Barb Cline with students at the course in Indonesia.

(Oct. 12, 2012 - by Beth Patton) Grins and animated conversations filled the room as radio ministry leaders from Indonesia reunited for more sessions of the Global Voice Institute (GVI), a two-part course on leadership and radio station management.

The group's levity was apparent throughout the Sept. 20-25 workshops despite challenges some face as followers of Jesus in the world's most populous Muslim country. Dak (not his real name) told the group that airing Christian values on his station drew threats to burn the station and forced his family to leave the community.

Sharing his story with the group, Dak said he pressed on despite the threats. "This course motivated me and my family to keep looking forward in ministry to God and stay strong when we face the challenges and difficult situations," he said.

"These students are anxious to be good leaders," observed Ron Cline, HCJB Global's ambassador and dean of the Institute. "Some of them come from families with a Christian tradition, but others are the first Christians in their families, so as leaders of radio ministries, they want models of good Christian leaders … kind of scary for us as their teachers!"

Global Voice Institute students take part in a class activity.

Also helping with the teaching were two staff members from KSBJ in Houston, Texas (digital strategist Kristen Haskett and Jon Hull, senior director of outreach) as well as the head of HCJB Global's principal partner organization in Indonesia.

After the first set of sessions in April, the Indonesians were charged with teaching workshop content to staff of their stations, churches or communities. The 16 participants told of their experiences in doing so.

Some had taught goal-setting; others instructed back home on the benefits of teamwork. One station manager had taught how principles of leadership he had learned at the course can be applied to fathers in their homes.

Several of the participants said local business people they'd talked with found the GVI concepts something worth trying in their own settings. Others presented sessions on self-discipline and self-control and found the topics hit a chord with attendees who realized they had little of either evident in their lives.

Ron and Barb Cline with special backpacks they gave as gifts to the students.

Interestingly, some managers commented that teaching various topics to others changed their own perspectives and convicted them of areas of need in their own lives. All agreed that teaching others had been worthwhile and a part of their growth as leaders.

HCJB Global's Asia Pacific Region Training Director Derek Kickbush deemed it "a win-win situation. The managers themselves were enriched through the process and there was positive extended impact on the lives of individuals, families and their communities."

"What a joy to see their excitement as they talked about their experience in the teaching role!" said Cline's wife, Barb. "Passing on what they learned makes it truly their own. Integrating course material into lives and communities is a primary goal of ours."

In the "Making Disciples Via Radio" session, a station manger recounted that a tribal leader who had heard his station gave his heart to Christ. His life changed dramatically and other villagers soon became eager to listen too.

Another told of an unchurched couple who became intrigued by programming on how God strengthens families. After listening more, the whole family became Christ-followers.

Staff and students gather at sunset next to the ocean for the closing dinner.

"A great blessing for me was the opportunity to share with several outside the classroom in a counseling role," declared Barb. "I am thankful for the ability to communicate with these partners electronically and for the joy of praying for their ongoing prayer requests. We were reminded, once again, of the beauty and joy of partnership in the gospel."

The two-part GVI course instructs people in management (managing yourself as well as a team), qualities of leadership, building God's kingdom, using media for evangelism and discipleship and various other topics. It began in 2005 in Singapore before moving to Indonesia in 2010 where it was conducted in the Bahasa Indonesian language for the first time.

Many attendees receive scholarships to attend, paid for by HCJB Global's donors. Plans are under way for the next course to be held for radio partners in Nepal in 2013.

Source: HCJB Global