April/May 2018 Listening World Inside this issue Power in Persecution A New Era for Latin America New in your Listening Guide Prayer Matters www.twr.org.uk From the Chief Executive Officer, Dr Russell Farnworth. TWR’s International President, Lauren Libby, was recently asked “Is radio still relevant in today’s world?” As you might expect, he responded, “Yes, it is! In fact, it is more relevant than ever!” 90% of adults listen to the radio each week in the UK! And, around the world, radio continues to be an effective and impactful tool for mission. Lauren went on to make some interesting points which I thought I would share with you: Radio is inexpensive and accessible. Radio is a free source of encouragement and content. The internet can be disconnected in a country; however, radio waves can reach people beyond political or digital borders. Radio influences listeners! The audio nature of the medium helps explain its power to influence the listener. Radio can set a cultural agenda in which people are encouraged with spiritual programming. Radio reaches people in their own heart languages. Trust is engendered as people listen in their own languages, thereby increasing the impact of programming. And you don’t need to be able to read, thus bypassing literacy levels. It is a very versatile communication tool for proclaiming the good news of Jesus. Radio is well-situated to communicate spiritual truth on both a personal level and a community level. In many countries where TWR ministers, home churches have been formed based on radio programming. Radio is positioned for the future! New technology will enable radio to transmit not only audio but also written materials and even short videos directly into a village context without the internet. Radio is versatile, inexpensive, easily accessible and understandable. A great tool to reach masses of people with the hope that only Jesus brings! Thank you for partnering with TWR. TWR’s bank account for the UK is: Broadcasting in the UK: CAF BANK Limited , PO Box 289, Sky Guide 0138 West Malling, Kent, ME19 4TA. Freesat 790 Sort code 40-52-40, A/c number 00006887. Freeview HD 733 Thank you for your ongoing support which 190 countries makes it possible for us to continue reaching www.twr.org.uk out and touching hearts with the Gospel. Our commitment to you: read TWR-UK’s Smartphone & tablet app Supporter Charter at www.twr.org.uk/charter. Trans World Radio Ltd. is a non-profit- 230 languages Connect with us: making Limited Company No 782348 and a Registered Charity in England No 233363. @TWRuk TransWorldRadioUK Address: TWR, PO Box 606, Altrincham, WA14 2YS Tel: 0161 923 0270 Email: [email protected] Web: www.twr.org.uk One Hope 2 Power in Persecution Samir hated the Christian student, Zachariah, Persecution , a radio programme produced who sat next to him so much that he led his through the extensive contacts of TWR in friends to ambush the boy and beat him nearly collaboration with national partners ERF Medien to death. of Germany and TWR Czech. The primary purposes of the 15-minute episodes are: to Zachariah never came back to that school in enable persecuted believers to share their Sudan, but Samir eventually met other believers, testimonies as encouragement for others in accepted Christ and became a pastor. As a similar circumstances; to make non-persecuted result, his family declared him dead and he was believers aware of the trials faced by their arrested multiple times. brothers and sisters; and to promote concern and prayer for each other. Years later, though, he attended a conference where he told another pastor about the Featured are the stories of people like Samir; persecution he had inflicted as a youth. The like Alberto, a seminary student who was sent pastor began to cry. It was Zachariah, and he had to a labour camp after the Cuban revolution been praying for Samir for 25 years! and today serves as TWR’s representative there; and like Vladimir Lavrinenko, who was “I was able to understand why I became a told that Christians behind the Iron Curtain Christian,” Samir said. “Not because I was smart should be imprisoned separately because they and not because there was anything special in tend to lead fellow inmates to Christ. But me, but because of this guy. I persecuted him; he there are also specialists like Nik and Ruth was praying for me.” Ripken, Thomas Schirrmacher, and Rupert Shortt who analyse the big picture of Samir’s story is one of dozens told in Power in persecution in the world today. 