Christian Broadcasting News

Christian radio helps earthquake victims

2008-09-02T10:24:00.002Z

More than three months since the devastating earthquake hit Sichuan Province, China, the needs for the victims remain.

According to reports, it will cost more than $150 billion to rebuild schools, hospitals, businesses and homes for the nearly four million people displaced by the earthquake.

Rebuilding is just a part of the problems. People are suffering from the incredible loss of life and more.

Far East Broadcasting Company is helping in a simple way - by providing radios.

FEBC's President Gregg Harris says, "When all of the infrastructure of a particular city or area gets knocked out, radio becomes an incredibly effective and important way to give people information about what's going on in their world because most of the infrastructure has been decimated."

FEBC is also producing special programming to help people deal with their loss. "Although this programming is not explicitly evangelistic, after people have listened to the special programming about how to deal with the grief and the anxiety, they'll then be able to keep listening and tune in to the more explicitly evangelistic programming we have on the air."

Harris says giving a radio does more than provide a link to the outside world. "It's extremely important psychologically. And of course, when you add to that, specially produced programming that is really targeted to meeting their emotional and psychological need, with a view toward ultimately meeting their spiritual need, it's a great recipe for ministering to people."

FEBC is trying to place 20,000 radios into the earthquake-damaged area. "We're able to buy, distribute, and cover all the costs for getting it into a qualified listener for $30."

The radios are placed strategically through working with the local church. "They know the people who are going to really use the radios to listen to FEBC's program. And often in situations like this, people will form listener groups, and one person will take one radio and gather a group of 20, or 30 or more people."

Farming by radio in Africa

2008-08-19T09:05:00.003Z

As the global food crisis continues, Christian radio is making a concerted effort to help those in the hardest hit regions of the world.

Africa is rich in natural resources, yet is one of the world's most poverty-stricken regions.

Poor agricultural standards often result in severe crop failures, and each year tons of grain is imported to meet the shortfall.

Peasant farmers comprise more than 85 percent of the continent's population, and most have lived malnourished, degraded lives.

Trans World Radio is endeavouring to help change that through their Farming God's Way radio program.

Farming God's Way is a 15-minute broadcast which teaches three main principles - biblical training, technology and management.

As basic farming skills are taught, farms can quickly flourish and provide food for families and a source of income.

Airing twice daily, the 31-part Farming God's Way emphasizes that the church is an accountable and faithful vehicle to demonstrate this method of farming. So far, it has changed lives in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya and Lesotho.

"My English is poor, but I am always tuned in to the radio in the morning, listening to Farming God's Way," wrote one listener in Mozambique. "You are doing a good work. It gives listeners hope and faith in God to face day-to-day challenges positively."

TWR-Africa hopes to translate Farming God's Way into more African languages to help more people not only understand basic farming principles, but introduce them to Jesus.

Christian radio for Kazakhstan ?

2008-08-19T08:51:00.002Z

In Kazakhstan's the lower chamber of that country's parliament is planning new legislation that will impose tough new restrictions on foreign missionary activity and evangelical churches. The measure had its first reading in May.

Despite this apparent threat, FEBC have been awarded broadcast licences for FM radio stations in Almaty and Astana

Gregg Harris, president of Far East Broadcasting Company, believes that this approval comes because they work as a nationally registered entity within Kazakhstan and are therefore not viewed as outsiders.

FEBC have not yet been notified of the specific frequencies the new radio stations will be permitted to operate on, a process which can take a few weeks or months or, somtimes, years !

While the stations are still some time away from hitting the FM airwaves, FEBC are moving forward with 24-hours-a-day programming with plans to stream on the Internet and make the programming available for those in the country that have Internet access. This will help in showing the government that they are serious and can make good programming.

More people in Kazakhstan speak Russian than Kazakh but there is a growing nationalistic trend in Kazakhstan which means the Kazakh language will become more used and more influential.
FEBC's programming will be a mixture of Russian programming but with Kazakh language programming for those who are Kazakh speakers.

Christian charity announces launch of new radio station

2008-08-05T15:05:00.000Z

PRESS RELEASE

Issued: 01/08/2008 For Immediate Release

Christian charity announces launch of new radio station

Christian Life Resources has announced that it will be formally launching its 24/7 radio station called The Power Station on 1st September 2008. The charity which sells branded merchandise and gift items to fund its activities is based in Devizes, Wiltshire and is dedicated to the promotion of Christianity mainly through the publication of its evangelistic magazine, Real Life.

One of the unusual features of The Power Station is that it sees its future being firmly based on the Internet. Often used by fledgling stations as a launching platform, they often aspire to move onto formats that are normally associated with ‘serious’ radio – such as FM, DAB and Satellite.

Not so with The Power Station. Programme Controller and Presenter Simon Cook is convinced that the Internet will have a big part to play in the future of radio and looking at the results of a recent poll, it is hard to disagree with him. The poll commission by RAJAR and performed by Ipsos Mori has shown that an extra 2.5 million Brits have tuned into Internet Radio during the past six months. Coupled with the fact that through WI-FI and mobile networks, the consumer can listen in a increasing number of ways, this trend is likely to continue.

Seeing The Power Station as ideally placed to take advantage of this growth, Simon Cook not only thinks they have the right platform but the right content for station too. Reflecting on this he said,

“We are confident that the Internet is the future of radio and as more people access radio through it they will hear the difference The Power Station offers. We play more music than other UK stations in our genre and that our features are shorter and more punchy in their delivery.”

Simon, whose passion has been Christian radio from his teens, also reckons that The Power Station will eventually become a household name among Christians in the UK. Watch this space!

###ENDS###

Notes to editors

Contact Lance Sharpe, Development Officer on 01380 739390 or lance@christianliferesources.co.uk for more.
Christian Life Resources is a registered charity no. 1121082.
Visit www.christianliferesources.co.uk to see our other activities such as our webshop and full-colour magazine, Real Life.
RAJAR poll results viewable on http://www.penelopejamespr.com/images/RAJARPodcasting&ListeningJune08.pdf

Sharing Love - Dispelling Myths

2008-08-05T10:07:00.003Z

FEBA recently pioneered a new radio project to share Christ’s love with the "unreached" Muslim majority in an Asian country.

