New HCJB Global President Wayne Pederson reaffirmed the mission's priority of bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ via media and healthcare ministries to those who have never heard during his inauguration ceremony the evening of Thursday, Jan. 29.

"My life was changed at 16 when God called me to serve Him," he told the crowd of nearly 200 HCJB Global staff, nonprofit leaders, partners and friends at Pulpit Rock Church in Colorado Springs, Colo. "My life mission for years was to use Christian media to bring people to Christ. Now it's using media and healthcare to introduce people worldwide to Christ."

Despite the world's economic and political challenges, he encouraged attendees not to despair. "This is a time for hope and opportunity," said Pederson, who became the organization's seventh president on Nov. 1, 2008.

"We're moving ahead. Global missions has changed from a North American-European model to moving alongside indigenous partners. We are striving to be the Voice and Hands of Jesus--the proclamation and demonstration of the love of Christ. The task is not finished. There are still 6,700 people groups--quarter of the world's population--that haven't heard the gospel message."

While HCJB Global is best known for its "giant shortwave station" in Ecuador, the ministry model is changing with an emphasis on "planting" local radio stations and helping medical partners, handing the reins to talented nationals worldwide.

"Radio is changing," Pederson said. "We now have more than 350 stations planted around the world. National indigenous staff members have been trained to operate those stations in more than 100 countries, broadcasting in more than 120 languages. And our healthcare ministries provide not just physical but emotional and spiritual care."

Pederson pointed to places such as Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim nation, where 30 partner stations are on the air with plans to increase that number to 200. "I saw some of these local FM stations manned by local believers who know the culture and are already there, using high-tech computer software."

Pederson also introduced a new initiative focused on reaching households to be launched at the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) convention in Nashville Feb. 7-10. The campaign will focus on the North Africa/Middle East Region where an estimated 1 million households listen weekly to HCJB Global's satellite and shortwave broadcasts.

"It's your voice and your hands that can change your household. As families and households change, communities change; as communities change, cities change; as cities change, nations change; and as the nations change, the world will be changed."

HCJB Global Board Chairman John Baugus added that Pederson's vision for HCJB Global will be guided by his years of broadcasting and leadership experience at KTIS at Northwestern College, Moody Broadcasting, NRB and the Mission America Coalition. "But the quality that rose to the top is that Wayne is a godly servant leader with a heart for HCJB Global," Baugus said. "He will extend our vision more than ever."

In his charge to the president, Paul Ramseyer, mentor, longtime radio executive and former HCJB Global Board member, encouraged Pederson to guard his personal devotional time with the Lord and pointed out that his problem-solving and team-building skills will "serve HCJB Global well."

It was while at Northwestern that Pederson began his long relationship with HCJB Global, partnering on several radio projects in Latin America and Euro-Asia.

He listed 10 priorities as HCJB Global moves forward: effective use of new technologies, program formats geared to those under 25, strong recruitment efforts to the next generation, agile decision-making, lean infrastructure, emphasizing the Voice and Hands of Jesus, human crisis response teams, reaching households and communities, strategic alliances with Christian organizations, and an innovate financial model.

Among the many guests were former HCJB Global presidents Ronald Cline and David Johnson, Trans World Radio President Lauren Libby; FEBC President Gregg Harris; Ron Harris, NRB's senior vice president of strategic partnerships; Northwestern College President Alan Cureton; Paul Virts, Northwestern's senior vice president for media ministry; and the Pedersons' two daughters, Christy and Michelle.

HCJB Global board member John Thomas, a pastor and radio partner from Cape Town, South Africa, concluded with a touching prayer. "Give Wayne the vision for evangelism and missions of Paul, and the risky faith of Epaphroditus," he prayed. "May he be the Voice and Hands of Jesus."

Posted: Feb. 2, 2009