For the second consecutive year Radio Station HCJB in Quito, Ecuador, was named "Best International Station" in the 2005 survey of Portuguese-speaking shortwave listeners conducted by the Santa Rita DX Club in Brazil. DX is a telegraph term for distance, and DXers are listeners who enjoy hearing signals from distant stations.

HCJB was one of 19 shortwave stations mentioned by respondents to the survey. Others in the top five included Radio Japan, China Radio International, Chile-based Voz Cristó (Christian Voice) and Radio Canada International.

"This is exciting, especially when one considers that two Christian broadcasters placed in the top five," said Allen Graham, director of indigenous and international broadcasts at Radio Station HCJB. "Praise God for allowing us this opportunity to touch Portuguese-speaking listeners!"

HCJB, the flagship station of HCJB World Radio, an international ministry founded in 1931, also topped the "Most Listened-to Station" category.

Shortwave listeners from Brazil and other parts of the world who took part in the survey also chose HCJB for having the "Best Female Presenter," Ingrid Winter of Curitiba, Brazil. Mário Miki, also of Curitiba, placed second in the "Best Male Presenter" category.

Respondents again named program producer Eunice Carvajal for having the "Best DX Program"-the seventh consecutive year for that honor. She is the sole program producer at the ministry's studios in Quito. Most of the programs are produced at HCJB World Radio-Brazil's studios in Curitiba.

Portuguese-language programs air from Quito 7½ hours a day in three programming blocks. Preaching, interspersed with music and informational programming, proclaims the message of salvation through Jesus Christ to listeners across Brazil.

A brief program in the indigenous language, Culina, was recently added to the beginning of the evening Portuguese broadcast. A small group, the Culina people live in southern Brazil and northern Peru.

Carvajal added that shortwave continues to play a key role in reaching people for Christ. Referring to the Portuguese broadcasts that reach various regions of Brazil, she said, "The audience is growing, and the average age of our listeners is 30. That means the majority of listeners are young people, and they like our programs and voices. The statistics seem to support our motto, 'We're more than a voice, we're friends who care.'"

Source: HCJB World Radio