To quote the radio ministry’s program director: "While there's an established minority church in the area, they were not trying to reach out to their Muslim neighbours because of a genuine belief that Muslims could not be saved!

Their attitude was, why bother? That is very sad!"

The director added that on more than one occasion, the radio team had heard from listeners who had gone to local churches to find out more about Jesus -- only to feel unwelcome, or even be turned away.

Yet, Muslim listeners continue to come to faith in Christ through radio broadcasts ... and Feba is creating discipleship programs to encourage them.

Program producer Noor says that Muslims who come to faith in Christ, sometimes find themselves unwelcome in established churches due to distrust, or fear of persecution.
He adds, "We frequently get threats, but we have to follow the example of Jesus. "Jesus appeared to Paul, even though he persecuted Christians. Paul put Christians in prison; he even killed them... and in parts of the world, Muslims are doing the same to Christians."

"But if we are not willing to love Muslims, then we will never have another Paul."

Islam is the prominent faith in many of Feba's listening areas in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East... and radio ministry teams engage with scores of Muslim listeners every week through letters, text messages, phone calls, and emails.

By far, the number one question asked is, "Will you be my friend?"

"People are lonely and looking for friendship," says Middle East development director Jerry Wilson. "They are looking for people with sincerity and integrity; whom they can trust, and share their problems and questions with."

Noor, a Middle East program producer, says that Muslims are taught that Christians view them as enemies, and have no desire to be their friends.

"They view Christians as being 'just for the Christians,'" adds Noor, "so when they hear we want to build friendships with them, they're surprised -- because they don't think Christians are willing to talk to Muslims.

"Many of those who start out by sending us angry threats, change when they realise we do not want to fight with them. They even ask for Bibles, and want to find out more about what we believe, and this opens the door for the Gospel."

Another misconception held by many Muslims is that the Christian faith is fraught with immorality, divorce, a lack of family values, and even complicity in sexual abuse.

Ministry broadcasts aimed at strengthening moral relationships and families are helping to dispel this view, and challenging Muslims to re-examine Christianity.

Feba’s station Baraka FM in Mombasa, Kenya has an estimated 80,000 Muslim listeners -- over 50 percent of the daily listening audience!

While these Muslims know that Baraka FM is a Christian station, they value the way the radio ministry applies biblical teaching to help build healthy families and communities.

One way Baraka FM is shining the light of Christ is by showing love and practical support to both Christian and Muslim listeners in need. The station recently helped raise funds for a Muslim girl who needed major surgery.

Religiously motivated violence has had a devastating effect on parts of Africa, and violent protests are increasingly seen by some as a way to avenge "affronts" against Islam.

Last year, an independent Christian station in Nairobi apparently suffered a religiously motivated attack -- the station’s building was bombed, a security guard was killed, and masked men demanded an evangelistic program be taken off the air.

In the face of this reality, Baraka FM has taken the initiative to encourage peaceful dialogue between Christian and Muslim leaders.

Although building bridges in the face of tension and distrust is not easy, through these discussions Christian leaders have been able to express their desire to find non-violent ways of addressing disagreements... while Muslim leaders have learned that Christians share their commitment to combat drug abuse, rape, and poverty.

When Christians reach out to communicate peacefully and respectfully with Muslims, dangerous misconceptions about the Christian faith can be dispelled, and this can even help lessen the persecution that many Christians face.

Weblinks

WIND-FM Media Centre Dedicated

2008-08-05T09:58:00.004Z

On May 26, 2008, Far East Broadcasting Company dedicated the WIND-FM Media Center in Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia.

The new building was built by volunteers after fire destroyed the original building in 2003. In addition to state-of-the-art broadcast studios and offices, the building also contains a center for training broadcasters.

FEBC celebrated the dedication of the new building with a concert featuring traditional Mongolian music and dance, as well as a banquet attended by international guests, FEBC board members and staff, pastors, missionaries, and NGO partners.

In the days leading up to the dedication, FEBC shared children's activities, evangelism, and radio distribution with the community.

"I'm grateful for the many friends who helped make this rebuilding project a reality through their support," said Batjargal Tuvshintsengel, director of FEBC-Mongolia.
The station in Ulaanbaatar's community-oriented, family-building programming has been commended by Mongolia's Speaker of the House. It also serves to support the ministries of local churches and pastors.

When Mongolia abandoned Communism in the early 1990s, only a handful of people were following Christ. By the year 2007, at least 35,000 of Mongolia's 2.8 million people had committed their lives to Christ.

"We're living during a very exciting time in Mongolia. It's actually easy to become a believer [in Ulaanbaatar]," Tuvshintsengel said. "But how can we reach out into other provinces?"
FEBC-Mongolia has set a goal to reach 10 percent of Mongolia's population with the Gospel by the year 2020.

"I want everyone in my country to have the chance to hear about salvation," Tuvshintsengel said. "And in a nomadic country like Mongolia, the best way to do that is through radio. We want to expand our programs to reach all 21 provinces."

Weblinks

Looking forward to the NEXT digital switchover !

2008-08-04T22:26:00.002Z

As the UK slowly moves into the switchoff phase of it's analogue television services, it seems inevitable that in time MPEG-4 along with the new DVB-T2 standard will be used for Standard Definition TV services as well as HDTV. This combination would permit as many as 19 TV channels per multiplex instead of the current 8.

A complete changeover would render all existing Freeview receivers obsolete.

Last Friday, the UK regulator Ofcom published Terms of Reference for a technical pilot to trial digital TV DVB-T2 transmissions.

The pilot will help to establish the technical standards for the delivery of high definition services on digital terrestrial television. The document can be found here http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/dttfuture/pilot_tor.pdf

Ofcom, who will coordinate the pilot, has also published an open letter inviting participation in the pilot from interested parties. The letter can be found here http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/dttfuture/pilot_letter.pdf

Hurricane Dolly causes problems in Texas

2008-08-02T10:50:00.002Z

Power outages due to high winds and flooding caused by Hurricane Dolly, which made landfall on Wednesday 23rd July, resulted in temporar silences from at least two of the World Radio Network (WRN) stations in South Texas.

