Christians Make Europe Unhappy

Romania's desire to enter the European Union may have a negative impact on Christian radio in that nation.

For the last few years, organisations have been able to petition the government for radio frequencies. But, that may change, says Little Samaritan Mission's Florin Pindicblaj.

Little Samaritan operates 25 Christian radio stations in Romania, which is the largest network of its kind. Pindicblaj says the E-U isn't happy.

"The European Union warned Romania. They said Romania has more radio stations than any other European country -- combined together. They (think the radio stations) were being used for political reasons."

Pindicblaj says they already have been approved for two more frequencies. One in Tulcea and the other in Abrud. He says there are just 12,000 reasons they're not on the air yet. "We (don't) have funds to buy the equipment. We just need $12,000 to open these two new radio stations." The money will be used for two transmitters and other essential equipment.

Christian radio is very well listened to in Romania. Pindicblaj says the poverty is the reason.

"The people are looking for comfort. They're look for (answers) to questions. These days are difficult now and that is the reason I'm so glad God gave the privilege to Little Samaritan in these days to provide the Gospel of Jesus Christ 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

According to Pindicblaj the time to help is now, because under so-called freedom, anti-Christian messages -- like the Davinci Code -- are flooding into Romania. Little Samaritan is combating that.

"Know God's Word, they know the truth. And they will not be deceived. That is our purpose. We are not over there to combat or to debate, we're over there to share the Gospel."

Website Links

• Little Samaritan Mission
  

Content is king

Wayne Pederson, recently named vice president of Moody Broadcasting Network, says Christian radio stations must respond to new technologies in order to continue to be effective.

With music available on satellite radio, the Internet and iPods, Pederson says,

“content is king. I think we have an opportunity here . . . we have the greatest message in the world.

What our brothers in mainstream radio are finding is that with music available in these other forms of delivery, many of the top FM stations -- in markets like Washington, D.C., Minneapolis, Boston, and Chicago -- have gone to an all-talk [format].

I think we’re going to see the pendulum swinging back in that direction a bit, where it will move away from ‘entertainment’ to more information and life-transforming content.”

Attack on Kenyan Radio Station

Late on Friday 12th May gunmen attacked Christian radio station Hope FM in Nairobi, Kenya.

The attack, during the airing of a program comparing teachings of the Bible and the Koran, left a guard dead, two others injured and the building partly fire damaged by a petrol bomb. The programme's presenter Damian Moses Ndimbo escaped with a bullet grazing his finger after he fought off one of the attackers.

The eight masked attackers are suspected of calling the radio program before the attack and authorities in Kenya are now attempting to identify the men from phone records along with DNA and fingerprints left on the scene.

The attack has been widely denounced by both Christian and Muslim leaders and Kenyan officials.

The station’s reception area has been badly damaged with burnt furniture strewn all over. However, the fire did not get to the main studio and Hope FM was able to resume broadcasting early on Saturday morning.

PRESS RELEASE FROM HOPE FM MANAGEMENT

At around 10:30 pm on Friday 12th May, 2006, 93.3 Hope FM studio was petrol bombed by some masked armed men. After gaining entrance they tied and shot dead one of the guards manning the main gate, and injured two others, who are recuperating in the hospital. They then proceeded to the Hope FM studio and forcefully gained entrance into the studio. After a scuffle with the staff who were on their way out, they fired a shot, switched off the station and petrol bombed the facility.

We thank the police, Group 4 Security, Patriotic Guards and the Fire Brigade who arrived immediately in response to the alarm and helped to contain the situation. The relevant government security teams are carrying out investigations.

We would like to assure our members and the general public that the station is up and running. The plans to launch national coverage are also on course.

We take this opportunity to express our deep felt condolences and sympathy to the family of our guard and wish a quick recovery to the two in hospital. We condemn the taking away of innocent lives and the wanton destruction of private property.

We are deeply concerned by a culture of intolerance by those who may not agree with each other especially in the media. Killing the messenger does not and will not kil the message.

Although the enemy meant to do evil, it is our conviction that the Lord will turn this evil around for His glory.

CHRIST IS THE ANSWER MINISTRIES,
13 MAY, 2006.

