How Radios Are Changing People's Lives!

Stolen Fixed-Tuned Radios Change Rebels’ Hearts
Democratic Republic of the Congo

Several members of a rebel militia group pillaged a village in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Among the stolen items were some hand-held radios. But these stolen little radios held a surprise – they were fixed-tuned to a nearby Christian radio station. As they listened to the announcer quoting Psalms and Proverbs and pleading with them to stop their mission, the militia members halted at the edge of Bukavu and pulled back to their own territory.

Several of the soldiers – including the commander – accepted Christ on Christmas Day. Days later the general of the entire force was converted and turned back from his destructive path. The new Christians listened more and more to these stolen radios and recorded the messages, sending them to other units. They even established a church, and several years later the radio pastor who had been on the air during the time of the attack traveled the 240 miles and had the privilege of preaching in their church. God uses many ways to bring people to salvation – this time He used a few stolen fixed-tuned radios!

2,000+ New Believers in Burundi
Burundi, Africa – Radio Hope

Burundi is a country ravaged by many years of war. Yet, Christian radio is transforming the lives of so many through bringing them spiritual healing and encouraging people to offer each other forgiveness. People in parts of Rwanda, Congo and Burundi received fixed-tuned radios from Radio Hope in Burundi, and Samuel Nimubona, the late manager of the station, reported that more than 2,220 persons in his community had given their lives to Jesus Christ as a direct result of the fixed-tuned radios distributed. He said these radios provided a tremendous breakthrough to these communities, which had been crushed and neglected for so long.

Woman’s Life Transformed in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso RED Network

One Saturday morning, Etienne Kiemde came to the RED station in Burkina Faso when he heard a knock on the door. An elderly woman was standing outside and wanted to speak with him. She had been given a fix-tuned radio from the station, and she told Etienne that after receiving it, many things had changed in her life. The radio had become her source of comfort, and through the station’s programs, her life had been renewed. The bitterness which she had in her heart was gone. God had intervened in her life and she had accepted Christ as her Savior!

She also said that she was sharing her faith with her neighbors. Living all alone with her small son, she invited neighbors from time to time to come to listen to what this small radio said of the good news!

But the woman was very sad because her radio had broken, and she had come to see if the station could repair it. “I gave her another receiver while recovering the old one,” Etienne said. “What joy could one see on her face!”

According to Etienne, the testimonies that come to the RED station are “enriching and give us courage to persevere in the proclamation of this Christian hope which is in Jesus Christ.”

Prisoners Changed for Christ by Fix-tuned Radio
Fiji – Radio Light

During the summer of 2008, handheld fix-tuned radios opened doors like never seen before. A number of these radios were taken into prisons in Fiji. Prisoners began listening to Christian radio from their cells, and their lives were changed so drastically that the prison authorities themselves requested more radios! In July 2009, a presentation ceremony for the new radios took place inside one of the maximum security prisons. Here are the words of two prisoners who received radios:

I would like to take this opportunity to thank your ministry for (giving) me this (solar radio) so that I can listen to Christian songs and (the) message of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. I no longer worry or fear anything. The radio that you gave me has taught me how to keep my faith and my eyes open to the Lord. May God bless your ministry.

I would like to thank your ministry for your kind offer (solar radio). It helps my spiritual life grow more and more when I listen to all the men of God sharing the Word of God on the radio. It makes feel happy when I listen to the gospel songs. There is nothing I can give you to thank your ministry, so I just pray the Almighty Lord Jesus Christ to bless your ministry mightily. Once again may God bless you all. Thank you very much.

Prostitutes Turn Their Lives Around After Receiving a Radio
Lesotho – Harvest FM

A group of prostitutes, who thought they were totally rejected by society, was "thrilled and overjoyed" to receive a fixed-tuned radio. One of the programs that was being broadcast at the time gave listeners an opportunity to phone in and pray on air for the "street ladies" who were receiving the radios.

Four of these girls felt convicted and made commitments to the Lord. As a result of this station’s project, the government has now offered to establish a "job creation" project, as they work alongside our partner Harvest FM, to encourage and assist these girls.

Salvation in the Midst of Devastation
Haiti – Radio Lumière [Light]

Yonel is 12 years old. Every morning he would bring his family’s animals down a mountain path to their pasture and at night return home. But the January 12, 2010 earthquake in Haiti changed all that. Huge boulders rolled down the mountain and shattered Yonel’s right arm and leg. His family found him severely injured and rushed him immediately to the Baptist Haiti Mission hospital where he was treated y HCJB Global doctors, providing medical relief in the devastated country.

Jack, a Billy Graham chaplain, prayed with Yonel at his bedside while he recovered from surgery, and one day Yonel accepted Jesus into his heart. Yonel will soon be an orphan because his father died in the quake and his mother is in the last stages of breast cancer. The doctors gave Yonel a fix-tuned radio so that he can listen to Radio Light and grow in his faith. The media has already moved on to other news stories, but God’s story with Yonel has just begun.

Radios Have Far-Reaching Impact
Indonesia

Local believers who desired to start an FM radio station in their native language used fix-tuned radios as part of their outreach ministry. When the station went on air, the believers were able to distribute radios right away to people who would otherwise not be able to afford a radio – or batteries to operate them. They were thrilled to be able to receive radios that are solar-powered.

Because this region of Indonesia is so mountainous, the men who started the radio station only expected to reach six to ten villages, but with the help of solar-powered, fixed-tuned radios, were able to reach 27 villages!

The new radio station has received overwhelming feedback from its listeners. There is no postal service in the area, so many letters of gratitude are personally delivered by listeners who hike to the station. Other letters arrive by being passed from one person to another until they reach the station. People’s lives have been so touched!

Bible and Radio Survive Fires
South Africa – Radio CCFm

Caroline Lakay received a fixed-tuned radio provided by CCFm Radio’s sister station WCQR in Gray, Tennessee. Caroline works as the housekeeper at CCFm and although her earthly possessions are few, her heart is faithful to the Lord. One day as Caroline returned home from work, she found that a fire had broken out in her poverty-stricken township, and her home was destroyed. While sifting through the ashes, Caroline found her fix-tuned radio and her Bible unharmed by the blaze. She praised the Lord for His mercy and protection for the possessions she holds closest to her heart.

Testimonies from Listeners