|
RADIO AS A MINISTRY TOOL IN RUSSIA AND 01HER RESTRICTED COUNTRIES
An introduction of the early stages of Russian Christian broadcasting.
During the Soviet era the Iron Curtain was very effective in keeping the Christian church isolated from the rest of the world with the intention of sapping the life out of it. However, when Russian Christian broadcasting was introduced to the air waves in 1941 by peter Deyneka Sr., from the facilities of HCJB in Quito, Ecuador, things started to change for encouragement of these restricted Christians.
I personally have used radio as a ministry tool to the Soviet Union for 35 years. In 1958 I started broadcasting with Trans World Radio, first from Tangier, North Africa and then the facilities moved to Monte Carlo. Later in 1985 Peter Deyneka Jr., asked me to come to Wheaton, IL and from the studios here with my radio staff of 21 specialized Russian workers I continued to broadcast the gospel for another 9 years. During these last 9 years we broadcast to
the USSR using 7 transmitters daily from various Christian radio stations.
One wondered how these broadcasts were being received. Could you imagine that after only two weeks of broadcasting from North Africa in 1958, our first letter came from a young man in Russia. His urgent request was to explain to him the quickest way to know God Listener's mail did not always get through to us. First there was censorship and later letters did not come through at all. However the Christians did take risks in sending their letters through contacts
in satellite countries. It was only after the celebration of the millennium of Christianity in Russia in 1988, that mail started to come more freely from the USSR But in 1990 when the Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachov guaranteed freedom of religion for all, that we got inundated with mail from our radio listeners. It was then that we learned what the Christian had to suffer for their faith.
A Christian community in the city of Bamaul, Siberia suffered extremely for their faith in God. There was a time when it seemed that all hell broke out with persecutions, harassment' sand imprisonment's, but God provided the short wave radio broadcasts which served uniquely to strengthen and encourage them in their faith.
One Russian couple who lived in Bamaul, Katia and Roman with a lovely family of 11 children were severely harassed because they were such an exemplary family. Their secret was to tune in to the Christian broadcasts from the West at 4 am, and then at the breakfast table they would relate the Scripture truths to their children. Tears later when we were able to meet this family personally they could not thank us enough for the broadcasts. They realized that
God's family was indeed very vast and they didn't feel so utterly alone in their struggles for their faith.
There is so much one could say about past history of Christian radio ministry. We have experienced the excitement of broadcasting God's World that took root in the hearts of radio listeners clear across the 11 time zones of the USSR
After touching on past history, let us see what is being done and still can be done now.
In the past local radio stations could not be used in the Soviet Union for Christian Broadcasting. This is the reason it was possible to get into the homes of the Soviet people only through short-wave broadcasting. Now things have opened up for Christian programming at local radio stations all over the CIS. This is the right time to train, help, and encourage the national Christians to produce their own programs.
Translation programs into Russian (or any other language) from a foreign language isn't always the best way to reach the radio audience. The format and content of the foreign broadcast is geared to the culture and needs of its own people. It is therefore prudent to seek out the capable national Christians who have an aptitude to do radio work and provide training and facilities where they could produce and record programs fit for the needs of their own people.
In the new structure of the OS since the fall of the Iron Curtain, there is a keen search for higher social and moral values. Christians who before were rated undesirable citizens are now looked up to because of their past record of enduring strength to stand upright and honest even when gravely persecuted. Among these are fine young pastors who are already involved in broadcasting. In Moscow, kind of men and women we need to help. These are the kind of men
and women we want to train so that they could join the ranks of first class broadcasters.
Because of the difficult economic situation throughout the OS, Christians from other countries would do well to bring in help to these nationals for the construction of program production and music studios.
God used our son Jim to help a group of pastors in Ukraine to get into local broadcasting. First he built them a recording studio and that was tremendous. Then through the financial help of some Canadian brethren, Jim helped these same pastors in Ukraine to set up a Christian owned radio station which is already on the air 24 hrs. a day. This is nothing short of a miracle for the radio audience because now they can phone in to the station to get advice, they
write to the broadcasters and get answers to their spiritual need within a few days. They are given addresses of churches near them where they can go personally for spiritual instruction. Because of this new radio station the ranks of believers are growing.
As a matter of fact in Zaporozhye, Ukraine, where the radio station is located, quite a few Christians have gone into business as a result of seeing that it is not wrong, but commendable for believers to own and operate profitable businesses and then to be wise in supporting local Christian ministries.
Dollar for dollar, radio actually remains the most cost effective medium to reach the masses with the Gospel. As Christians get more and more involved with media in Russia (or any other restricted country for that matter,) the spiritually starved listeners will get a greater awareness of the God of creation and will get enlightenment to their spiritual question. In restricted countries there is a subtle understanding that Evangelical Christians are a backward
people. This was specifically taught by the Old Soviet order.
Today the possibilities that national Christians in the OS have for broadcasting is increasing, but there is such an enormous land mass to covers just at a glance, one could get discouraged. However, the fact is very evident that one of the most effective ways in through low power radio which covers a small city. That is for every city to have a low power radio station of its own. This also personalized the message to a contained geographic location.
Low power radio from 100 to 250Watts of power is also reasonably affordable. Radio has a history to spawn other good professions for Christians to get involved in as a career. Why not Christian disc jockeys, news writers, anchors, reporters, engineers, radio pastors, children's programmers, music and advertising and so on!
In the OS, the current need if for Christians who could and would really get involved in using this very powerful and effective tool NOW. There is an urgent need for much more high quality and professional programming for all the specific audiences -youth, children, women, teens, professionals, students etc. To begin with, much of the funding still has to come from aboard. But as more local Christians get involved in money-making ventures, they will be investing
more and more into radio as a tool for advertising and even owning radio stations.
This is a new time for an old ministry. It is exciting to her God's Word on a local radio station. Now this outreach must expand. It lies with those of us who love the Lord and have been called to serve Him to give of ourselves more freely to encourage young men and women in the OS and other such countries, not to fear but to boldly take that is right there before them.
I want to give you an example of how Christians work together for good and blessing and enlightenment, to the glory of God. Two years ago I was speaking in the Central Baptist Church in Moscow. After the service, a radiant lady, Natasha came bounding up to me and said: "Nikolai Pavlovich, you are my spiritual father. I accepted the Lord when you broadcast the Gospel from FEBC, in Saipan." Further she said that she just graduated from the Theological
Seminary in Moscow. This seminary was established by the Korean brethren. Now Natasha has started Bible study groups and is very active in training others. So this is a good example of how we Christian servants need each other some sow the seed, some water and others harvest. All to the glory of God
|
