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Rhythm of Life Journey of Hope for Middle East Listener 35 Million Listeners: Nazarene broadcasts in South America reach the lost for Christ. |
Rhythm of Life A year ago, Adam (name changed) was contemplating suicide. He felt his life had no direction, no purpose. But as he turned on his radio to find solace in the music, he tuned in to World Mission Broadcast's youth program, Perfect Rhythm. He responded to the announcers' challenge and sent in a SMS (text message). Thus began what has now become a life-transforming relationship with our Asia-Pacific broadcast team, and with Jesus Christ. This once despondent youth has found gainful employment as an overseas worker, and has been strategically placed as an ambassador of Christ in a Middle-Eastern nation. Before Adam went to the Middle East, he stayed in the home of one of our broadcast staff. This time allowed for counseling and discipleship (through Basic Bible Studies, Christian literature, and program transcripts), solidifying his commitment to Christ. And since his departure for his new home and life, our follow up team has been texting him encouraging messages every day. Pray with us that Adam will be used as a witness for Christ in the Middle East ! African Mother Finds Hope A young African mother, despondent over life, decided to end it all. After putting her children to bed, she went to the kitchen of their small home. She arranged a rope over a beam in the ceiling. Placing a chair on the small kitchen table, she climbed on top, slipped the rope around her neck, intent on hanging herself. (The above account was shared recently with Dave Anderson, Director of World Mission Communications, by Rev. Michael Porthen ? broadcaster for the Lifting Up Christ Nazarene radio program. Rev. Porthen pastors in Austerville, Durban and has been doing radio broadcasting for the Church of the Nazarene in Africa for 28 years.) Journey of Hope for Middle East Listener Asure is an Iraqi man living in Egypt and a listener to World Mission Broadcast's ?Journey of Hope? radio program. In December 2004 he wrote program host Ayman Kafrouny and shared, ?Your program talks to me in amazing ways; every time I hear you I feel like you are talking to me personally.? Tuning in regularly to the radio broadcast, Asure wrote Ayman again on May 6, 2005 saying, ?I want to fall down on my knees before you to tell me more about surrendering myself to the Lord Jesus, because I feel shocked since I heard about that. I heard that Jesus wants me to die so He could live in me. Is this true?? Asure continued by asking Ayman to ?Please tell me what to do. Many times I tried to please God by going to church and doing good things, but I failed. Now I know that Jesus wants to come into my heart and that's why He wants me to die. Oh, my beloved Ayman, please help me quickly? I don't want to die, I want to love Jesus and live all my life for him.? Asure is one of countless listeners to World Mission Broadcast's new radio program in the Middle East. Reaching out over the airwaves, ?Journey of Hope? is a weekly devotional and hymns program aimed at delivering hope and the Good News of Christ. It is through programs like ?Journey of Hope? that World Mission Broadcast is taking the truth, putting it on the airwaves and sending it throughout the world. Listeners like Asure are receiving it and their lives are being transformed. Ayman does a great deal of personal follow-up and discipleship with listeners. On May 9, 2005 Ayman received this word from Asure, ?In your last letter you mentioned issues I have struggled with even though I did not mention them. I'm sure the Holy Spirit revealed them to you. I have done some hard efforts to kill the old Asure that is in me. I want to tell you that now I know what Jesus really meant by killing the old man. Please keep in touch.? Ayman's faith in Christ and the truth he shares puts him in danger due to the volatile area of the world in which he ministers. Please keep him and our WMB listeners in your prayers as they seek the truth found on the ?Journey of Hope? radio program. 35 Million Listeners: Nazarene broadcasts in South America reach the lost for Christ. When asked recently how one would calculate a listening audience, Brian Utter, Regional Communications Coordinator for South America shared the following standard: ?We use a radio industry standard in Argentina to base our statistics. It is a rough estimate considering that the formula is very fluid depending on the country. For example, Bolivia is the poorest country in South America There is not an official mail service. Telephones are usually not installed in homes since it costs a minimum of $1000 for a line, so if a phone call is needed, you pay someone on the street to use the cell phone chained to their person. Email is used through cafes, but it is basically young adults and teens that use them. Culturally speaking, they are a very introverted, indigenous society that doesn't contact media outlets. |