Listening World. Inside this issue Persecution and PANI. Church Leadership Support and Training From the News Room Prayer Matters.

Transcription

1 December 2017/January 2018 Listening World Inside this issue Persecution and PANI Church Leadership Support and Training From the News Room Prayer Matters

2 From the Chief Executive Officer, Dr Russell Farnworth. Let s face it, the world is an extremely dangerous place these days! High tensions on the Korean Peninsula, frequent terror attacks in Europe, wars in the Middle East, conflicts in West and East Africa and Ukraine Couple these events with persecution reaching a modern-day high, and one wonders where it is all going to end. Jesus himself was persecuted cruelly and warned his followers to expect the same. He was unjustly accused and subjected to violence and a degrading execution. The New Testament describes the persecution endured by his followers in the years that followed imprisonment, flogging, seizure of property and death. Persecution facing Christians is among the largest human rights violation issues in today s world. The most common forms of persecution of Christians are violence against people and property, exclusion from education and employment, and removal of access to housing, Bibles or food and water. That s why the work of TWR s PANI transmitter is so vital. We feature the challenges the TWR PANI Team face daily on pages 3 and 4. In the midst of persecution, the good news of Jesus needs to reach every man, woman and child. The world is a dangerous, persecuted place. But we believe that God is using TWR and our supporters together as a big voice for Jesus in more than 190 countries and 230 languages. Thank you for sharing with us the partnership of the Gospel and for standing alongside us in the cause of Christian missionary radio. Yours in Christ, TWR s bank account for the UK is: CAF BANK Limited, PO Box 289, West Malling, Kent, ME19 4TA. Sort code , A/c number Thank you for your ongoing support which makes it possible for us to continue reaching out and touching hearts with the Gospel. Our commitment to you: read TWR-UK s Supporter Charter at Trans World Radio Ltd. is a non-profitmaking Limited Company No and a Registered Charity in England No Address: TWR, PO Box 606, Altrincham, WA14 2YS Tel: info@twr.org.uk Web: countries 230 languages One Hope Broadcasting in the UK: Sky Guide 0138 Freesat 790 Freeview HD Connect with us: Smartphone & tablet TransWorldRadioUK 2

3 PANI and Persecution In February 2013 TWR-UK supporters contributed generously to the set-up of a half-million-watt transmitter in an undisclosed location broadcasting to Pakistan, Afghanistan and North India. The transmitter became known as PANI, partly because of the abbreviation of the countries it reaches and partly because Pani is the Hindi word for water, an appropriate name for a transmitter which brings living water to a spiritually thirsty region. It is stony ground for the Gospel, and ministry counsellors field phone calls from secret believers or listeners who genuinely want to know more about Christ. But others have malevolent intentions. In the case of Afghanistan, nearly 85 percent of phone calls are from hostile people who verbally abuse, threaten and emotionally tear apart our counsellors to such an extent that some of them have adverse medical conditions, said Thomas Prasad, TWR s International Director for South Asia. Since the counsellors themselves have gone through extreme persecution in their lives when they came to Christ, they see this as part of their faith walk that strengthens them in the Lord. Believers in these countries face various kinds of oppression, Prasad said. Governments often boost their own agendas by singling out minority faiths to appease the majority religion. Anti-conversion laws, anti-blasphemy laws and discrimination in employment target Christians. Sometimes governments send spies to help trap 3