Web Links

• Hope FM website
• Newsblog Story
  

Discipling Middle East Believers

Trans World Radio's newest program 'Beyond Limits'is designed to assist believers in the Middle East.

According to TWR-Europe's spring quarterly, the project is a grassroots ministry that aims to help Middle Eastern believers remain established and grow in their faith. The initiative dovetails support with TWR's Arabic broadcasts to 22 countries in the

Arabic Ministry Director Oscar Norton explains the need for this new programme,
region.

"When a person in this region accepts Christ, it means going against their culture."

The decision to follow Christ isolates new believers, but in some areas, it's a life or death choice.

"For some, a decision to become a Christian is signing their death sentence. This is beyond limits."

Oscar Norton is urging solidarity with believers in this region in the form of moral, spiritual and financial help, because,

"We must be ready to make every sacrifice to help our fellow believers who go through hardships because of their faith."

The team behind the new programme works closely with the indigenous church to train and equip them to share the hope of Christ in their communities.

Daystar for Israel

Daystar Press Release - May 8, 2006

Contacts:
Jeanette Hawkins, Daystar Television Network, (817) 571-1229 ext. 12296, jeanette.hawkins@daystar.com

Daystar Television Network makes Television History!

Daystar makes history as the first full time Christian TV Network to be broadcast into every home in the Nation of Israel!

Dallas, Tx. (MAY 2006) – Daystar Television Network announces its launch into the nation of Israel marking a momentous event in the history of Christianity! Marcus D. Lamb, president of Daystar Television Network, made the surprise announcement on Thursday, March 23rd on a “live” broadcast stating that they had just been granted a contract giving them rights to become the first TV Channel to broadcast 100% Christian programming into every home in Israel.

Pastor John Hagee, President of Christians United For Israel, and a guest on the show when the announcement was made, stated: "This is like Christmas day. This is a phenomenal event. This is a massive announcement to the body of Christ."



According to Marcus D. Lamb, "This is a first. Never before has the nation of Israel granted a license for a 100% Christian Channel to broadcast into all of Israel. Up until now, it has either been: illegal, impossible, or impractical. The message of the Gospel will now be going into every home in Israel 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. This is a moment in time that we will always remember." said Marcus D. Lamb.

The opportunity came after a year of negotiations with Jewish leaders and a six month trial of Daystar’s flagship shows: Celebration and the Joni show. “A lot of people have tried; I don’t know why the Lord let us do it. There are many out there that are more qualified than us, but I am grateful to the Lord..,” commented Marcus D. Lamb.

Daystar can now be seen in Israel on the HOT Cable System on channel 98 which has about 1,000,000 homes. That is strategic placement, next to the Knesset Channel on channel 99. Daystar is also on the YES Direct to Home Satellite system in Israel on channel 110 which has about 635,000 homes. Plus, Daystar is on the Hotbird 6 Satellite which has about 185,000 homes in Israel. As a result, Daystar is now available to virtually every home in the nation of Israel!

Daystar Television Network is the second largest and fastest growing Christian Television Network in the world. It can be seen in over 50 million U.S. homes and over 200 countries worldwide. Daystar’s singular goal is to reach as many people as possible with the good news of the Gospel through an extensive blend of interdenominational and multi-cultural programming. Daystar provides award-winning family-friendly, and relevant faith-based programming. Included in Daystar’s line up are contemporary music videos, children’s animation, and topic driven talk show programs as well as the nations most requested national ministry programs. Daystar also specializes in “live” remote broadcasts of major Christian events.

Daystar owns and/or operates 50 television stations in various cities across the U.S. such as Philadelphia, PA; San Francisco, CA; Boston, MA; Dallas, TX; Washington DC; Atlanta, GA; Houston, TX; Seattle, WA; Tampa, FL; Minneapolis, MN; Cleveland, OH; Phoenix, AZ; Denver, CO; Sacramento, CA; Stockton, CA; Modesto, CA; Orlando, FL; St. Louis, MO; Indianapolis, IN; Charlotte, NC; Raleigh, NC; Nashville, TN; Kansas City, MO; Columbus, OH; San Antonio, TX; Birmingham, AL; Memphis, TN; Buffalo, NY; Oklahoma City, OK; Las Vegas, NV; Little Rock, AR; Richmond, VA; Charleston, WV; Knoxville, TN; Honolulu, HI; Maui, HI; Portland, ME; Tucson, AZ; Jackson, MS; Montgomery, AL; Macon, GA; Gainesville, GA; Apex, NC; Tulsa, OK; Baton Rouge, LA; and Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Daystar can also be seen on DirecTV, DISH Network, affiliated stations, various cable systems and the internet at www.daystar.com.

