June 18, 2010

Source: Radio Alpha and Omega FM (written by Harold Goerzen)

When HCJB Global's partner station in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (D.R.C.), recently went off the air for a week due to technical problems, the response from local residents-including local police officers-was immediate.

"It was as if the mother of a family had died!" said a local pastor who produces programs for Radio Alpha and Omega, an FM station near the country's border with Rwanda that first went on the air in early 2009.

"Listeners were calling from the east side of D.R.C., from Rwanda and some cities in Uganda, expressing their sadness," shared the pastor in an email message to an HCJB Global staff member. Some listeners said they were "only surviving because of the programs" while others volunteered to help solve the problem with the station's generator that had been acting up since February.

"A police officer in Goma told one of our producers that the number of prisoners has decreased in their prison because of our radio program," he related. "And so they said that they needed the radio station to be operational again as soon as possible!"

The residents' prayers were soon answered as the damaged generator has been replaced by a new larger unit, and the station is again broadcasting a powerful message of hope in this area of the country that has been ravaged by years of civil war.

"Praise the Lord, many people are coming to Jesus Christ every week," the pastor wrote. "Yesterday evening I was with one listener who was bound by the devil in witchcraft. Now he is free from the darkness after listening to our radio programs."

"Satan always loses when he attacks God's work or God's servant," he continued. "Dear servants, we have to praise our Lord at all times because He is with us in our ministry and in the battlefield."

The pastor said he's been humbled by the response from listeners who support the outreach, paying for fuel needed to operate the generator. "We praise God that our programs touch and help our people. He has revealed to you a good way to proclaim the gospel and to even reach the hearts and minds of our population. Radio is really a good tool to build the kingdom of God."

Now he has a vision to expand the broadcasts to villages in northern D.R.C. and in neighboring countries. "We are praying to God for the government licenses for that project, and for my trips to investigate in northern D.R.C., Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo and even Sudan. I need your prayer."

"God told me He would like to change the African continent using weak persons," he wrote. "Do you remember the story of Gideon in Judges 6:11-20? Through radio and weak people God wants to change Africa and the world. Maybe it is through you and me."

"Pray for me, for our team and for our vision," the pastor concluded. "Before Jesus Christ returns we have to work together in a mighty way, as servants of God, to bring the light of the gospel that will change people. Since I have begun using radio, I have found that it is the tool that can help us to change our continent if we use it in the right way.