2013-2015: Two Years of Blessings

The following is a portion of Lifeword’s mission:world article, written by Steve Crawley with contributions from the Lifeword team. For the full report, see the March/April 2016 issue:

Since 2013, the cost savings associated with the integration of departments have enabled Lifeword to divert overhead costs to the funding of additional ministry opportunities. Tactical moves made by Lifeword and other BMA entities have certainly brought extensive change and required considerable effort, yet they have reduced overhead costs significantly, resulting in an increase in ministry funds. The following are just a few examples of new initiatives implemented in the past two years:

Community Radio (Low Power FM or LPFM): In the last two years, dozens of affiliate stations have been added in the United States and abroad. These efforts have resulted in many professions of faith, baptisms, and disciples being funneled into existing BMA missions and churches, some even resulting in new church plants.

Over the last two years, Lifeword has conducted training in Honduras, Guatemala, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Tanzania, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Africa, and the Philippines, which prepares believers effectively share the gospel with their communities using media. Additionally, Bible Institute classes in the Philippines and Guatemala have incorporated Community Radio training into their curriculum. Students learn broadcast/program production, recording, editing, and setting up and troubleshooting the stations.

Testimonies from around the globe offer an encouraging response:

Honduras: The Garifuna, who were among the first recipients of Community Radio, have set up five additional stations in their communities. In cooperation with BMA Honduras, they have also traveled outside the country to set up stations for other indigenous people groups and are training others to do the same.

Guatemala: The Garifuna have set up a station in the jungle. Consequently, a number of Kekchi villages are hearing the gospel in their language for the first time, resulting in many reported professions of faith. Pastors and leaders in other Kekchi villages are being trained in the use of Community Radio, which should yield even more results.

Peru: Because of the concerted efforts of BMA Missions, Lifeword, BMMI, and BMA Peru, the Lord blessed with professions of faith in the community of Picoy. One of these converts was the mayor, who is currently being discipled and has offered a place to set up Community Radio where a new mission/church is being launched this year by BMA Peru. Picoy, previously known to locals as the seat of paganism, will now have a church and a Christian radio station.

Eight hours from Picoy, in Mazamari, the Community Radio station opened the door to a hundred tribes, where BMA Peru leader and Lifeword representative Paul Tinoco has been following up. He reports many professions of faith, and both BMA Missions and Lifeword now have a presence in the communities of Shevoja, Bagua Grande, and Concepcion Huancayo.

Philippines: Open Door Baptist Church in Pandan (a small Filipino village) and Pastor Jonathan Arturo started its Community Radio station two years ago to share the gospel with nearby villagers. After a few months, station managers began receiving text messages from listeners in Melendrez, a place no one had ever heard of. It was only five miles away on the other side of a jungle so thick that no one had ever gone, but radio waves from Open Door Community Radio were able to penetrate! Melendrez now has a church with dozens of members. Since that time, Open Door has planted a mission church in the nearby village of Kalubihan and the people down the road in Hilonga have also begun to respond to the gospel.

Africa: Among the Swahili-speaking people of Tanzania, twenty-five pastors in a small association of Tanzanian Baptist churches are working with Lifeword and the following individuals and entities to spread the gospel: BMA pastors, BMA Seminary professors, Evangelistic International Ministries (EIM), and BMA Missions. Lifeword has the opportunity to step in and help with a new Swahili broadcast that should be airing in 2016.

Please join us as we praise the Lord for the following:

• The integration process and the opportunities it has provided.
• The expansion of Community Radio throughout the world.
• Changed lives through gospel broadcasting.

Please join us as we pray for the following:

• The training of broadcasters and production of gospel programming in Swahili-speaking Tanzania.
• Discipleship of new converts throughout the world, especially those from the Islamic and Buddhist religions.
• Radio waves to reach the ears of people who need Jesus as their Savior.