Feb. 5, 2010

Leapfrogging Technology Opens New Ways to Broadcast in Russia
Source: HCJB Global (written by Harold Goerzen)

Rapidly changing communication technology is opening new opportunities to spread the gospel across Russia, says David Uhles, director of HCJB Global’s Europe/Eurasia Region.

“Russia has leapfrogged in technology,” said Uhles, who formerly served with his wife, Cathi, as missionaries in Russia with The Navigators. “Within the last decade they’ve gone from really poor landlines to every student having a cell phone. That technology is huge!”

Encouraged by a generous donation from a local partner, HCJB Global is increasingly using the web to reach a new audience for Christ. “The Internet reaches well-educated young people,” he explained. “It’s very inexpensive compared to shortwave or local AM and FM. And Russians just don’t use shortwave radios anymore.”

The International Telecommunication Union estimates that there are more than 30 million Internet subscribers in Russia—about 21 percent of the country’s population of 142 million.

Growing government restrictions and the reluctance to renew licenses for local Christian radio stations along with increasing opposition from anti-evangelical elements are also forcing HCJB Global to look at new ways to broadcast in Russia.

“We are major partners in the production of websites that contain MP3 media, livestreaming of radio programs and Bible studies,” Uhles said. The site contains music, programs that promote Christian values, morals and family life, and activity pages geared toward children—all presented in an engaging layout that is attractive to Christians and non-Christians alike.

“There’s also a place on the site for Christians to connect,” he continued. “We have produced a high-quality website, but our challenge is how to broaden its market and find creative ways to get more people to look at it.”

One website visitor wrote, “Your site is very cozy and interesting. The themes that you use are very realistic, and they help us to see life that that has been hidden behind muddy glass, opening our eyes…. The only thing that seems to be missing on your site is a chatroom or forum … to have live dialog with you and your listeners.”

HCJB Global has also worked with local partners to establish nearly 20 downlinks that receive programming from the New Life Radio Russian satellite network. Outlets can be found in places such as rehabilitation centers, hospitals, remote military bases and churches.

“Our main avenue in Russia is training,” Uhles added. “We’re focusing on the Internet, training and partnering with local radio stations. We’re also producing CD media with several hour-long radio programs recorded onto each disc. These recordings are then distributed among believers.”

“We’re seeing a good number of inquires and responses to our radio classes,” he continued. “We advertise them on the Internet, and people come from as far away as Ukraine and Siberia, wanting to learn how to produce effective radio programs. We are the only organization that is doing Christian-based radio training in the country.” Two courses will be held this year.

“The next step will be to explore the possibilities of cell phone technology,” Uhles added. “The future will be people connecting to the Internet with their cell phones. They’re using a lot of the cell phone-Internet technologies, and it’s amazingly inexpensive.”

With high-speed broadband connections increasingly available, “we’re positioned to continue on the upswing with the Internet in Russia,” he said.