4 and arrest missionaries and new believers. Pastors have been beaten or killed, Prasad added. For many of us, the verse in which Jesus says to deny yourself and take up the cross and follow me would be a metaphor, but for people in the PANI region, it can mean literal death, he said. When the calls to PANI counsellors from Afghanistan declined for nearly a year, it was learned that religious extremists there had announced over mosque loudspeakers that anyone listening to TWR broadcasts would face dire consequences. The calls began to climb again in February But in the midst of such opposition the Gospel continues to bear fruit. A soldier in Pakistan said he had many questions about both his family s religion and about Christianity while growing up, but they were never answered satisfactorily. When he joined the civil armed forces, he had a Christian roommate, who listened to TWR programmes and discussed his faith. As the young soldier listened to Thru the Bible, he came to know the truth. I decided that whether I live or die or my family disowns me, I shall accept... the truth that Jesus is my Saviour and came to earth in human form just to save my life, the soldier wrote. Andrew Sundar, TWR s Central Asia Director, relayed the story of one listener in a recent interview. He began by explaining that the man was from Afghanistan but living in Iran when he started to listen to the broadcasts from PANI and, after some time, came to faith in Christ. The broadcasts gave details of a phone line that listeners could call, and the man was desperate to speak with TWR, but didn t have the money to buy a phone. He saved up for 11 months, bought a phone, and called the number. Within a few hours of making the international phone call, the secret police in Iran came and arrested him. He was tortured for seven months in prison before being deported back to Afghanistan. Once again he called the number. He told the team his story and asked to be connected with other people who follow Jesus: his experience had not broken his faith. The team in Afghanistan are now discipling the man and helping him to grow in his faith. Prayer points That the Gospel will bear fruit in the PANI region That the Lord will give believers the faith to endure That those who oppose the Gospel will turn and believe 4

5 Global Strategic Plan TWR s Global Strategy is made up of five key ministry areas which are the focus for ongoing development. Each of the strategic areas focusses on a particular group of people and the particular approaches needed to bring the hope and healing of the Gospel into their lives. The Global Strategy is at the centre of TWR s mission to reach the world for Christ by mass media so that lasting fruit is produced. Embracing development has always been at the heart of TWR s approach; as founder Dr Paul Freed said in 1967, Even with a changeless message, we do need to catch a new vision, every day, every week, every month, every year. Christian radio broadcasting is not the only answer... We need a continually renewed vision of how to reach others. In these special editions of Listening World we will bring you each key ministry area in turn, showing why it is so important to the spread of the Gospel, and explaining how TWR approaches the ministry and the effect it has on listeners. Global Strategic Plan 1. Women 2. Children and Youth 3. HIV/AIDS 4. Church Leadership 5. Oral Leaners 4. Church Leadership The spectacular growth of the church across Africa has not been matched by growth in leadership, and now trained leaders are lacking at all levels and in all areas. In China s officially registered churches there is 1 trained leader to every 7000 believers. In some areas, it is 1 to 40,000. Across India s 71 million Christians there is one trained pastor for every 6 congregations. In Cuba, church leaders are harassed and discriminated against and occasionally imprisoned. Many were expelled during the revolution. Student numbers in Bible schools are hampered by government interference. (Operation World, 7th Ed) 5

6 Global Strategic Ke Strategies TWR s Global Strategy addresses key issues faced by the global church. In many parts of the world, church growth is outstripping church leader training. In addition to churches where members are taught through broadcasts supported by additional learning materials, TWR maintains a strong focus on instructing and training a new generation of leaders to pastor and teach their churches. For example, church leaders across Africa can tune in to Tools for Wise Leadership, a weekly 15 minute programme. TfWL equips those in leadership with the skills they need using Biblical stories and characters, including an entire series based on Jesus leadership style. Image courtesy of S Woo PROJ Seminary on the Air In China, where believers may be significantly isolated in remote regions, TWR provides Seminary on the Air (SOTA); a seminary-level training programme for Chinese believers and church leaders. It takes students through an intensive four year course of study through audio lessons and assessed assignments. SOTA is also available in Mandarin to Chinese students studying abroad in five locations including Canada and Germany. Since 2011 there have been a series of technological developments which have transformed SOTA into a truly amazing resource, beginning with a curriculum overhaul in 2011, 10 years after SOTA was launched, and moving into new methods of delivering the content, moving away from traditional radio broadcasting and relaunching online. The change has allowed students to listen and study while commuting or even working in the fields, and has also made the submission of written assignments significantly easier. Six textbooks have been developed to accompany the course, and now the team are in the process of rolling out a SOTA tablet computer. This unit, which comprises the tablet screen, a keyboard and a charging cable, gives students access to unique software,

