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Sierra Leone - Radio Planting and Development

Sierra Leone woman carrying baby and pan on head wIn this country haunted by the horrors of war and atrocities, the ministry of HCJB Global’s radio partner Believers Broadcasting Network is having an incredible impact on the people of Freetown.

Radio station Believers Broadcasting Network (BBN) was established in the capital city of Freetown in 1993 with the vision “to make a difference in people's lives, mainly through communicating the gospel of Jesus Christ and disseminating relevant information.”

They are living up to their heart’s desire. HCJB Global has been involved with this African partner for a number of years, helping several times with needed equipment and training of on-air and technical staff.

BBN’s chief executive Ransford Wright also has a passion to include health education into his ministry and participated in a summer rural healthcare outreach with an HCJB Global medical team to gain perspective and experience about how his radio ministry might reach out to the communities in his listening area.

In February 2102, HCJB Global came alongside this radio partner as they opened a drop-in center for counseling and prayer to expand their on-air outreach for the many listeners, especially young people, in need of the peace and forgiveness Jesus Christ gives. The center offering free counseling services from 3 full-time trained counselors. They hope to soon open a 24-hour help line as well.

Believers Broadcasting Network StaffThe station’s “Someone Really Cares” radio show, started in 2005, has attracted an average of 12,000 calls annually during its bi-weekly broadcast.

“The establishment of the counseling center emphasizes the network’s vision that BBN is more than just radio – that we want to demonstrate the love of God to a dying world by not only serving as the voice of Christ but also as His hands,” explains Wright.

BBN broadcasts 24/7 in the official language of English as well as Krio (related to Creole), which is commonly used throughout the country. Programming includes news, scripture reading, Christian music, and live call-in discussion programs.

Transmissions can be heard in almost all of Freetown and some reach into parts of neighboring country Guinea. The station is also working on a future studio that will enable antennas to be placed on a prominent mountain above town and extend the listening area further into the city and interior parts of the country.

The impact of Christian radio in Sierra Leone is expanding ...

  • HCJB Global Vice President for Sub-Saharan Africa commented, “I have seen again how important and strategic radio remains on this continent. I heard many stories about churches being planted by radio in very difficult places and how radio is being used for reconciliation in many war torn countries. The director of our partner station in Sierra Leone told how the radio station was strategic during the “truth in reconciliation” process after the brutal civil war there. He told me about a phone call one evening in which a woman called the station to ask for prayer because she desperately wanted to forgive the child soldiers who had killed her parents. As she was sharing this during a live program, another call came in. The caller said he was one of the young men that had attacked the woman’s village and may have even been one of her parent’s killers! Then he was able to ask forgiveness of her, and although it was very emotional, she was able to grant forgiveness. This is how radio is touching and changing lives.”