KVMV, an English-language station in the Rio Grande Valley near McAllen, Texas, was forced off the air for about 2½ days.

Engineer Jimmy Stinson was helpless to remedy the situation until utility crews could restore power to the transmitter site, approximately 30 miles west of Brownsville. KVMV is a 100,000-watt station with coverage in a radius of more than 80 miles, reaching approximately 1 million potential listeners.

On Monday, July 28, stagnant water remained in neighbourhoods and homes in the lower valley area. A number of area roads were still covered with water and more than 45,000 customers were still without power.

KBNR in Brownsville, Texas, was not seriously affected by the hurricane, “other than the times we were off the air due to power outages at the transmitter site,” said engineer Don Larson.

“God graciously diverted the category 2 hurricane, at the last minute, about 35 miles to the north of Brownsville where there is a much lower population density. This resulted in only 60 mph winds at the studio site and transmitter site which only broke tree limbs and temporarily isolated the studio site by flooding the access road,” he said.

“KBNR was off the air for 13 hours, and we operated at low power for 12 hours.” Larson added. “The webcast continuously went out to the Internet listeners. Whenever we’re on the air, the station is a positive source of comfort not provided by the secular media.”

WRN’s national Spanish satellite delivery service, located south of McAllen, was virtually unaffected during the hurricane with only minor power outages.

Cross Rhythms Brand Expands

2008-07-25T13:15:00.003Z

The brand of community radio, pioneered by Cross Rhythms in Stoke on Trent, continues to expand across the UK.

With Cross Rhythms branded stations already broadcasting in Stoke on Trent (101.8FM), Plymouth (96.3FM) and Teesside (107.1FM), this week brought the annoucement of a new licence award for a Cross Rhythms branded station for Coventry.

Cross Rhythms was the very first community radio station to start broadcasting in the UK ( Feb 2002) and the first Christian radio station to broadcast full time on FM

The Cross Rhythms team beilive that their brand is one that is able to engage and stand up in the everyday marketplace, not just exist within church culture. One that serves the whole community and is seen as a vibrant, valued part of community life.

The Cross Rhythms ethose of is to be a community station that is underpinned by Christian values but driven by local issues.

Content looks to reflect a natural Christian lifestyle - one that encompasses everyday natural topics and issues, as well as presenting the spiritual dimension of the Christian faith.

In addition to regular programming with community groups such as the council, police, health, education and employment agencies, Cross Rhythms daily interacts with local businesses, arts and culture groups, local events and charities, theatres, ethnic focused organisations and many others.

in Stoke on Trent the local newspaper, The Sentinel, supplies the station with hourly local news and Cross Rhythms are involved in many local initiatives and steering groups such as Stoke-on-Trent Music City, The Cultural Quarter Festival, plus programming that focuses on drug awareness and education into local schools.

They are also developing a partnership with the local DAAT (Drug and Alcohol Action Teams) as well as the local YMCA to provide accredited media training for their students. And every day Cross Rhythms City Radio broadcasts a local event guide, supplied by Saltbox Christian Centre.

He's Irish, the son of a policeman, is a friend of U2's Bono, and is a popular breakfast host on UCB UK Radio - what more could he want?

2008-07-21T10:06:00.002Z

By Michael IrelandChief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

STOKE-ON-TRENT, UNITED KINGDOM (ANS) -- Robbie Frawley, morning breakfast-time radio host of Britain's UCB UK Radio, grew up Roman Catholic in Ireland, his father was a police officer at Dublin Airport -- and he has a unique friendship with Bono of U2.

International journalist and author Dan Wooding caught up with Frawley at the UCB UK studios on Stoke-on-Trent, England, where the radio host talked about his family background, his frienship with U2's Bono, and his career in British radio.

Robbie Frawley in AucklandFrawley told Wooding that he comes from a family of five -- two older and two younger brothers -- and that in the 1970s cancer took the life of his mother, who passed away when Frawley was a young child.

"But you kind of live; I don't know if you ever get over those things, but you begin to live with them and life takes the turns that it takes and you have a choice -- you choose to live it or you choose to be defeated by it. As a family we chose to live by it. My father was working for Dublin airport -- he was a policeman -- and over the years we kind of grew up and ended up getting involved with the Charismatic renewal initially in the late seventies in Ireland and working with some great people with whom we are still very good friends today and discovering that there was more to life than just ritual. There had to be more to life than just ritual. If that's all life ever, ever gave, then what a boring existence."

Frawley said he was thankful for his Catholic background

"To be quite honest with you I have to say today I'm grateful for my Catholic upbringing as a school kid because I knew who Jesus was. No one could ever tell me did you know about this Jesus and my answer would never be blank. I always knew who Jesus was. I knew that there was God the Father, I knew that there was God the Son, I knew that there was the Holy Spirit and I knew that certain times in your life according to our belief system at that time certain things would happen. I would make my First Communion I would be Confirmed and all these things would happen and I had a knowledge. The difference is I honestly didn't have a relationship with Him, and that was the difference. So when it came to understanding that actually I can have a one-to-one relationship with this guy called Jesus I know about Him, I know that Easter came, I know that He died on the cross, and I know that the Bible says that He rose again. There was a point in my life at the age of fifteen where I suddenly realized that it was real and it was very true. A nd for me as a young teenager of fifteen the light just suddenly went on that this isn't just knowledge, this has to be a relationship. It has to be (from the) heart and it has to be me willing to just surrender my life to Jesus because of what He did. It was just mind blowing -- it took a bit of time for that to happen, and I can't say my Christian walk in my early teens was on the up all the time, not a chance. It was more peaks and troughs than anything else."

