‘How can people have faith in the Lord and ask him to save them, if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear, unless someone tells them?’
Romans 10 v14
Overcoming obstacles
There are many barriers that can stop people from hearing the gospel. These could be cultural, for example in Muslim majority people groups and nations where there are very few Christians to share the good news. Through shortwave and solar radio, one of our partners in Northeast Africa, Nomad, is sharing the gospel with an unreached nomadic tribe. Although Islam is a way of life and less than 1% of the population are Christian, their broadcasts are reaching listeners like Mohmed*:
“I started seeing everything in a new light. Soon I began sharing with friends and all I loved and knew…God loves me and gave his Son for me so that I would never perish. I have never regretted becoming a Christian.”
Often, it’s not just that there are not enough believers to evangelise, but persecution makes openly sharing the gospel face to face extremely dangerous and challenging. In Mali, where our partner Radio T works, some of their radio stations have been targeted by Islamic extremists for boldly sharing gospel programmes within Muslim communities.
Other barriers might be physical, like geography, that make people hard to access. That’s why our partner in Kyrgyzstan uses portable solar radios to reach communities living in the remote mountainous regions.
Sharing God’s love over airwaves can bypass these barriers, reaching many who otherwise wouldn’t hear.
*Name changed for security reasons
Hearing to believing
For many people and cultures around the world, oral information is the primary way of communicating. Where illiteracy rates are high, or people are living with visual impairments, audio media can provide a lifeline of connection and a way to hear the gospel.
Ishan’s story
A listener in Nepal, shares how our partner’s radio station Afno FM has impacted his life. “My name is Ishan*. I am 28 years old and I am low vision person. I would like to thank the radio programme Bishram Yasuma [Rest in Jesus]. I have found peace when I listened.”
*Name changed for security reasons
Unlocking understanding
There are over 7000 languages around the world. We work with local partners who are reaching out to communities in their heart languages, sharing the good news of Jesus in a way they can understand, and also deeply connect with.
Connecting with scripture
One Radio T listener in Mali shared: “We really appreciate the stories about the prophets of the Bible. Especially the fact that these stories are broadcast in the languages that we understand and speak. It’s so interesting that we listen to it as a family. These stories teach us a lot. ”
