 
| HCJB Radio Now Reaching 1 Million Arab Households |
Missions News: Outreach  (Colorado) HCJB Global, an international media and healthcare ministry, is pointing to new research showing that it is now reaching more than 1 million Arab households in the North Africa/Middle East region via radio broadcasts. The research was conducted by Intermedia (www.intermedia.org), an international media research organization.  The Arab world consists of 19 countries and nearly 300 million people. Illiteracy rates, especially among women, can be high, making radio an effective tool to share a message of hope. Although Christian radio stations are illegal in most nations in the region, residents can still hear the gospel through HCJB Global's shortwave, satellite and Internet radio broadcasts.    "The households in the Arab world have many challenges. They are searching for a message of hope and love, and that is our focus as we reach out," said HCJB Global President Wayne Pederson.  "There is evidence this generation of people in the Arab world is more open to Christ due to the compassion many have experienced through Christian agencies as refugees or during famines or natural disasters," said Pederson. "As we receive responses from listeners, we have found many listeners discover what they are searching for."  HCJB Global's media strategy in the region has a two-pronged approach. First, it is engaging households that listen to broadcasts together. "Our media ministry in the Arab world primarily is to serve people on their journey to faith," said HCJB Global's regional director. "Programs are structured so we don't offend anyone in the family -- so they will not close the channel. Our desire is to keep the channel open. And we are designing programming with the entire household in mind." Second, trained local believers produce the programs. These local broadcasters can now tell their neighbors about the hope they have found in Christ, whereas before they would have faced great persecution.  In the coming months, the ministry will be challenging households across the U.S. and the world to pray for unreached households and to give $1 to reach one household in the Arab world for one year.  Read More: Links   ______________________________________________________________________________ The International Faith Telegraph |