He was asked about his friendship with Bono

"In the years of growing up we were at the same church together and I know him well and with his lifestyle with my lifestyle I worked with the family for a good number of years, you end up going separate ways. Of course he is such a huge star now I don't get a chance to see him too often -- probably every couple of years or thereabouts we cross paths. But we had some great fun together as we grew up. He was a little older than me, and still is! When I was working for Alison's family, actually his wife's family, we would spend a lot of time together. We would in the early years of U2 and that sort of stuff. We would spend a lot of time together at concerts or just in the factory where we worked together, the warehouse where I worked for his father-in-law. I remember once fixing his car just before his driving test. So I have a claim to fame that I fixed Bono's car before his driving test. A funny thing I remember walking down the street praying as we walked through Dublin just the two of us walking down together for sandwiches for lunch. People don't see that side of him. People don't see that heart with him and hand on heart I can't say that's where he's at right now but I do know that he's got a lot of spiritual backing, a lot of spiritual input, and in the early years we used to do things like we would pray as we walked. We would share the Gospel together. We would share Jesus together. We would have a laugh together and we would just experience life together. It was fun."

Frawley was asked what he would like people to know about the Bono that he knew?

"The Bono I knew and the Bono I know of now and I could probably say I still know because of my connections are still there, you know something he's the most incredible family man. He is one of the world's greatest rock stars and I think you get judged for that because no matter who we are, we all make mistakes. But you know something I've seen him in his home of late and he is the most incredible family man and they are an incredible balanced family. They do more good behind the scenes than people will ever know, both him and his wife Alison and now their children of course the girls are a lot older than the boys. But there is just an immense heart for people that I don't think we see an awful lot of. We see him on platforms with different events that happen -- the G8 and all that sort of thing. But behind that there's a heart for people worldwide in terms of Africa and AIDS and what's going on there, but he's a true friend and when his friends are in need he's there for them. There's a real, real honesty about the man that I don't think people see."

Frawley said he got into broadcasting in Ireland when he was eighteen

"I always played with music, I always played with mixers and decks and all sorts of things. I was about eighteen and I got into broadcasting for the first time. I ran a one-hour show on a Monday evening for what was then called the Irish Christian Broadcasting Service which was based in Dublin in a convent. It was so funny, I mean it was pioneering stuff, it really was. I'd go in at seven o'clock in the evening and it was seven o'clock as long as my watch said it was seven o'clock. If my watch was ten minutes out the program started ten minutes late. The transmitter was in the same room as the mixing desk and it was so basic. That's where I started. Strangely enough that particular station played the very first airing of U2's New Year's Day.

"Somebody came to a prayer meeting I was at and some friends said to me you'd be good at that and I said no. They said yeah go on you'd be good at that. So I ended up speaking to the representative of the Irish Christian Broadcasting Service and they said oh come along let's see if you're any good. I suppose in terms of Ireland the rest is history as they say. That was it -- it was just responding to somebody being at the front of a church saying this is what we're doing we need volunteers so I put my hand up and that was it."

What was the catalyst that brought Frawley to England?

"I think for me it was a case of having to change my scenery. At the time it was 1985 and Ireland was going through a bit of a rough patch. There wasn't a lot of work about the seventies had really taken a toll. The whole Celtic tiger hadn't even been born. It was one of those things where I couldn't find a job, I couldn't settle, and there was something in me that felt I had to do something and I didn't know what it was, and I agonized over the move for a long, long time because we were a very close family. In eighty-five I kind of pulled my socks up and said I've got to do this. I thought I'd be in England for three years -- my plan was I'd go to England, I'd make my fortune then I'd come back to Ireland and go haha look at me. But God had a different idea. God had a different plan. I arrived in July, 1985; it was Wimbledon Sunday. I remember watching the beginning of Boris Becker's first Wimbledon final in Dublin in my aunt's house -- a wonderful, wonderful lady who raised me after my mum died the most incredible woman. It br oke her heart, it broke my heart, when I left her. I watched the beginning of the match there and I watched the end of the match in my cousin's house in Dagenham (near London). That's how quick it took me to get into Dagenham."

Frawley said he drove a mini-cab (independent taxi) around London for awhile

"It was very interesting life, but that wasn't the end of it because there was a church based in Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire and they were connected to the church I was in at Dublin. Some telephone calls or whatever had passed with my old pastor and the pastor of this church. I made contact and after six weeks of living in London I uprooted out of London and I moved to Milton Keynes not knowing anybody but I thought I've got to go to this place because the people there David and Maurine Church are the most incredible couple. They were so loving, so open, and so willing to help me even though I didn't know I needed help.

"Everything kind of happened in Milton Keynes for us because that was the years where my spiritual walk took root, my development took root, my radio career began again -- hospital radio initially for Milton Keynes and then local FM, local cable radio as well and then national AM all out of Milton Keynes with a radio station that began a network there. "It was the Children Radio Network. I would drive from Milton Keynes to Dunstable only about ten fifteen minutes away for the overnight show on AM. We had three transmitters in the local area and we'd go satellite national overnight so there was a whole host of people from all over the nation and it was a great, great learning curve for me. But you forge lifetime friendships and lifetime people who walk with you through your darkest times. That's what happened in Milton Keynes for us because I met my wife Lynne, an English girl, and we were married in eighty-eight. We were a part of the same youth music group at church -- we just kind of grew up together."

He was asked how he got the job at UCB. Frawley said he got a phone when he was about to move house in Milton Keynes and was in the middle of taking on a pastoral role with one of the church congregations he was associated with there."I was packing things away and I remember packing away stuff from my past radio life interviews with different people -- BeBe and CeCe Winans, Russ Taff -- those kind of people, and sticking them into a box and turning around to Lynne my wife and saying was all this a waste? Typical male thing you know. And her response was nothing is ever wasted in God's economy, nothing; get a grip. Three months later I get a phone call from a man who I've never met before who was running UCB Europe as it was called at the time. They said to me I believe you're an Irish radio presenter and I believe that you know we need an Irish voice. Could you please come and talk to us. That was back in 1999. I was a volunteer, I used to have a client in Manchester so I'd go to Manchester for the day I'd come back down here, stay over night and do some work for UCB Stoke-on-Trent and then the next day go to a client in Birmingham. So it all worked out travel- wise. I did that for about six months as a volunteer. Then UCB kindly took me on and paid me one day a week and it was then, when a new manager came along from New Zealand, he decided he wanted to hire me fulltime. That was at the end of 1999."

