After 46 years in Ecuador, Televozandes, HCJB Global's television outreach, has moved most of its operations to Guatemala City, Guatemala, working in conjunction with a local Christian TV station.

HCJB Global missionaries John and Sharon Gowan have settled into their new home and begun their new phase of ministry in Central America where John is working with Canal 27 (channel 27), helping to improve the professional quality of the station's productions and broadcasts.

His primary roles include program acquisitions manager, resident trainer and Spanish dubbing director. In addition, he will continue as a trainer and consultant to other Christian stations across the Latin America Region.

Amid all the changes, part of Televozandes' outreach continues in Ecuador. "Before leaving Quito we greatly reduced our operations from what they have been for several years and rented out most of our TV facilities to Unsión Network, a local Christian TV ministry," John said.

"We still have one full-time employee in Quito, María de la Torre. Her job is to coordinate Spanish translations and audio recordings for In Touch Ministries and VeggieTales. Those translations and recordings are all produced using freelance technicians, translators and actors we trained before we left Quito."

Canal 27 was founded by its president, Luis Fernando Solares, who also pastors La Iglesia de Jesucristo La Familia de Dios (The Church of Jesus Christ The Family of God), a 10,000-member congregation. Both ministries are part of the same umbrella organization, Ministerio de Motivación Cristiana (Ministry of Christian Motivation). Although closely linked to the church, the station itself is designed to be a national, interdenominational TV outreach. For more information visit www.motivacioncristiana.org.

"The station's 24-hour broadcast day includes four hours of live programming each morning that is designed, among other things, to promote the fast-growing evangelical church in Guatemala," John explained.

The ministry's advisory board includes leaders from such diverse groups as Baptists, Nazarenes, Presbyterians, charismatics, Christian & Missionary Alliance, Central American Mission and the Evangelical Alliance of Guatemala. Canal 27's broadcasts originate from Guatemala City but are rebroadcast via cable systems in more than 200 population centers nationwide.

"It is by any standard truly a national, locally driven, interdenominational ministry," John said. "The operations are funded almost entirely by the donations of its viewers who give each year through the ministry's annual telethon."

He's excited at the prospect of working closely with Canal 27 as staff members seek to apply the purpose statement of "reconciling Guatemala with God" in all of the station's programming. "With HCJB Global's new strategic priority of enabling local broadcasters, this seems to be a heaven-sent confirmation of that vision."

During the Gowans' 21 years with HCJB Global, John has worked continually in the television ministry. "Although I've struggled at times with the realization that TV has not always been a strategic priority for HCJB Global during this period, I can easily see many reasons why Televozandes has been the best place for me," he explained.

"I've had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in so many aspects of TV production and distribution, I've been able to interact with scores of industry professionals and local stations and wrestle with the realities of Christian TV in the region. I've also experienced working with beginners, taking them through the process of professional development so that they one day take their place as colleagues in the industry."

For the foreseeable future John says he hopes to "continue to see top-rate Spanish dubbing happening from Quito and Guatemala for producers around the world, creating Christ-honoring television programming as well as a growth in Canal 27's influence in Guatemala. I hope to be used to help believers throughout the region called to use television to impact this part of the world for Christ."

Source: HCJB Global