Lee Sonius, director of HCJB Global's Sub-Saharan Africa Region, challenges delegates at the third Africa by Radio Continental Convention.

(Oct. 11, 2013 - by Ruth Pike and Harold Goerzen) "This is a pioneering era of new technology. There is no one book on how to do it. We are (collectively) writing it now," said Ron Harris, president of MEDIAlliance International.

His words capture the theme of this year's Africa by Radio (ABR) Continental Convention, "Expanding the Vision," attended by more than 100 Christian radio professionals and broadcasters who gathered together at the Jumuia Country Home and Conference Centre near Nairobi, Kenya, Sept. 11-13.

During the three-day event, delegates focused on expanding their reach across Africa through new digital media and traditional media with the ultimate goal of effectively spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the continent.

Representatives of Christian media organizations from 18 African countries and eight other nations attended, including HCJB Global's Lee Sonius, Jeremy Maller, Alex, and Joseph Kebbie from the mission's Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Office in Accra, Ghana, and Curt Cole, vice president of international ministries.

HCJB Global President Wayne Pederson was unable to attend but, in true new-media style, sent out a message via video, featuring questions on radio, church and mission. Cole chaired the subsequent question-and-answer session.

Five of the 110 delegates at the convention near Nairobi.

"These conventions inspire people to try new things and to do things better. The opportunities to cooperate with one another are really significant," said Jan-Erik Nyman, IBRA Media's regional director for East, Central & Southern Africa and chairman of ABR, in a press release.

Nyman also referred to the "digital divide" in Africa, pointing out the "big difference between the haves and the have-nots regarding access to digital media communication. "Generally speaking, the more well off and those living in cities have Internet access today via the mobile network and smartphones. In rural areas, however, many have not even heard about the digital media yet," he said.

"Another reference is the digital divide between developed countries and the developing countries," Nyman explained. "While more than 90 percent of people in developed countries are using the Internet regularly, less than 10 percent in some African countries have access to the Internet."

Maller, projects coordinator in Ghana, said in an interview after the conference that "radio will continue to be a major tool in reaching the masses with the gospel message for years to come. But we're also seeing the emergence of other media such as audio and video content on the Internet and on cell phone networks using smart phones. As these services become more affordable and accessible, they will become a larger part of media around the continent."

Participants at the Africa by Radio Continental Convention represented 26 countries.

"I felt the conference was a great opportunity to network with others involved with radio around Africa," Maller continued. "Rarely do we have so many radio organizations from all parts of Africa in the same place at the same time."

In addition to opportunities to network and develop partnerships over coffee and meals, participants exchanged ideas in interactive workshops, looking at themes such as social media, online learning and challenges along the coast of East Africa.

Mark Taylor and Sam Peckham of OneSheep, HCJB Global's partner in app development, highlighted the rise in digital media and use of mobile phones across Africa.

Nyman emphasized the need for new strategies to reach people along the Swahili coast and in the "buffer zone" of Africa, the area between North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa where Christianity is a minority religion and Christian ministry often experiences greater resistance.

"Thank you, steering committee, for organizing the ABR convention in Limuru and all the delegates who participated. I was greatly blessed and learned so much," said Esterina Kageni, communications officer at Theovision International in Kenya.

The next ABR conference is set for 2015 in South Africa.

Sources: HCJB Global, Africa by Radio, Facebook