From there he went from doing Sunday afternoons and Tuesday evenings and all sorts of things to Breakfast on UCB Europe

"It was very interesting and for the first year of that I drove up to Milton Keynes every day, which is very interesting. A round trip of two-hundred-fifty miles. So I killed two cars and I'm sure almost myself a number of times. But you know when God's grace is involved in something, when you need the grace of God it's there, because when we moved to Stoke-on-Trent that weekend I was invited to Milton Keynes to do something and I thought well I can't even face that journey. The weekend we moved we were fine. Once I was here I didn't need the grace for that journey any more and that was it. So I did the breakfast show for a good number of years, probably four years, until I went into managing the network."

When he did the breakfast show it was always known to be very upbeat. Has he had any really funny experiences?

"I think lots of experiences can be humorous and funny. There's been many things on the breakfast show that were a real privilege -- we've had some fun with some great people. Rebecca St. James, Mmartin Smith, Michael W. Smith, all these people, some amazing fun. We've done some strange things even with (your son) Peter. We've had Peter trying to escape out of a straightjacket on the breakfast show. Breakfast week we've sent somebody to a Bacon Buddy bar to do a report on the great British breakfast. For me it's spontaneous -- it has to happen now, it's very rarely planned months in advance. We have an idea of what we want to do, but I always found the most incredible thing for me was the privilege and honor to be invited into people's homes every day, because as a radio presenter I don't have any rights. As a radio network we don't have any rights. But as the guy who's here at six o'clock in the morning I don't have a right for people to listen to me. It's a privilege -- people choose to switch the radio on and that for me is r eally cool, and interacting with those people who listen every day sparks off and we have so much fun because life is fun (and) it should be fun. We should be able to wake up with a smile on our face."

Wooding said that Frawley was going against the grain for Christian broadcasting because so much of it, especially in the United States. is very serious -- no humor whatsoever. So how did this philosophy come about?

"It came about I think long before I actually came back on air, before I actually joined UCB. I was living in Milton Keynes God spoke very clearly to me about something because I wanted to be like everyone around me. And of course I'm a minority in Central England -- you know I'm an Irishman in a church of Middle English people -- and God spoke very clearly to me and said you're Irish, be Irish. Don't be anybody else. Life throws a curve ball at you sometimes and you have to be able to catch that somehow and deal with it. But life should be fun and all you've got to do is look at Jesus and the disciples to see the most incredible sense of humor in the world. I mean fancy picking those guys, really! I mean the people he picked and put next to each other people you would never in your life dream of putting next to each other in human thinking, never. And what does Jesus do? He pulls them altogether and he makes them work as a team and I'm sure he had some great fun along the way. Why shouldn't we laugh -- we have the greatest news in the world? Tthe fact that Jesus loves us so much that He died for us. That's got to be the greatest thing that we could ever talk about. But let's laugh, let's have fun. Breakfast is a time when people are getting out of bed thinking oh God it's another day my job is to go God it's another day and hey listen I know where you're at I want to guide you through it. That's where my role comes in, so let's have fun. Let's throw the baby and catch the baby of course but let's do something different that turns this thing on its head that says as Christians we have to be looking at our shoes. We shouldn't be. We should be looking at the horizon, we should be looking to see what God has for us every day. Am I trying to be super spiritual? No, because there are days when I walk into work and I think Father thank you for today, I'm so tired, I need you to really give me a boost. So I'm not saying I'm up every day I have to work at that, but my heart is to make sure that we have fun as we go about the day."

Frawley was asked if his audience is predominantly Christian or does he get a mixture?

"I think in percentage, yes it would be predominantly Christian, but I would hope and we have had people ring the breakfast show before in the past and just give their lives to Jesus over the phone, which is wonderful. I would like to think that there are a number of people who don't know fully who God is or who God can be for them. It's ok to have a knowledge of God but to have a relationship with him. So, to answer your question, in short I think predominantly Christian, but I would hope that there are some people who are really searching for some answers and some truth."

Frawley mentioned that the UCB stuidios have been through many different guises, but they have always had a Christian flavour

"It's like the building is probably three-hundred years old now at this stage. My understanding is that it was originally set out as a hospital and mainly for the children mainly get them out of Stoke, out of the potteries, out of the steel foundries, out of the area that was smog and get them into the countryside because, although we're only five miles from Stoke itself, that's enough. In those days that was enough to get them to clean air. That was its idea and it's been through many, many different things. The last thing it was before UCB took it on board was a Christian school I believe and when we took it on board it'd been left. They weren't in it at the time, they'd long since departed it needed a lot of work and it's an amazing place. It's a real privilege to be working a place like this. I've never seen radio stations like it."

He was asked to describe looking what he sees when he looks out of his studio window?

"Looking out from my office right now we've got the prayer garden right across the car park from us. Now in the prayer garden we've got an immense team of people who look after this. I don't mean immense in size I mean just in heart, in ability, in willingness to serve. We have full house site services team and they look after everything we see. So across the car park are beautiful gardens, fountains and ponds -- places to sit and have your lunch, places to reflect. The whole idea was to set the place up that when we have guests and things to go out there and go for a little retreat. Go reflect sit, read the Word, just have peace. And you wouldn't even believe we're half a mile from the M6 motorway. And then at the back of the building we've got a nice walking area and a hilled area, it's all part of where we are. I think there's about 3,000 trees we've got planted around the place. So to protect the environment and respect our neighbors and go from there. So it's a wonderful place to be and a great, great setting to have a radi o station, and tv station."

Wooding said that people listening in the United States probably don't realize how difficult it is to get a license to broadcast in Britain even though Britain is supposed to be a Christian country. He said: "For many years the BBC had this monopoly and they would do religious broadcasting and religious broadcasting was religious broadcasting: Hindu, Muslim Christian nothing overtly evangelical. For many years the government here fought any evangelical broadcasting. Can you tell us a little bit about the battles you've had?"

