Ministry like teen in growth-spurt

(Photo courtesy of Words of Hope)

International (MNN) ― Like a middle-schooler in a growth-spurt flies through pant sizes,Words of Hope has the unique problem of “too much growth.” But they’re meeting the challenge head-on.

Words of Hope is a radio broadcast ministry proclaiming the Gospel by sound wave in over 30 different languages across the world. Radio is an excellent tool since it can breach closed borders in ways no missionary can.

With such a useful medium for spreading the Word of God, Words of Hope’s outreach is exploding with growth. Their ministry branches all over the world constantly need funding for expansion of projects, buildings, and staff.

They confess that it can be hard to keep up with the multiple demands for expansion funding. But Words of Hope doesn’t feel they’ve reached their limit for what they can do.

To meet various requests for growth projects, Words of Hope has started The Growth Initiative. This single fundraising effort will use the money raised and divide it among different requests to expand the ministry.

With The Growth Initiative, Words of Hope looks to reach their ministry’s impact into four new regions: Indonesia, Pakistan, Ethiopia, and Somalia. All four of these countries are on the World Watch List because of violent persecution of Christians for their faith.

Additionally, The Growth Initiative will fund building projects in Sudan, Niger, and India, as well as expand Words of Hope’s ministries in the Middle East, India, Iran, and Uganda.

This is a huge undertaking since The Growth Initiative will only consist of funds beyond their normal yearly budget. The initiative needs outside funding, and Words of Hope needs help growing it.

Christians who want to make a difference in the lives of fellow believers in developing countries as well as help spread the Gospel have a great opportunity to do so. You can go towww.woh.org and contact their ministry to find out how you can support a project in The Growth Initiative.

Scholarship winners lay groundwork for future global outreach

International (HCJB/MNN) ―Two college students are benefiting from far-sighted thinkers.

Scholarship winners Lebo Pooe and
 Shane O'Regan

A year ago, Moody Radio partnered with Trans World Radio and HCJB Global for the Global Partners Project. The goal was to raise funds for radio equipment in Guam and West Africa, as well as money for two four-year scholarships to Moody Bible Institute.

The idea behind the Moody's Global Leaders Scholarship Program was to educate two next generation radio professionals from countries where both organizations serve. Training radio professionals creates the potential for effective radio ministry after receiving a quality Bible education from MBI.

Scholarship recipients Lebo Pooe (South Africa) and Shane O'Regan (Ireland) have just begun their studies, but both dream of returning to their home countries to share the hope of Christ using radio as a medium.

In addition to studying at MBI, each recipient will train under Moody Radio. The students will spend 15-20 hours per week during the school year at Moody Radio and work full-time during the summer break.

Pooe, a freshman communications major, was raised by a single mom in South Africa. Along the way, Pooe fell in love with radio. "I understood the power of the microphone," she said. "I had fallen in love with broadcasting. I wanted to use radio as a platform to encourage other young people in my township."

Pooe began to work for TWR in Johannesburg as the on-air personality for TWR-Africa. Attending Moody was always a dream. "Here I am ... about to start the greatest journey of my life," she said. "In my own capacity, in my own abilities, I could have never [studied at Moody]. Because Jesus is who He is, because He is the God of second chances, because His grace is more than anything else, here I am sharing what He has done and how He's protected me, and He's been so gracious toward me."

O'Regan, also a freshman communications major, grew up in Bandon, Ireland, which is predominately Catholic. He was raised in a Christian home, although his parents were Catholics who converted to Protestantism before they were married.

When he was 14, O'Regan found music and radio. He followed that passion closely and eventually found Christian music. In an effort to glean everything he could about radio, he joined HCJB Global's first summer internship program in Europe last summer. Since then, he has developed a weekly youth outreach radio program called "Rebel Rhythms" on LifeFM, the mission's partner station in Cork.

In his scholarship application, O'Regan wrote, "Radio is an extremely powerful medium influencing people of every race, status and religion. The use of media such as radio has proven to be an effective and powerful means to communicate the Gospel to those who would never otherwise come in contact with it. The prospect of being trained and equipped in such a ministry excites me greatly!"

TWR extends outreach to Asia

TWR dedicates new transmitters
 during Friday morning broadcast
 (eastern).