3 www.twr.org.uk Power in Persecution has been broadcast in Arabic and today is being aired on AM in a local language of Central Asia, where Christians are few and face widespread hostility. Brother Andrew van der Bijl, well-known as “God’s smuggler,” was interviewed for the programme and emphasised a sobering but heartening lesson. “With persecution, there comes great blessing and growth of the church in ways that would be totally impossible without it,” Brother Andrew said. Most of us take radio for granted, listening casually. But for Christians in many parts of the world, radio is a vital though dangerous source of ultimate truth, friendly encouragement and welcome advice. That’s the case for Mahdi, who listens to TWR programmes like Power in Persecution in Yemen, ranked on the Open Doors World Watch List as having extreme persecution of Christians. “Your programme helps me like a baby starting to walk,” Mahdi wrote to TWR’s Arabic Ministries. “...You were the reason I am now saved! Pray for Yemen, please, and for the bad times we are going through. Pray for my faith and for my safety because if anyone knows about [my faith] I could be killed.” “The programmes give them the will to continue and tell them their lives are not falling apart but falling into place, with the Lord working in their hearts and minds for his glory!" said TWR’s Arabic Ministries leader, whose name is withheld for security reasons. “We believe the Lord will turn ashes to beauty.” 4 Effective from 1 April 2018 Listening Guide Broadcasting in the UK: Nationally on Sky Guide 0138, Freesat 790 and Freeview HD 733 Sunday on TWR TWR BIBLE TWR INSPIRE Midnight to 6am 6am to 12noon Eddie Bridle hosts inspirational Bible teaching to edify you in your faith and prepare you for the week ahead. 00.00 Max McLean reads the Bible - 6.00 Every Last Word with Philip Ryken pure and simple! 6.25 The Road to Reallity 5.45 Rendezvous with Dick Saunders 6.50 Search for Truth 7.05 In Touch Weekend with Charles Stanley 7.30 IFL Weekend with Chuck Swindoll 8.00 Living a Legacy with Dr. Crawford Loritts 8.30 Moody Presents 9.00 IFL Weekend with Terry Boyle 9.30 Renewing You Mind with R. C. Sproul 9.56 Sound Words with Derek French 10.10 Treasured Truth Weekend with James Ford Jr. 10.35 Let My People Think with Ravi Zacharias 11.00 Steve Brown Etc. TWR LIFE TWR FOCUS 12noon to 6pm 6pm to Midnight Join Dave Piper for programmes with encouragement James Maidment-Fullard guides you through and challenge for the whole family! programmes that help you gain a Christian understanding of the world around you - including news and current 12.00 Building Relationships affairs from our Manchester studios. 1.00 Viewpoint with Jim Lyon 1.30 Commission 6.00 Word Alive from GNBA 1.45 A Visit with Mrs G 6.28 Christianity Works with Berni Dymet 2.00 Paws and Tales 6.55 TWR Wavelength 2.30 Treasure Chest 7.00 Turning Points 2.35 Adventures in Odyssey 7.30 Faith and Business 3.00 HomeWord Weekend 8.00 NewsDesk 4.00 Truth for Life Weekend 10.00 The Exchange 4.25 Unlocking the Bible 10.30 Beyond the Poverty Line 4.50 Riches of Grace 11.00 The Political Exchange 5.20 First Person 11.30 NewsDesk Lite 5.45 Stories of Great Christians 11.45 The Olive Tree 5 www.twr.org.uk Monday to Fr TWR BIBLE TWR TALK Midnight to 6am 6am to 12noon Start your day with inspirational programmes to encourage you in serving God wherever he has placed you. 00.00 Max McLean reads the Bible - 6.00 Back to the Bible with Ron Moore pure and simple! 6.23 A Different Perspective with 5:45 Rendezvous with Dick Saunders Berni Dymet 6.33 Insight for Living with Chuck Swindoll 7.03 Renewing Your Mind with R. C. Sproul 7.29 Making Your Life Count hosted by Steve Douglass 7.30 In Touch with Charles Stanley 7.55 Unlocking the Bible with Colin Smith 8.20 Bible Focus with Good News Broadcasters 8.30 Turning Point with David Jeremiah 8.56 Love Worth Finding with Adrian Rogers 9.19 Key Life with Steve Brown 9.33 Telling the Truth with the Briscoes 10.00 Today’s News Review from our Manchester Studios 10.14 Character Focus with Morris Hull 10.17 Thru the Bible with Dr. J. Vernon McGee 10.45 Focal Point with Mike Fabarez 11.10 Know the Truth with Philip De Courcy 11.35 Truth for Life with Alistair Begg 6 Broadcasting in the UK: on Sky Guide 0138, Freesat 790 and Freeview HD 733 online at twr.org.uk via the TWR-UK smartphone & tablet app facebook.com/TransWorldRadioUK twitter.comTWRuk riday on TWR TWR WORD TWR CHOICE 12noon to 6pm 6pm to Midnight James Maidment-Fullard hosts a selection of TWR favourites to help you in your programmes committed to applying the eternal daily walk with God.