"There have been many battles along the years and I think different people have taken up the mantle as time has gone on. Ian Mackie our CEO has been the man to really come with a vision from New Zealand and has fought on both sides to try and get recognition and then went back to New Zealand and come back again in 1999-2000 to pick up the torch again. But it seemed as though every time we were close to getting anywhere the goalposts moved for whatever reason. I don't get it, I just don't understand it; all we have to do is just trust God, and that sounds really easy to say, but it's hard to live sometimes. God has given us this amazing facility. He's given us the Word For Today as well Book of Hope and our prayer line and all the things that are based in our other building. UCB is quite a large organization and you think God if we're United Christian Broadcasters then when are we going to get to broadcast? Little did we ever think that the future would be digital. You know in the late eighties, early nineties it was all AM. Let' s do AM. AM will have its platform with DRM Digital Radio in time, but currently AM is old technology. It's very expensive to run -- I'm not knocking it if you're on AM -- praise God, enjoy it. But for us, our future could have been very, very limited with AM. God knows best and over the years particularly in 2003, 2004 the digital revolution began with digital DAB and the powers that be, the radio authority and OFCOM as they are now, they saw fit to give us a license that we could apply for space on somebody else's multi-plex. Somebody else owns the space, we apply to rent space, and that's what's happened for us. You know in the past eighteen months we've gone from not being on anything but satellite and the internet to now being on DAB with UCB UK reaching potentially 30 million people across the UK. That's quite amazing."

Frawley gave up your breakfast show for a while and he's now back on again. What's it like to be back on the air?

"Oh it was very strange to begin with it was like oh how do I do this? It was like did I forget because when I stopped I stopped to help manage the organization, to be the station's manager to prepare us, little did I know, for the DAB revolution. And once we'd done that and we'd done it a number of times there was no need for me to be in this fulltime role as it were. So it was decided that I needed to go back on air. Again because I want to make sure that I do it for the right reason and I want to make sure that I do it right that I still honor those people that listen and I'm still recognizing that it's a privilege that I do what I do, it took me a bit of time to settle back into it. But it's still great. I still don't have a problem getting up in the morning even though I'm getting a lot older now! Still I don't have a problem getting up in the morning and when I do come to work every day and I get into the office at five o'clock in the morning I think Father what a great place to be. What a great privilege because I've no i dea what you're going to do, I've no idea how people are going to respond, would they respond in such a way that they would know you."

Robbie how can we pray for you?

"Well for me personally I'd love you to continue to pray that God would keep my feet on the ground and my head where I need to be facing, but also that God would continue to open the doors for us at UCB that we would cover the nation. That's our desire --that we would cover the nation with digital audio broadcasting and that we would see the message of Jesus go further and further and further across the airwaves. Not for personal success or anything, but we would see an increase in the people who listen, an increase in the people who are affected, and an increase in the people who are praying for and supporting UCB."

What would Frawley like people to pray for Bono and his life at the moment?

"It's funny, people who look from the outside see him as and see people like him as incredibly rich and driving all these wonderful cars and jetting here and jetting there. I would ask you to pray for wisdom Bono as he is in an incredibly powerful position and I know that he hasn't sought a powerful position for himself -- he doesn't need to -- he hasn't sought it for money, he doesn't need to, I think wisdom is what he needs in how to best use his world position for the benefit of those I know he loves dearly. That's why I would say wisdom."

ASSIST News Service (ANS) - PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net

Guatemalan stations being forced off air

2008-07-19T10:31:00.002Z

According to reports from OneNewsNow, Religion Today and HCJB, most Christian radio stations in Guatemala are being forced off the air.

This comes through pressure that secular radio stations are exerting on the government.

One radio station reported that over the past four years, the Guatemalan Congress had received a lot of pressure from the secular radio station owners that they were losing revenue to the Christian stations which are becoming more and more popular,

Congress has refused to move on the issue and Police have reportedly been using violent tactics to take some stations off air.

Radio licenses in the country are also so expensive that many missions and churches are now chosing to operating on community frequencies, thereby limiting their reach.

GrootNieuws Radio stays on air

2008-07-16T22:31:00.009Z

The cost of maintaining a high power medium wave transmitter are telling on Dutch Christian broadcaster GrootNieuws Radio.

The station, which has has a staff of 8, costs around 100,000 euro per month to operate. 70% of the costs go on transmission costs, music rights and the cost of running the studio.

Following an emergency appeal to listeners, the station is reported to have received 200,000 euros in donations and advertising which will allow broadcasting to continue beyond 1st August.

Programme Director Evert ten Ham says that the station is working on concrete plans financial plans for the future. It is reported that the station is to convert from a limited company (BV) to a foundation (stichting).

The foundation aims to attract 10,000 members by the end of the year, as well as more advertising. A number of Christian organisations have offered to help keep the station on the air.

GrootNieuws Radio, took over the use of mediumwave 1008 kHz from Radio 10 Gold on 1st September 2007.

The 200kW 1008kHz transmitter, located at Flevoland in the Netherlands, allows GrootNieuws Radio's signals to be heard by Dutch speakers throughout the Netherlands and Belgium

GrootNieuws Radio website

Pulpit Radio Transmitter Downtime

2008-07-15T21:57:00.002Z

South Africa's Christian radio station Pulpit Radio has announced that their 657 kHz AM/ medium wave transmitter will be off the air for maintenance and training purposes on 16th July between 12:00 and 20:00.

The station will continue broadcasting throughout this downtime for reception by Internet listeners and mobile phone Spodtronic listeners.

In March Pulpit Radio was given permission to replace their existing 26 year old tranmitter with a new transmitter capable for both AM and DRM transmissions

Crisis in the Marshall Islands

2008-07-15T09:08:00.007Z

While for many in the "western" world the cost of fuel has become something ranging from an inconvenient expense to a serious personal economic issue, in some parts of the world it is becoming a crisis.

One such place is the Marshall Islands, home of The Change 104.1FM, where the government has declared a State of (Econimic) Emergency which could see the government cutting all sales of diesel and coconut oil to private users to save it for government uses.

The Pacific Islands nation has enough power plant fuel to keep the lights on until the end of August.

But the national power utilities need to come up with US$8.5 million, to pay for last month's diesel shipment and a down payment on the next shipment, before their suppliers will deliver further fuel stocks.

