Christian radio helps earthquake victims

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."

Radio Aid Continues to China

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

Radio stations continue sending Hope

HCJB

While many are struggling to get on the ground in Myanmar and China to respond to the recent catastrophes, HCJB Global Voice has been faithfully reaching these two countries via shortwave.

The mission’s ongoing media efforts are focused on reaching those beyond the reach of traditional ministry opportunities.

Broadcasts in the Rawang language, spoken by more than 140,000 people in Myanmar, began airing from HCJB Global-Australia’s shortwave station in Kununurra in 2007. Two half-hour programs in this language air daily -- one slot in the morning and one in the afternoon.

A voice of hope is also going into China as the Australian station broadcasts 18 hours of Mandarin programming each week. An additional five hours of weekly programming airs in Fujian, and 10.5 hours of English programming reaches China. The latter broadcasts are designed to help Chinese listeners learn English as a second language while presenting a clear gospel message.

TWR

As the beleaguered nation of Myanmar continues to suffer from the mass devastation caused recently by Tropical Cyclone Nargis, international Christian broadcaster Trans World Radio (TWR) plans to produce special radio programs offering critically needed health and social care information, emotional support and spiritual care for the hurting and hopeless.

TWR's announcement to begin airing these programs to Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) is especially timely given news reports indicating that the estimated death toll is upwards of 100,000 people, with another 1 million having been displaced from their homes.

A media release states that TWR's over-the-airwave assistance strategy involves offering a full year of dedicated 30-minute broadcasts that will provide biblical counseling and care five days a week.

The release says the programming will be specifically designed to help restore the lives and spirits of Myanmar's people. The need for these broadcasts is underscored by the reality that the country has no electricity or telephone connections. Consequently, solar- and battery-powered radio becomes a vital link to the outside world for storm survivors.

"We continue to pray for the Lord's intervention to comfort, heal and provide ways for scores of people in Myanmar who have lost loved ones or have lost their homes and belongings," says TWR's Andrew Sundar, ministry director for Southeast Asia.

"Currently, we are broadcasting existing shortwave programs to Myanmar in both the Burmese and Sgaw Karen languages, but the new relief-focused broadcasts will be vital when it comes to addressing the victims' ongoing needs."

"The people are desperate and broken-hearted and are going to need significant long-term help," says Sundar. "My hope and prayer is that Trans World Radio can provide a voice of lasting hope and comfort in the days ahead."