The Word of God Penetrates, Brings Hope to, the Remotest Parts of the Earth through Shortwave Radio
"In the developing world, many people find that radio is about the only mechanism that is available. They hang on to it the way people hang on to a life raft after a tsunami."
(Homoine, Mozambique)—The Washington Post has run a lengthy article about the power of world-wide radio evangelism. The title of the piece is called, "In the World's Rural Outposts, A Shortwave Channel to God."
Reporter Kevin Sullivan explains how broadcasters are distributing inexpensive wind-up radios to millions in Third-World countries in order for them to receive their programs and shares stories of people who are powerfully impacted by the Gospel messages they hear on their radios.
"In the developing world, many people find that radio is about the only mechanism that is available," said Robert Fortner, a specialist in religious broadcasting and director of the U.S.-based Media Research Institute. "They hang on to it the way people hang on to a life raft after a tsunami."
According to the World Radio TV Handbook, of the world's 314 radio stations licensed to broadcast across borders, 83 are religious stations. Though not all religious broadcasting is Christian based, a goodly percentage is, and of that percentage, most originate in the United States.
Many of the testimonies Sullivan covers comes from Christian radio listeners in Mozambique. An interesting insight comes from his description of the power of the late J. Vernon McGee's teachings via his program "Thru the Bible." Sullivan notes that though McGee died in 1988, his reach is "unmatched." Translated into 108 languages, he says that hundreds of hours of McGee's recorded sermons are heard by millions of radio listeners every day in 219 countries.
One Mozambique native named Matsimbe, who was particularly touched by McGee's teaching on Paul the Apostle, was quoted as saying that McGee's teachings make him want to be like Paul. He adds: "It gives us more than the Bible. It talks about how to live. It adds to what we are taught by our parents and our pastors. I learn about forgiveness. It teaches us to live better."
To read more of Kevin Sullivan's vivid descriptions of Africans sitting about in remote villages in the dark listening raptly to Gospel radio, follow the link provided.