The Marshalls Energy Company -projected to face an estimated shortfall of between US$17.5 million and $21 million over the next 12 months, close to 20 percent of the entire national budget - has told Cabinet that without an immediate cash injection, it cannot raise the funds required. And that is despite three electricity tariff increases since January.

The Change 104FM is already planning to diversify it's power sources. A meeting with Missionary Ventures (their partners in the Marshall Islands) is scheduled to discuss wind and solar power generation. Although this will require a large financial investment, it will save money in the long term and allow the ministry to be less affected by the local economy.

Already a donor has offered to pay for a wind generator (which can only be a partial solution because the Marshall Islands sometimes go many days without wind) and meetings have been scheduled with technicicans to evaluate and cost the project.

The Change FM has been broadcasting a general format Christian program in Majuro since April 2008. Missionary Ventures holds a national licence to extend the signal across the other small, populated islands of the Marshalls.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands is a nation of 62,000 people living on 5 small islands and 29 islets and atollsis located about half way between Hawai'i and Australia. The country is difficult to get to with few natural resources. Its economy is dependant on US aid. The islands of Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites, and Kwajalein Island, the famous World War II battleground, is used as a US missile test range. The island of Ebeye is the second largest settlement in the Marshall Islands and because of its very small size, is one of the most densely populated places in the Pacific.

Ownership Change for Romanian Christian Radio Network

2008-07-01T10:46:00.005Z

On the 1st of October, Little Samaritan will cease to broadcast its programs in Romania.

After more than 19 years of broadcasting the Gospel, Little Samaritan Mission will no longer be on the air in Romania.

With much of the station's funding coming from the USA, and the American dollar being so low compared to the Euro, Little Samaritan Mission found themselves unable to pay the bills month by month, leading to the decision to relinquish all 26 transmission sites.

According to the ministry's founder and president Florin Pindicblaj, last November was the determining factor in their decision. "In the last two years, we were affected financially. It was harder and harder every month. Last year during the Sharathon (in November), we said this Sharathon will decide if we will continue our ministry through the radio in Romania."

Funding was ultimately the issue. "We needed $40,000 per month to maintain the operations of 26 transmitters, the satellite, the internet and the personnel. We just did not have the funds."

The purchase price was not disclosed, but the money will be used to support their radio network in nearby Moldova.

The radio network has been sold to another Christian organisation called Voice of Hope.

DAB for North Wales

2008-06-25T18:36:00.002Z

Ofcom this week confirmed the award of the new local Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) radio multiplex licence for North Wales to the sole applicant MuxCo Wales.

MuxCo Wales Limited is owned jointly by Town and Country Broadcasting Limited (70%) and MuxCo Ltd (30%)

MuxCo proposes to commence the new service with six local digital sound programme services within two years of licence award, using a network of two transmitters providing DAB "outdoor" coverage to an unusaully low 50% of the adult population of the licensed area.

Included in the radio stations proposed for the new network are the broadcasts from UCB UK.

MuxCo also proposes to provide "a wide selection of speech and music podcasts provided by a range of companies".

New Shows on Cross Rhythms

2008-06-24T09:54:00.002Z

Cross Rhythms Radio have announced two new shows coming to air in September.

Music artist and writer Shell will host a half hour show which will go out every week. The show - alongside great music, fun and guests - will particularly focus on the issues and pressures facing young girls today. Shell was in girl group tbc and now has a fantastic solo album out 'Have You Heard'. She writes books and also on the Cross Rhythms website.

Julia Fisher hosts the all new Close Encounters on Cross Rhythms. Julia will be digging deep under the surface of seemingly ordinary lives to discover the amazing true life experiences that have radically changed them, and hearing the songs that carry deep meaning for their journey. Everybody has a story to tell, and everybody's story is different, so tune in for inspiring, emotive, heart warming, and occasionally unbelievable stories of everyday people who have seen their lives totally transformed through a deeply spiritual experience - something we call, a Close Encounter!.

Radio Aid Continues to China

2008-06-23T09:08:00.002Z

China's Sichuan province was struck by a massive earthquake in May.

Shortly after the disaster, FEBC began airing specially designed programs to help those in need. Programming included a disease prevention and control program hosted by an experienced medical doctor.

Although it has been more than a month since the earthquake hit, some people have yet to receive assistance. When FEBC Chinese Programming staff visited listeners affected by the earthquake, they learned that some churches had not received relief from the government. FEBC staff are now giving support directly to those churches and partnering with two local medical and relief organisations.

Radios are a lifeline to emergency and health information and to spiritual encouragement. FEBC is committing to distributing 20,000 radios to survivors. and has already distributed more than 1,200 radios.

Another new program, Rekindle Your Heart, will soon be on the air. This is a daily 30-minute broadcast designed to deeply encourage and restore listeners, and includes live interviews with earthquake victims.

FEBC Chinese Programming have also created a special CD, with content on Post Traumatic Stress and related topics, which are being distributed throughout Sichuan Province.

FEBC

Gospel 4 Grampian

2008-06-20T10:06:00.002Z

Gospel4Grampain invites you to tune in today at 4.30 -6pm for Friday Live Drive, a program packed withInspiring annecdotes, music, news, sport weather, bible focus and great music.

Gospel4Grampian broadcasts online with both windows media and mp3 audio.

Drop them an email - they'd love to know you are listening. And if you have any dedications I'll you'll get a mention themduring the show.

This coming Wednesday 7pm-9m is Gospel4Grampian Requests- your best opportunity for requests and dedications

WMA Streaming: http://89.249.68.17/gospel4grampian
mp3 Streaming: SpacialNet: G4GRadio1

Gospel4Grampian - Community Gospel Radio for NorthEast Scotland
Delivering God's Gift of Good News 4 You
www.g4g.org.uk

Latin American Satellite Network Conference

2008-06-19T09:26:00.003Z

In Quito, Ecuador, HCJB Global Voice recently hosted a conference for its affiliates in the Latin American Satellite Network (ALAS).

Seventy-two people from nine different countries attended the fourth Congreso de Comunicación Radial Cristiana ALAS-HCJB on June 12-14, a conference held every other year.