Visit www.daystar.com for more details about this channel.

Opportunity in Cameroon

A great opportunity exists to use radio as a tool for Christian ministry outreach in the African nation of Cameroon.

This is according to Dave Hamrick of the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism (ABWE) who tells us

"The government is wanting English radio. They have a lot of French-speaking radio, but they are looking for organizations to come in and produce English programming. They're not concerned with the content; they're just concerned that it would be done in English."

The reason for that, says Hamrick, is because, "Some of the provinces are English-speaking by birth, a majority of them are French-speaking by birth, and the government is trying to bring these two groups together that have had conflict in the past, and so they've made the country bi-lingual. So there's a large group of young people who want to learn English so that they can get government jobs, business jobs in this new bi-lingual society."

A survey carried out by ABWE has revealed a need in this west African country and the Association is now bringing together a team, preparing to go into that new mission field within the year, with the goal of helping to strengthen and develop the church in Cameroon, and ABWE's Dave Hamrick says they're connected to local churches there.

"..... we found some small churches that asked if we would come and help with some leadership training and theological studies."

"Our goal is to build strong Bible-preaching churches with trained Cameroonian leadership that then will be able to go out and reach Cameroonians and reproduce that model in southern parts of Cameroon and then, Lord willing, that they would begin sending out their own missionaries."

With their help, ABWE hopes to see national Cameroonians taking the light of Christ into their own country.

Pacific Islands Battles !

Getting Christian Radio going - and keeping it on air - is proving a bit of a battle on the Pacific Islands.

Tongan Earthquake Puts 93FM Off Air

A 7.9 magnitude earthquake close to Tonga has put Christian Radio 93FM off air.

In Tonga there are reports of damage around Nuku'alofa but no reports of loss of life so far. The Islands are sparsely populated and it's rare to see a building higher that two stories, so there is not the loss of life you might expect in a city.

The radio station is off the air because the transmitter and other equipment were shaken out of the equipment rack and onto the floor. Local staff are now repairing the transmitter cables, ready to reconnect it and turn it on again, talking through each step of this process with a technician in New Zealand by phone.

93FM in Nuku'alofa also recently suffered severe wind damage to it's antenna.

89FM in Vava'u is also off the air

Radio station 98FM on Vava'u (northern islands of Tonga) is undamaged from the earthquake but has been off air since a lightening strike burned up the mixer panel last week.

The station will remain off air until a new mixer can be flown to Tonga. Once this is available it wil be neccessary to run some tests on the transmitter in case it, or the antenna, was also damaged by the lightening.

Again, each step of the recovery process will be talked through, over the phone, with a technician in New Zealand.

Gud Nius Redio in Honiara back on air after riots

48 hours of rioting in the Solomon Islands put Honiara-based station Gud Nius Redio off air.

The station and a local church were both spared fire damage when rioters set fire to properties but the wind direction changed to protect these properties.

Gud Nius Redio is now back on air but is using some borrowed equipment to replace two mixer panels lost from the station during looting.


New regional internet and satellite radio network is ready

Successful trials have been running on this new regional radio network and now just some equipment is required for the Islands in order to connect the first two stations (Tonga and the Solomons).

This project has taken two years longer than expected, but now presents a very affordable way to bring 24 hour radio programming to every island across the vast South Pacific Ocean.

Web Links

• UCB Pacific Partners
  (note - this site will shortly be replaced with a new and updated site)
  

Jobs @ GOD TV

GOD TV is presently recruiting staff for its new UK office in Plympton, Plymouth, Devon.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY POSITIONS:

• Systems Administrator
• IT Technician
• P.A. to Chief Information Technology Officer
  

TELEVISION PRODUCTION POSITIONS

• Assistant Programme Scheduler
• Quantel Editbox Designer
• 3 X Post Production Editors
  

More information can be found at http://www.god.tv/home/jobs/uk.aspx