Following her recent visit to Nepal, Feba’s Development Advisor, Marina Santee, describes the difference a radio can make…

“I am listening to the Gaweylon programme regularly each day,” says Sonam from a Tibetan camp in south India. “Thank you for the literature you have sent me. Your health tracts and CDs are very helpful. Thank you for this valuable service for our community.”

How can we accomplish the goal of reaching 4 million people in Bangladesh with the message of Jesus Christ, when we can only visit radio listeners one by one in their rural villages?

Flood waters hit the Sindh province, fire extinguished at Feba Pakistan and listeners encouraged at annual conference… just a few stories from our ministry to listeners in Pakistan.

These are fast changing times and we want to make sure we keep up to date. We want to find out what you, as one of our valuable supporters, know and think about Feba.

Radio is making a difference in very practical ways in many villages throughout Nepal. Thanks to you who participated in the save a life, send a radio campaign that finished in December. Because of the money raised through send a radio, the teams at Aafno FM in Dadeldhura and Okhaldunga, Nepal, have been distributing hundreds of radios as part of their radio ministry throughout 2011.

“Now seems a good time to do as the old hymn says – ‘Count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done,’ says Mike Procter, one of the founders of Spotlight (Specialised English) programme, who has officially retired from ministry with Feba and HCJB Global this spring. “I thought that I’d give a potted history of our time with Feba. Some readers have prayed for us, some supported us financially, and many have stayed with us throughout.”

“We are so grateful for those who are praying for us. Will you continue?” says Keiko Yoshizaki, FEBC-Japan field director. “Please pray that God continues to grant me the right words to share with my people during this scary time. Beyond the devastation from the earthquake and tsunami, we are really concerned about atomic power stations.”

On Saturday 29 January, Aafno FM had a listeners’ poem competition. Project Coordinator Vijay says: “We received 70 poems and 4 persons won prizes. Radios were distributed to the participants and also some villagers.” Thank you for your support of the Send a Radio campaign that funded the local purchase of radios in Nepal. Aafno FM also hosted a live response programme asking listeners for 5 good points and 5 weak points about Aafno FM.

In the days since the Iraqi church attack and subsequent days of bombings in nearby neighbourhoods, our FM team have been meeting with people in the community, taking phone calls and text messages, to cover the breaking news. Iraqi Muslims and Christians have been contacting the FM team with words of condolence, forgiveness and peace.