Extravagant gates patterned after Buddhist temples adorn the countryside in Thailand. Just 0.5 percent of Thai residents are evangelical Christians.

(Nov. 21, 2013 - edited by Ruth Pike) The grandson of a witchdoctor and son of an alcoholic, Wiwat* grew up in a province of Thailand with the country's highest national suicide rate. Just 21 years old, he never imagined that he had a career carved out ahead of him in church planting and producing Christian radio programs.

Wiwat was hoping black magic would spare him from military service, but an encounter with a missionary in a church meeting led him to a different kind of salvation.

Years before he was born, Wiwat's grandfather, Dew*, had turned to black magic. Feeling entrapped in his profession as a witchdoctor, Dew struggled to break free from his way of life. Then he came to Christ through a visiting missionary for whom he later worked as a porter.

Dew shared his faith with his daughter who had her own share of challenges, growing up in a political situation where being a Christian could mean death. Married to her abusive, alcoholic husband, she eventually fled to a neighboring province along with her son, Wiwat.

In spite of the hardships, Dew's daughter persevered in her faith. Years later she gave Wiwat a Bible to read at his request. He had hoped to escape military service through black magic, but a missionary had prayed that instead he would become a soldier for the Lord. When Wiwat was excused from military service, he recognized God's hand in this, recalling that night when he met the missionary at a church meeting.

HCJB Global team members assemble the antenna for a new community station in Thailand.

Brimming with questions about the Bible, Wiwat enrolled in seminary, seeking answers. Three months into the course, however, his enthusiasm waned after a trip where villagers threw evangelistic tracts back at him, rejecting his message of God's love.

One night, feeling discouraged and considering quitting seminary, God spoke to him in a dream, saying He had chosen him from his family. Was he really going to give up?

Wiwat persevered in his studies, going on to become a church planter. In 2008 he felt called to return to the province of his childhood where he moved with his family and established a church.

Two years later Wiwat remembered an HCJB Global radio planter he had met several years ago-a man who had encouraged other pastors to start radio stations to reach their communities for Christ. At the time Wiwat had been skeptical, but now he was prepared to reach out by any means possible. He bought some used equipment and singlehandedly launched the station he called Happy FM.

Sadly, the station failed to resonate with leaders of the community's majority religion, and soon they began speaking out against it. Mounting pressure from family members also prompted a number of listeners to renounce their faith.

Just a year after its start, Wiwat took Happy FM off the air, feeling discouraged by the lack of visible fruit as his earlier fears of rejection during seminary began to resurface.

But hope wasn't lost. HCJB Global and Thai radio partners provided Wiwat with the support he needed. In May 2012 a team helped him and his church re-launch the station with a transmitter upgrade, radio training and a programming overhaul.

A student works intently during announcer training in Thailand.

Before long, Happy FM was back on air with programs focused on strengthening families, discussing spiritual matters and praying for the sick and hurting. Music and comedy programs were also added to the repertoire, attracting a wider audience.

Wiwat began to see God using Happy FM to change lives, bringing hope to those in darkness and strengthening His church.

Two nurses discovered the station and understood its value for their community. They didn't know Christ, but they wanted to be involved. Wiwat welcomed their programs about healthcare and loving, family relationships. Both nurses soon became committed followers of Jesus.

One night a woman called in to inform the pastor she was about to hang herself and wanted to tell someone where to find her body. Wiwat asked what was so special about that night. Could she wait until the next day? Instead of hanging herself, the woman came to the station and gave her life to Christ.

As Wiwat continued broadcasting programs, he saw countless other listeners being saved from suicide, desperate family situations, depression and loneliness. He saw new believers growing in their faith, and those who were once so antagonistic were unable to deny the station's positive impact.

Earlier this year Wiwat stepped out in faith again to plant a new church and radio station in a town about 12 miles away. HCJB Global and Thai radio partners provided equipment and led a radio training session which was attended by, among others, nine staff members from the local hospital. Although not believers, they'd seen how beneficial the first radio station had been.

During lunch at a recent training session for those interested in working with the radio station, Wiwat asked how many people had come to know God after listening to programs on Happy FM. About half of those present raised their hands.

Grandson of a witchdoctor, son of a Buddhist alcoholic, child of the living God. Just as Wiwat stepped from the darkness into the light, many of his listeners in Thailand are experiencing that same transformation today as they listen to Happy FM.

*Names changed for security purposes.

Source: HCJB Global