7 Plan From Our Listeners Responses from SOTA Students Student in Shandong province: I am a first year student of Seminary on the Air. God has opened the way, and has helped me find time to be equipped. Even though it is part of the second year curriculum, the lesson on homiletics is of tremendous help to me. My relationship with God has also become more intimate. Student and Pastor in Jiangsu province: CT SPOTLIGHT teaching slides, 2000 pages of textbook and 30 reference books, all in one compact unit. Students, each of whom is recommended for study by their local church, are supported throughout their course of study with on-the-ground support in the form of centres where students can learn face to face and receive encouragement and instruction on a regular basis in addition to the formal online learning. There are 20 such centres in China. Although I have some theological training, I am still like a child to the Truth. Seminary on the Air has helped me a lot. My wife used to object to my ministry, but I am grateful that she has become a believer, and is supporting my ministry. Please continue to broadcast your Gospel messages, and help me in my work as a pastor, so that I will know how to lead the Lord s sheep. At any one time there may be as many as 1700 students enrolled in SOTA, each of whom will be equipped to lead a church. 7

8 Global Strategic Plan Radio Church Kits In less than 10 years, TWR distributed more than 100,000 Radio Church Kits to networks of house churches in rural China in order to supplement radio broadcasts and provide assistance to spiritual leaders. Each kit contains a Chinese Bible, Christian literature and a portable shortwave radio so individuals and groups can listen to teaching programmes such as TWR s Discipleship on the Air. Approximately 57% of China s 1.3 billion people live in rural areas. TWR s Radio Church Kit project, launched in 1994, places special emphasis on the believers in rural and mountainous areas within China who lack spiritual food and training resources. Due to the exploding growth of Chinese Christians, an acute shortage of full-time pastors, Bible training and discipleship materials exists all of which are necessary to build a firm foundation on Biblical truth. When you think about equipping more than 100,000 leaders in a country, that is no small achievement, said TWR President Lauren Libby. People are fascinated with China because of its rich, intriguing history and its constant role in global society. We are privileged to make such significant inroads there, and the multiplying effect of touching 100,000 leaders is innumerable. Each Radio Church Kit costs around 60 and their impact is immense. One house church leader wrote to say, I saw a great change in their lives and their witness for God. They have also grown in their understanding and interpretation of Scripture. Thank God for blessing us this way through the Radio Church Kits. 8

9 UK News From the News Room James Maidment-Fullard, Managing Editor Here at TWR-UK we are passionate about helping you engage with the world about you. We are committed to bringing you the biggest stories of the day so that you know what is happening and can be informed and equipped to speak with your friends and family in a way that will challenge and build you all up. In the morning news bulletin our current affairs team get together around the table to bring journalistic Christian wisdom to bear on the three biggest stories of the day. Tune in to start your thinking about the deeper issues behind the news. At lunchtime our extended news programme includes in-depth analysis and comment from outside sources like political commenters, mission societies and humanitarian organisations. Tune in and let our network of experts inform you on the wider implications of the news. Listen on weekdays at 10am and 12noon Join Our News Community TWR-UK s News Team James Maidment- Fullard, Dave Piper and Eddie Bridle are growing an online community of newsaficionados and if you have a Facebook account, you can be part of it. Simply go to and click like. You ll be able to see sneak previews of what the team are working on, take a look behind the scenes and even have your say on the biggest news stories of the week. We would love to hear your comments on what matters to you and why, and what light the Gospel sheds on the things that are happening in our world. If you aren t already on Facebook, you can still use that web address to take a look. For information about what TWR-UK does more generally, try 9