Allen Graham, HCJB's Regional Director for Radio Training, said the conference is a special time of radio training, idea-sharing, and Christian fellowship. Unfortunately, fewer people than usual were able to attend the conference this year due to increased travel prices.

Those who were able to make it enjoyed the time together and left with tools they can use to improve what they're doing at their radio station, and impact their audiences for Christ.

Conference attendees left with new inspiration and encouragement. "I'm going to be going back to my country now with new challenges and new goals in the Lord, in terms of how I can use radio to impact my audience with the message of Jesus Christ," said one.

The conference covered subjects like creativity and production in radio, Christian music, and using the radio to mobilize the church for evangelism. At the end of the conference, HCJB unveiled the redesigned ALAS website.

The ALAS Network has more than 80 affiliates throughout the Spanish-speaking world, in Spain, the southwest United States, and fourteen countries in South and Central America. One station in Peru is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, while another station in Peru recently received its license.

Beaming deeper into Africa

2008-06-13T11:09:00.003Z

TWR - Trans World Radio - have been working on their Monte Carlo transmitter to increase the strength of their signal into Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and other parts of north Africa - with a potential of reaching 15 million new people.

Many of the people in reach of these signals have never had the Gospel in their own language before - and many cannot read. TWR currently broadcast in Arabic and four different Berber dialects.

Presently the TWR aerial system is omni directional. The increase in signal strength is being achieved by changing the aerial system to a directional beam.

The importance of this project was confirmed by a Moroccan man who had come to know Christ through a radio broadcast. For ten years, that man had no fellowship with other Christians, and it was only through radio that he had fellowship. Radio can go places missionaries often can't.

TWR has also delivered radio/CD players to Morocco and Algeria, along with a CD of TWR programming. If broadcast signals are weak, listeners can still hear the programs. In addition, several hundred pre-fixed radios are being readied for distribution throughout North Africa.

TWR know through anecdotal evidence that people are coming to know Jesus and that churches are being planted. They contact TWR in many different ways, and when they do, they are asking for more programs so that they can hear what God has for them.

Producers are focusing their radio program content towards women, youth, oral-speakers, and the general public.

Changing the way we Communicate

2008-06-06T00:26:00.001Z

Thursday, June 5, 2008
Innovative leaders gather to change the way
the Church communicates with the World
By Michael IrelandChief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

POMPANO BEACH, FLORIDA (ANS) -- Fifty-five leaders from 49 organizations met last week to "ignite a global movement of visual story for the sake of Christ's kingdom."

The Visual Story Network Summit was a unique gathering of Christian leaders representing mission groups, Bible agencies, creative networks, media producers, filmmakers, distributors, universities, churches and television broadcasters.

Leaders responded to the need for new ways to contextualize the gospel in an increasingly visual world.

"These participants are among the most innovative thinkers and practitioners in the world. They understand the need to move beyond 'preach' and 'print' to 'portray,'" said Clyde Taber, Executive Director for the Visual Story Network.

At the Summit, significant relationships were begun among experts who care deeply about the Kingdom and the power of visual story.

"Great conference!" Shane Sooter of City on a Hill Productions commented. "I'm still buzzing with the possibilities. The networking and connections alone made it worth my time, but the potential for the future is the real prize."

During the Summit, strategy groups formed to focus on North America, global opportunities, training visual communicators and facilitating communication and collaboration. Next steps for the Visual Story Network include a regional event in Dallas in the fall, developing an online networking platform and expanding partnerships with other innovative organisations.

"Though challenged by discerning the best approach in moving forward together, I'm thrilled by the deep desire among these men and women to work together more effectively," Taber said.

The American Bible Society, Youth with a Mission, Highway Video, Asbury College, Sermonspice, SAT 7, Navigators, JESUS Film Project, Northland Church, Igniter Media, Good News Productions, Hollywood Connect and Mission America were among the organisations involved.

The Visual Story Network is a coalition of missional and creative leaders working together to help the body of Christ more effectively harness the power of story in visual media for the Kingdom of God. The event was hosted by the Book of Hope at the Marie Green Forum for Global Missions in Pompano Beach, Florida.

For more information contact Shirin Taber at shirin@visualstory.org , +1 949 235 5148,
or view http://www.visualstorynetwork.com/

DAB plug-in for iPods and Mobiles

2008-05-27T17:50:00.003Z

There are now over 300 products in the market capable of receiving a DAB signal, with the entry price for a DAB radio now under £15.

Industry sales figures show cumulative sales of DAB capable radios stood at over 7 million at the end of April

It is reported that Channel 4 is in talks with electronic manufacturers about creating a small branded DAB digital radio plug-in for iPods and mobiles phones, with the hope of making them available for no more than £20.

Christianion radio production courses

2008-05-25T20:49:00.001Z

Whistling Frog Productions (HCJB Global-UK’s radio department) is working with two other Christian organizations to run foundational courses in Christian radio production and broadcasting in the coming months.

Both courses will teach basic skills needed to produce a variety of prerecorded and live radio programs with an emphasis on evangelism.

A two-week residential course with Radio Worldwide will be held in Leeds July 5-18.

Another course will be taught with Canaan College for 10 Wednesday evenings starting Sept. 17 at the HCJB Global-UK office in Bradford.

For details visit http://www.hcjb.org.uk/uk-news/new-christian-radio-course.html

FEBC programming addresses China earthquake

2008-05-23T10:26:00.004Z

The death toll has climbed over 40,000, and thousands more are still missing in the aftermath of the 7.9 magnitude earthquake on 12th May which devastated the Sichuan Province of China.

While aid is pouring in, Christian radio is having an impact on the survivors.

Far East Broadcast Company Hong Kong is producing a special radio series on disease control and hygiene management. The program is hosted by an experienced medical doctor and broadcast to the Sichuan Province.

FEBC is also planning to deliver free radio sets to the affected area, providing a way for survivors to hear important messages during this critical time.

FEBC-Hong Kong is asking believers to pray and to give generously during this time of need. Funding is needed to help purchase radios, as well as to support the relief, reconstruction and disaster operations in the affected area.

FEBC is partnering with Christian leaders in China to provide emergency assistance and immediate help.