Listeners to Moody Radio enjoy a barbecue at the HCJB Global Ministry Service Center in Colorado Springs on Aug. 1.

(Sept. 7, 2012 - by Harold Goerzen) Welcoming radio listeners to Colorado Springs, Colo., recently, Wayne Pederson felt like the situation had come full circle in seven short years. In 2005 as the manager of Moody Radio in Chicago, he orchestrated a visit for 100 listeners and staff to HCJB Global's Ministry Service Center in Colorado Springs.

"It felt like about 100 degrees that day," remembered Pederson, the mission's president. "And HCJB Global made a lot of friends with Moody listeners." The summer heat and the tent for shelter from the sun were repeated on Wednesday, Aug. 1, in Colorado Springs, but this time with Pederson as the Colorado host.

"Our listeners really felt they got a very good picture of the work of HCJB Global," added Mark Elfstrand, a Moody Radio executive producer who organized the visit along with that Moody Radio's vice president of broadcasting, Collin Lambert, and his wife, Patti.

Elfstrand specifically cited a noon barbecue with the mission's headquarters staff as a hit with the visitors. "The highlights were the personal engagement with the staff and the servant hearts of the people who work there," he said.

The mission's relationship with Moody dates way back as HCJB Global co-founder Clarence Jones studied at Moody Bible Institute where he became class president, graduating with top honors in 1921. Jones began Radio Station HCJB's broadcasts from Quito, Ecuador, on Christmas Day, 1931.

The international broadcasting ministry was cited by a visitor to Colorado Springs who shared that he grew up in Romania during the communist era. His father faithfully tuned in to the daily Romanian programs from Radio Station HCJB and as a result, he and his family committed their lives to Christ.

Wayne Pederson gives a presentation to the group from Moody Radio on Aug. 1. The last time listeners to the network visited Colorado Springs was in 2005 when Pederson worked for Moody Radio.

"Then they started to invite in friends and neighbors to listen," Pederson shared. "Out of that a church was started, and soon there were three groups meeting." Today the small groups have grown to become church congregations "all started because of HCJB."

"Two years ago we worked with Moody Radio in an on-air campaign that raised funds for 8,000 [solar-powered, fixed-tuned] SonSet^® radios for Africa," Pederson continued. "It also raised funds for a four-year scholarship for a foreign student [Shane O' Regan of Ireland] to study at Moody Bible Institute. The recent event in Colorado Springs really showed appreciation for our ongoing partnership with Moody."

The group from Moody Radio toured four other ministry campuses as well as the Air Force Academy and rode to the top of Pikes Peak by cogwheel train. Their plans to dine at the Flying W Ranch were changed when the popular tourist attraction was destroyed by the late-June Waldo Canyon Fire. However, they were entertained by two members of Colorado Cowboys for Jesus who had long affiliations with the Flying W Ranch."

"This is the second time we've conducted this trip to Colorado Springs with our listeners, and we are constantly surprised to hear from people who claim it's the best vacation they've ever had," Elfstrand said. "It's this unique blend of seeing God's creation in the mountains and discovering the worldwide impact of the ministries in Colorado Springs."

Source: HCJB Global