Trainers begins in partnership with local non-profit organisations.
2011 The Arab Spring creates many opportunities for our productions on TV, radio and the internet. Begin to produce webisodes about key issues causing widespread online debate.
Launch of Arabian Dawn, an online video series of Gulf believers’ testimonies.
2013 Our pro-democracy programmes air up to 25 times a day on various national TV stations in one North African country alone.
In October, we commence Iraq Radio Refuge. Training of young Iraqi Christians in audio skills, so they can broadcast their own radio messages of hope, encouragement and reconciliation to their communities.
2014 Launch WebTV, aimed at teens and young adults, with a phenomenal reception in the first few months.
Future Leaders also launches, aiming to train at least 300 new church and media leaders.
2015 MEM celebrates its 40th anniversary!
The Gulf team begins training local believers from a non-Christian background, including the development of I Believe, But, an online discipleship course for new believers. Arabian Dawn testimonies are viewed well over 700,000 times, and hundreds of people got in touch to find out more about the Gospel.
2016 Nisa’a, our women’s online magazine, has 41 writers on its staff, has gained over 290,000 likes on Facebook, over 4000 subscribers on YouTube and over 70,000 monthly views.
Gain rights to animate 66 stories of the Action Bible, a comic-book style Bible for children and young people, in Arabic.
Launch of Serving Refugees project, to make our training and media available to refugees in the Middle East and Europe.
2017 Filming begins for On Bended Knee, a 365-episode series of poetry, prose and prayer for the Gulf in the local Arabic dialect.
Production of Life in the Desert begins – a 3D animated series to bring hope to vulnerable children, including refugees, through the example of an inspirational young girl and her interaction with the stories of the Bible.
2020 MEM’s 45th Anniversary!
We began a rebranding process, launch Holistic Media Internships and vision for new media teams.
2022 We launch our international rebrand!
Up to the present day… our two field teams work on 30 to 50 media and community projects each year, including projects for children and youth, women, as well as new and persecuted believers. Please do get in touch if you would like to know more about the specific area of our ministry.
