Ukraine
TRK Emmanuel Radio - Kiev
16th April 2005
UKRAINE GRANTS LICENCE FOR KIEV'S FIRST 24-7 CHRISTIAN RADIO STATION
After five years of applying, the National Committee of Ukraine on Television and Radio Broadcasts has granted a seven-year licence for Kiev's first 24-hour-a-day Christian radio station.
Viktor Radin, director of TRK Emmanuel Radio, said he was thrilled to receive the approval.
"We've had a number of refusals over the past few years," he said. "There were several people on the national committee who were very much against us. But every time we were denied, we committed ourselves to pray that God would either change their hearts or have them find other work. In fact, most people whom we consulted with said, 'You'll never get a license without paying huge bribes.' But as a matter of principle [we] strongly opposed the payment of any bribe from the very beginning."
Radin expressed gratefulness to partners who have helped with the process. "HCJB World Radio came alongside of us and provided the initial funds for our transmitter, laying of optical cable, the encoder/decoder and other equipment for broadcasting," he said. "The Christian Broadcasting Network also donated a studio flat for our station."
Jason Vincent-Newson, director of HCJB World Radio's Euro-Asia region, applauded the efforts. "Our personnel in the region have been working closely with Emmanuel for several years now, and we are thrilled to see that at last their vision for this important Christian radio station is close to becoming a reality."
Mark Irwin, director of the mission's Russia/Commonwealth of Independent States subregion, added that Emmanuel eventually plans to establish a nationwide network of stations to reach major cities in Ukraine with assistance from HCJB World Radio and other partners.
"It's been great to see how listeners of World Radio Network station KBNJ of Corpus Christi, Texas, in association with HCJB World Radio, have been instrumental in helping raise funds for Emmanuel Radio to purchase needed equipment," he said. "In this way they will use their blessings to plant the seeds of the gospel and strengthen the church via radio throughout Ukraine."
Radin said the station is looking for additional help to go on the air by the June 1 deadline specified in the broadcasting license. "The 'Orange Revolution' gave Ukraine a new chance at true reformation, and this station is just one piece of the puzzle to keep the political revolution moving to a deep spiritual revolution," he said. "True reformation will come when society as a whole will acknowledge that God is sovereign and He heals the land as the people repent and pray."
(Assist News Service/HCJB World Radio)