July/August 2005

Latest News from the Field

WMB News from the Africa Region
Submitted by Peet Voges (RCC) and Rev. Job Odanga (Media Coordinator for Africa East Field)

Regional Communications Coordinator (RCC) Peet Voges shares “I rejoice and believe the best is still ahead for us. The financial situation in our region forced us to slow down with expanding and growth but we believe the tide will turn again. God is moving in the lives of listeners throughout the region.”

The Communications team in Africa continues to keep their eyes on the Lord. Letters expressing thankfulness for the radio programs being aired are continually received in the Communications office. Some letters are from Muslims, others are from those in prison asking for prayer and Christian literature. What a blessing to know that because of Nazarene radio programs, there are new brothers and sisters in Christ!

Rev. Job Odanga, Media Coordinator for the Africa East Field, reports

• We have recently been allocated an air time of 30 minutes per week and some extra flexible slots to reach the people of Tanzania.

• There are plans to train three pastors and two youth leaders for radio work.

• Radio Uzima Tanzania (RUT) does not currently have a production studio and are only broadcasting programs that are brought in by churches and organizations like Trans World Radio that have been registered as partners/members. “We thank God for the registration fee that enabled us to acquire this opportunity and trust that we are going to have a great impact on the people of Tanzania.”

WMB News from the Asia Pacific Region
Submitted by Doug Flemming (RCC) and Janelle Fosnaugh (Nazarene Missionary to PNG)

“Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations that do not know you will hasten to you, because the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor.” Isaiah 55:5(NIV)

With this scripture as their guide, women and Muslims in the region are hearing the gospel through WMB Nazarene radio programs.

In the past year, the Communications team has been faithful to obey God’s leading, stepping out in faith, willing to take some risks; asking God to send them nations...God has been faithful to keep His promise.

• For over three years they have felt the burden to reach Muslims in their region with the Gospel message of love, peace and reconciliation.

• Faithfully they have attended the annual “Bless the Muslims” prayer/fasting event held every 9/11. This is a gathering of thousands of people/ministries/mission organizations/churches who are interested in reaching Muslims.

• Seeking to educate themselves about the beliefs, needs and issues of Muslim neighbors, they have had eye opening, mind stretching and heart breaking experiences which confirmed the call to reach Muslims while opening additional networking opportunities.

• Recent dialogues with a partnership of three different ministry organizations focused on two unnamed, unreached Muslim groups in the Southern Philippines. One of those projects has already gone to production! Praise the Lord!

• “Krai bilong ol Meri” (KBOM), which means Cry of the Woman, will be aired three times a week on Radio Light (the very first radio station that WMB aired on in Papua New Guinea).

• KBOM is being aired every Thursday free of charge on a shortwave station, allowing people in the Western highlands to hear it

• Women in Lae are coming together, each with a goal to write five KBOM scripts.

• Janelle Fosnaugh, Nazarene Missionary to PNG says: “The KBOM program seems to be filling a need that no other radio program is addressing. The women are periodically fasting, 24 hours at a time, and meeting at the church or at someone’s house in order to pray through the evening and into the night for this ministry and especially KBOM.”

WMB News from the South America Region
Submitted by Brian Utter (RCC) and Lynne Utter

Radio continues to grow and impact families. We have received many needs regarding marriages and are looking at ways to help facilitate stronger families in South America.

• Esperanza.net continues to receive many listener responses! Listeners can send in their questions, prayer requests, concerns and comments and then are contacted by a “follow up” team.

• We are saying goodbye to regional missionaries Juan Carlos and Claudia Badilla, who are returning to their home country of Chile. We pray God will open the doors for them to begin a radio ministry in Chile.

• Project Hope for Brazil is going strong and recording has begun.

• We debuted the Portuguese programming at General Assembly at the WMB studio. There was great response to this program! Please pray that the Portuguese-speaking countries will be a part of this.

• We are now concentrating on the next step in radio, which are the indigenous languages of South America.

• Next year’s project will be Hope for Bolivia to reach the millions of Aymara and Quechua Indians in Bolivia and Peru.

Devotional Thoughts
Dee Dee Mills, WMB Writer/Transmission Editor

With summer in full swing, God’s beautiful plan is blossoming, and the full color of His masterful creation is vibrant! As we trudged through the dead of winter, God provided the newness of spring. The heat of summer is another refreshing reward from the Father. A gentle reminder that even through the dark and rainy days of life, He has a plan to bring beauty to His children. Without times of trial and what seems like harsh circumstances, would we look forward to the peace and freshness of a new adventure? As we feel the hot sun on our faces and smell the freshly cut lawns, let’s praise our Creator for reminding us of the many blessings He continues to provide to His children.