Radio 4VEH Haiti - operation saturation

Operation Saturation

As the station reaches its 50th birthday. it has some ambitious plans. These include:

Broadcasting French and Creole programming simultaneously on AM 840 and FM 107.1.
Sending 4VEH programming via satellite to downlinks in Haiti and South Florida.
Developing a network of FM stations throughout Haiti to rebroadcast 4VEH in French & Creole.
Construction of a new state-of-the-art radio station complex.
Distributing over 200,000 thousand fix-tuned radios throughout Haiti in a project called "Operation Saturation".
Distributing individual 4VEH programs to interested Haitian stations.
Broadcasting on low-power FM for Haitians in nearby Caribbean islands.
Broadcasting 4VEH programming over the Internet.
Currently the new station complex is under construction. Pictures of the building work are available on the station's Web site which is regularly updated. The two storey complex will house a conference centre for u[p to 200 poeple, as well as studios and administrative offices.

Radio 4VEH is a non-commercial radio station, licensed with the Haitian Government, but committed to political neutrality. It is supported by donations from individuals in Haiti and abroad. In 1998, a campaign was started to collect donations from members of Haitian churches, and currently some 10% of the station's income is obtained in this way.

The Golden Anniversary celebrations take place from 1-4 June, with a programme of events that include everything from a communications conference to a soccer tournament!

Pre-tuned, solar-powered radios for Haiti
Solar power is helping to bring the Gospel to Haiti. Portable solar-powered radios fixed-tuned to a Christian station operating out of the city of Cap Haitien are part of Operation Saturation, a five-year evangelistic effort by OMS International.
OMS sponsors the station, called “Radio 4VEH” (known as “The Evangelical Voice of Haiti”), and is working with churches, denominations, and other ministries on the island to distribute the radios.
The plan is to reach every Haitian through radio, prayer, and individual and mass evangelism. Small evangelism teams will travel the country, going to homes and villages telling people about Jesus.

Key Points

This is a highly effective means of reaching Haiti for Christ, since the radios are gratefully received and very popular. Because they are solar-powered, the people do not need to purchase expensive batteries they cannot afford.
The island has historically been under the evil influence of voodoo, but great strides for the Gospel have been made in recent years, and this project represents a tremendous step for the Kingdom of God in Haiti.

Background
Radio 4VEH reaches an estimated audience of 300,000. The Gospel is being spread throughout Haiti by use of solar-powered radios pre-tuned to 4VEH. The plan, called "Operation Saturation," is to reach every Haitian through radio, prayer, and individual and mass evangelism. This is a highly effective means of reaching Haitians for christ, since radios are very popular and gratefully received. Because they are solar-powered, the people do not need to purchase expensive batteries they cannot afford.

The following is from OMS's Outreach Magazine from Oct./Dec, 1999:

“Christopher Columbus landed on Hispanola (the island Haiti shares with the Dominican Republic) in December, 1492. Native inhabitants referred to their home as "Hayti," or "mountainous land." Its location and rich soil were sought after by Britain, France, and Spain. By the middle of the 17th century, the French had made it the most profitable colony in the world.

They imported as many as 500,000 African slaves to boost production of sugar, cocoa, coffee, and cotton. Because of the abuse, the slaves revolted. Relying on their voodoo practices from Africa, many slaves met on the night of August 14, 1791, under a large acacia tree at Bois-Caiman. Led by a possessed priestess, they received demonic instruction, mastered the art of witchcraft, sacrificed a black pig of Africa, and promised to dedicate Haiti to Satan if they gained their independence. Within days, blood flowed throughout the island. On January 1, 1804, Haiti became the first independent black republic. However, the freedom from slavery led Haiti to the worst kind of slavery – a country dedicated to Satan.

The pact with Satan had been renewed every year until 1997, when a large group of Christians, after believers all over Haiti had fasted and prayed for 40 days, marched onto the Bois Caiman site. The voodoo priest hid as Christians confessed their nation's sin, repented the evil deeds, and cleansed the place. Since that time, those wishing to renew the pact have failed and voodoo's hold on Haiti has been weakened as many Haitians are turning to Christ."

