Former Kidnapped Missionary Lives Miracle Life

Rachel Baker : Sep 13, 2012
HCJB Global

The former missionary had been held captive for over two years. Now he is a radioman sharing the Gospel in the jungles of Peru and says he knows firsthand about life-altering divine interventions.

(Colorado Springs, CO)—Ray Rising, veteran Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) missionary, is not easily deterred from his mission. After being kidnapped in 1994 and held hostage by Colombian guerrillas for 810 days, he continues to share the good news through a new partner radio station broadcasting to more than 200,000 indigenous people in Peru's dense northern jungles.

The new station, "Radio Logos," is a joint venture between SIL and HCJB Global, an evangelical missionary organization that collaborates with national partners to initiate broadcast ministries, often where no missionary can enter. The new station is in Chazuta, Peru, positioned to reach the northern third of Peru and parts of neighboring Ecuador and Brazil.

Rising, who escaped his captivity unharmed after being held for more than two years, was later able to meet with some of his captors in prison and to share a clear Gospel message with them. Today he is an integral part of new broadcasts on a 1,000-watt regional shortwave transmitter (TB1000) built and designed by engineers at the HCJB Global Technology Center in Elkhart, Ind.

"We are now able to broadcast the Gospel message from 4 a.m. until 10 p.m. daily. Praise the Lord for this miracle!" said Rising, who knows firsthand about life-altering divine interventions.

"Radio Logos" is Rising's third cooperative venture with HCJB Global. In the first two, he helped establish stations in Bolivia that cover South America's central region.

The Peruvian station is currently broadcasting in seven languages: Achuar, Bora, Junicui, Ticuna, Pastaza Quechua, San Martín Quechua and Spanish.

"There are at least 17 language groups in our listening area," said Jairo Sangama, pastor and local radio partner. "We hope to add more languages to our broadcasts soon to communicate the Scriptures to all of these groups."

People throughout these remote areas are receiving Galcom solar-powered radios that are fixed-tuned to the station. Already reports have come from communities that the signal is clear and broadcasts are being received.

The radio station is the culmination of two years of planning and prayer by 120 local church members. Prior to the launch, a five-day radio program production workshop was held for 29 people representing seven Amazonian tribes and multiple language groups. "Our goal is to develop a network of like-minded Christian broadcasters to join this effort," said Allen Graham, HCJB Global missionary and director of the radio workshop.

Many new listeners have responded that they want to participate in the outreach. A second workshop will be held in December to train more local Christians to produce programs in their own languages to be broadcast from the station.

The station comprises recording studios, transmitting equipment and a hostel for visitors producing radio programs. Broadcasts include public service announcements, Bible readings, music and special programming for women and children.

A single evangelical church was planted 50 years ago in Chazuta, Peru, a town of about 10,000 some 500 miles deep in the jungle. Today there are 19 church associations with more than 500 churches in the Peruvian Amazon basin.

"One station at a time, one broadcast at a time, we are reaching people for Christ," said Rising. "With God's miracles at work, this won't be the last one."