10 Happy Children s Garden In the June edition of Listening World, we gave readers an overview of how TWR works with children and young people as part of the Global Strategic Plan. The programmes include Happy Children s Garden (HCG), a project which runs across South-East Asia in which Mrs G s Bible stories are told in the local language. In Cambodia around 4000 children take part in HCG listener groups where they meet with a leader to listen, ask questions, sing songs and be discipled. Listener group leaders are a vital link between our team and our listeners. Feedback, questions and prayer requests are transmitted through these leaders. Earlier this year, the Cambodia team organised a training camp for 58 leaders from 12 different provinces to come together for training. The group, ranging in age from 12 to 70, gathered for fellowship and learning, with one thing in common: their love for Jesus and the children. Over the course of the camp they learned new songs, new ways of preparing Bible lessons and ways of finding and using local resources in their ministry, along with a course to help them understand the stages of child development. They came with questions and a hunger to learn, and they left feeling more effective in their ministry. The Cambodia team gave them Bibles and speaker boxes, which are pre-loaded with radio programmes, to help them lead their listener groups. The leaders also made new friends, found new prayer support groups, and enjoyed a time of fun and love in the body of Christ. One attendee, 16-year-old Ponloe, shared: I came to this training because I wanted to learn new things and gain more experiences. I m a new Sunday school teacher and I lack the knowledge that I want to grow more. After the training, I learned so much more than I expected a lot of new things that I never knew before, such as how to choose children s workers, how to teach the Bible verses, and my most favourite lesson about teaching according to the needs of the children. This lesson helps me understand a child s needs at different ages. So it is very helpful for me to prepare the lesson to support their needs. This training is worth for me to come and I really want to come back again. Moreover, this training is full of joy from Jesus with the great lessons. Please continue to pray and support our team in Cambodia as they minister to the leaders during their regular visits to the villages. The team also writes scripts, produces radio programmes and follows up regularly with listeners through thousands of phone calls and letters each month. 10

11 A Roadside Encounter with His Heavenly Father Language: Spanish, Country: USA It was because of your teachings that I could not stop listening, your unique way of explaining the Word and the love and mercy of our Heavenly Father. In one of my last trips, on my way home from Texas, I felt completely broken listening to your message. It got to the point where I couldn t drive anymore, and I stopped by the side of the road. I fell on my knees at the feet of my creator and asked for forgiveness of all my sins. When I arrived home, I asked my wife and five children for forgiveness. Our two oldest children told me they didn t believe me, and that was when I got on my knees in front of all of them and called out to God. From that time forward I have been praying for my children and for my wife on a daily basis. And God performed a miracle. Now my children are right with God. Our two oldest play instruments in the worship team and they are forming a group to worship our Heavenly Father. I never tire of thanking you for the way you allow God to use you. God is good and he had mercy on me and my beautiful family. 11

12 Prayer Matters Church Leadership During December and January we invite you to join us in praying for TWR s ministry among church leaders and (at the weekends) in the UK. PRAYER DIARY MONDAYS Please pray for the many regions of the world where trained Biblical church leaders are in short supply. Pray that the Lord would raise up a new generation of leaders and provide training for them. TUESDAYS Please pray for broadcasts like Tools for Wise Leadership. Pray that the listeners would be taught in the ways of Biblical leadership and that their churches would be impacted for many years to come. WEDNESDAYS Praise the Lord for the developments that have been possible for Seminary on the Air over recent years. Please pray for wisdom and discernment for the team implementing ongoing improvements. THURSDAYS Please pray for students currently enrolled in SOTA. Pray that they will be able to dedicate the necessary time to their studies and that through the course they are equipped and enabled to build up their local church. FRIDAYS WEEKENDS Please pray for churches who rely on TWR broadcasts for their church teaching. Praise the Lord for the Radio Church Kit initiative and the way the Lord has used it to grow His Church. Please pray for our current affairs team as they seek to bring the news to our listeners through the lens of the Gospel. Please pray that this would be powerful and effective. Please pray for the team as they develop new programmes. Pray for creativity and for faithfulness to the Word throughout the process. Prayer is the backbone of TWR and we are so grateful that you stand alongside us in intercession! God delights to change people s lives and we are amazed and humbled that He allows TWR to be a part of it all. TWR, PO Box 606, Altrincham, WA14 2YS. Tel: , info@twr.org.uk, Web: designed and produced by basics jon@basicsdesign.co.uk