In 2001 there was a television broadcast of a gathering at the National Palace in Port-au-Prince. Haiti's witch doctors asked the President to give them the right to teach Voodoo in the schools, to which the President agreed. Later, in a private ceremony, the witch doctors conducted a ritualistic ceremony for the purpose of dividing Christians. Instead, it has brought division among the members of the Haitian government.

"God is working and Satan's stronghold has weakened, but we continue to need your prayers for saturating Haiti with the Gospel of Jesus Christ through Radio 4VEH and the solar-powered radios. Praise God for His goodness, mercy, and love. Thank you for the blessings you've given through your support financially and prayerfully."
Warren Hardig, Executive Director, Men for Missions International (OMS International)

Summary
These radios will have a tremendous impact on Haitian society, which has long been spiritually bound by voodoo.

To invest in BLI's life-changing ministry around the world, go to Donate Now.

To find out more about this opportunity, e-mail us at Haitiradios@bli.org
Or write to Brad Quicksall, Vice President of International Ministries
P.O. Box 477, Columbus, Ohio 43216 Web: www.bli.org

Haiti is tremendously needy in a spiritual sense. These radios play a strategic part in reaching the nation for Christ.

How many Radios do you own?

Take a quick inventory. One in each car, at each bedside, your stereos, even our computers allow us to listen to the radio! In Haiti, without radios, telephones, mail delivery, or electricity, Haitians are cut off from the world. Since a large percentage of the population is illiterate, they rely on the radio as THE source of communication. Your $30 donation will buy one solar powered radio.

Donations may be sent to:

OMS International

Box A

Greenwood, IN 46142

Marked “Radio 4VEH, Project #46996

(gifts are tax deductible)

What is Operation Saturation?

Operation Saturation is a plan to reach all of Haiti's nearly eight million souls for Christ through thousands of small, fix-tuned, solar-powered radios. The very soul of Haiti-which for centuries has been bound by illiteracy, poverty, and voodoo devil worship-can be liberated as Haitians are able to hear the Gospel in their own language. This is now a real possibility through Radio 4VEH (The Evangelical Voice of Haiti). Operation Saturation is a three to five-year plan which invites the cooperative efforts of many individuals, churches, organizations, and denominations to participate in this bold new strategy.

When will Operation Saturation begin and end?

Operation Saturation began with a vision in June 1999 and it will end when 250,000 radios have been distributed, the improvements to Radio 4VEH and it's future funding have been put in place. Tentatively 3-5 years.

Why a solar-powered, fix-tuned radio?

With two-thirds of Haiti's population unable to read, handing out tracts or Bibles has limited effectiveness. They will need to hear the spoken word of God. There are many souls hungry for the Word of God. Its been said that there just aren't enough churches. Outside the cities, many things are scarce, electricity, fuel, phones, even batteries. With all this to consider, solar-powered radios seemed the perfect solution. Fix-tuned to prevent any other message except God's message to be delivered.

Here is some of what a small, fix-tuned, solar powered radio can do in Haiti:

> reach lost souls
> start a church
> encourage believers
> minister through music
> teach a Bible class
> give medical advice
> sound weather alerts
> give farming advice
> inform about local events
> deliver personal messages and so much more...

Why $30 for a radio?

These radios are designed and manufactured for mission use by Galcom International. They are specifically designed and manufactured to be rugged and last 10-15 years. Radios available through retail outlets cannot come close to handling the requirements these radios have to meet. These radios utilize rechargeable batteries, recharged by the built-in solar panel. Radios are a large part of Operation Saturation but there needs to be a radio station around that will continue to broadcast the message of hope and God's love. A portion of the proceeds goes towards meeting the goals of Operation Saturation.

Where does the money go?

One-third of the money goes to the purchase of solar-powered, fix-tuned radios from Galcom International. One-third to goes to the building of a new broadcast center for Radio 4VEH and upgrading the station with new equipment. And one-third to an account to fund future station needs.