Guam (MNN) ― Striving to extend its strategic outreach in Asia, international Christian media organization Trans World Radio has upgraded its powerful shortwave transmission station on the island of Guam. The advancement gives TWR the ability to cover much of the spiritually-needy region--including China and southeast Asia--with a robust, quality signal.

To celebrate this significant initiative, TWR President Lauren Libby and other ministry staff members will present an on-air dedication during a live broadcast Friday, November 18, from 8:30-9:00AM Eastern Standard Time. The 30-minute broadcast will begin at 1330 UTC on a shortwave frequency of 15.4 megahertz in the 19 meter band.

Libby says, "We're moving from 100,000 watts to 250,000 watts. Not only that, but they'll be digital."

"This upgrade gives TWR the opportunity to touch even more lives with the good news of Jesus Christ," continues Libby. "We thank God for the privilege of increasing our spiritual footprint in Asia."

Two 250,000-watt, digital-capable Thomson transmitters have been installed to provide increased coverage to the Asia region. These revitalized transmitters join three existing 100,000-watt units. Digital shortwave capability will enable TWR to reach both rural areas and large cities with a strong signal.

We asked Libby why digital is significant. "Frankly it sounds just about like FM radio. And India, China and Russia are rebuilding all of their broadcast platforms right now to go digital on both shortwave and what we call the 'AM band.'" TWR is now well-positioned for the future to reach listeners across Asia, and reception is excellent anywhere: from cities to dense forests.

In previous years, the challenge has always been radios to receive the digital signal. "That has basically been solved. 

There will be receivers under $20 in the next few years distributed, in many cases, by the countries because they want people to listen to digital. We'll be right there to provide the hope of Jesus in these countries."

Libby says with digital technology, "Not only can you transmit audio, but you can also transmit data. The applications of that are numerous."

To celebrate the official sign-on, a special broadcast will be airing from Guam and also broadcasting on KTIS-AM in Minneapolis. Moody Radio and KCBI will air the special simulcast. Special guests for the dedication broadcast include Dr. Alan Cureton: president of Northwestern College in St. Paul, Minnesota; Collin Lambert--vice president of Moody Radio in Chicago, Illinois; and Mike Tirone--general manager and senior vice president of KCBI-FM in Dallas, Texas. These three organizations, plus thousands of individuals around the globe, helped with the purchase and installation of the transmitters.

"As Moody Radio continues to expand its global focus, TWR is one of the leading organizations that we are pleased to partner with," says Lambert. "Our joint efforts tied to the [upgraded] transmitter in Guam have not only broadened our participation in spreading the Gospel throughout the world, but also allowed us to inform and mobilize our listeners in the process."

If you'd like to hear the broadcast, click here at 8:30-9:00AM (Eastern) on Friday, November 18.

HCJB radio programs reach youth with Truth

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Uganda: the hunt for Uganda's terrorist

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Libya transitions into hope

Libya (MNN) ― Mop-up operations continue in Libya after six months of civil war brought about the closing chapters of a 42-year-long dictatorship.

There are still daunting challenges ahead as the rebels try to build a Libyan state from the ground up. Wayne Pederson with HCJB Global says, "The concern of many of us that have been doing ministry in that part of the world is: 'What's next?' And, 'Could it be that something worse than Gadhafi could follow?'"

The system that governed the people had few checks and balances, which brings more challenges for solidifying unity among the tribes. Without unity, there is little hope for democratic change.

Pederson explains the perspective of the ministry and their partners at this stage of the country's rebuild. "Our hope and prayer would be that there would be a democracy created and that there would be freedom of religion and an end to the persecution of believers. There's a very, very tiny church in Libya. A friend from Libya told me there's about 4500 believers that he knows of, in all of the country."

Because Gadhafi crushed any civil society groups from forming, there's not much in the way of a transitional government root. Without leadership, there is a power vacuum forming. "What is it that's going to take its place. There's so much tribalism that the big question is: 'What tribe? What faction is going to rise to power, and what's their influence going to be over the freedom of followers of Jesus to practice their faith?'"

There's good reason for concern. A similar situation in Egypt was revealed during the "Arab Spring." Pederson says, "After Mubarak, there's even more persecution and limitations on the Christians--in particularly among the Coptics." He adds that already, "There's been more overt persecution and threats of violence against Christians. So, we don't know if this is going to make it better for believers. In some cases, it may make it worse."

