Hagos [not his real name] is a persecuted believer in the Horn of Africa listening faithfully to the radio.

After serving a sentence in a remote prison camp he shared his testimony on his release.

“We were held in a bush prison, over 100 of us, both men and women. The climate is extremely harsh and venomous snakes flourish. We could barely tolerate the conditions.

But, as time went on, the Lord started to talk to us [through a radio ministry we cannot name for security reasons]. We listened furtively. Each day, when the broadcasts were due to start, voices fell silent. We listened to the radio programmes in silence. Gradually, the Lord started to touch our lives through the programmes.

Some of us wept, some offered praises and others knelt down and prayed after each programme. In particular, when we heard programmes telling of the persecuted Christians in areas like Pakistan and China, our thoughts and feelings that we were the only people suffering for the sake of Christ Jesus changed.

Torture and “Hallelujahas!”

I saw my friends shouting and saying “Hallelujah!” after we listened to a broadcast about the torture of Christians in Pakistan and China. We learned that the Lord would let Christians suffer in his name - but he would never leave them alone.

When we heard that the Lord revealed himself to prisoners in Pakistan and China, and encouraged them that he is with them and wouldn’t desert them, we said that the Lord was really with us; He is talking to us through [… ].

Lives charged with purpose

Later on, we had our own programmes for prayer and Bible sharing. In such a terrible prison, everyone was revived. Many of us have totally altered and have come out of the prison with a major change in the direction of our lives.

We thank God for the radio ministry, and we pray that the Lord continues to use it for His glory and expansion of His kingdom.”