And yet, there's hope. Libya's people want change. "By and large, I think you would find that followers of Islam arguably want to achieve peace, and they're looking for hope; they're seeking love." Pederson goes on to say that a common ground opens many doors of opportunity. "We are finding with our ministry and the ministries of others that are operating in that region that people are interested in Jesus as a prophet and as a great teacher, and they are intrigued by the concept that He might be the Savior of the world, the Son of God."

Libya ranks 25th on the Open Doors World Watch list of the top countries known for the persecution of Christians. Their history with believers has been a bloody one. Unfortunately, that's a trend likely to continue. "We've seen increased persecution of believers, because as the church has grown, authorities see the growth, and so they've stepped up opposition to stem the tide of Christianity."

In the drive for freedom, there is a yearning for something that frees the soul. Pederson says, "That's our task: to present Jesus in fullness, not only as a great prophet and a great teacher, but as the Son of God, the Savior of the World."
HCJB radio teams have responded by redoubling their efforts. HCJB Global added more broadcasts, more broadcast hours and more satellite coverage in order to reach more people with the Gospel. Pederson sums it up this way: "We feel that this is not the time to retreat."

An enthusiastic--albeit quiet--response provides the encouragement to keep going. Besides, Pederson says, the "bang" for the buck is huge in this region. "We know that we can reach over a million households in that part of the world with our budget of about a million dollars. It's still true that a dollar can reach a household for a year through media in that part of the world."

You can be a part of the equation for change in Libya, even as a new government forms. Pray for the freedom to follow Christ, but also pray for opportunities and open hearts.

Radio Ministry Goes Where Missionaries Can't: Drug Zones

Colombia is well-known as a hotbed
 for drug trafficking. Spanish World
 Ministries is reaching those involved
 with the terrible ordeal.

Colombia (MNN) ― Drug trafficking brings an estimated $6 billion into Colombia each year. The country's government is fighting against it, but still the market continues.

One aspect that greatly affects the lives of thousands of people in Colombia is the constant conflict between the government and the FARC, a guerrilla movement that has proclaimed itself as a socialist anti-imperialist organization. To fund their terrorist activities, they get as much as $2 million a day in illicit drug proceeds. Some FARC units in southern Colombia are reported to be directly involved in drug trafficking activities such as controlling local cocaine base markets.

Regions controlled by this guerrilla group would be the last place you'd expect to find Christians, and Spanish World Ministries has found that the terrorist group likes it that way.

"There is one specific [region] that is called Guaviare," says Daniel Sandoval, with Spanish World Ministries. "This terrorist group has increased the planting, processing, and trading of cocaine. Of course, the lack of government programs, the lack of transportation, medical services, and, above all, the control of the Guerilla over this place makes this region a difficult missionary field--either for nationals or for foreign missionary organizations."

The terrorist group in this area considers Christian activity suspicious, Sandoval says.

"If any Christian organization pretends to reach the small towns in this region of Guaviare, the guerilla movement will consider them spies sent by the DEA, or informants for the government," explains Sandoval. "The question is: should the people from Guaviare die without having the opportunity to hear about Christ? We're talking about a population of about 25,000 people."

Sandoval adds, "Of course, we know the answer: they need to hear about Christ."

How to do this in an area so hostile--not to mention dangerous--to believers, though? Spanish World Ministries has found a way. They are transcending all boundaries through an unlikely medium: radio.

God has used radio to transform hearts in these hard-to-reach areas in a number of ways. For instance, one man involved in planting and harvesting marijuana and the coca plant and in processing cocaine was injured on the job. As he sat there bleeding, waiting for someone to come to his aid, he turned on the radio. A Spanish World broadcast "happened" to be playing.

After hearing about sin and Christ's forgiveness, the man immediately surrendered his life. In fact, he even burned his plantation. When he explained the reasoning to his workers, all of them accepted Christ as their Savior as well. And it all stemmed from one radio broadcast.

Spanish World Ministries has been able to break down barriers in Colombia and has also become an encouragement to Colombians in difficult times. During the recent flooding that killed over 400 people and affected three million total, the ministry's broadcasts provided the peace of Christ to many.

"In the midst of these difficult situations, our programs represented a great blessing for many people that needed desperately to hear words of hope and encouragement," says Sandoval.

Spanish World Ministries is making a difference in Colombia and throughout the globe by reaching out to unbelievers and spreading Christ's peace. If you want to participate in this transformative ministry, visit spanishworld.org.