For more than 50 years, Words of HOPE has pursued a single, well-defined mission: To proclaim Jesus Christ through broadcasting in the languages of the world's peoples. (Photo courtesy of Words of Hope)
Sudan (MNN) ― Words of Hope is preparing to expand its radio broadcasts in Sudan. Its Spirit FM station has been broadcasting from Yei since September 2008, covering an area near the Uganda border. It wants to do more FM broadcasting in place of shortwave.
"For many years the only real way of reaching that vast country, with so many challenges insofar as infrastructure development, was through shortwave," explained Lee DeYoung, Words of Hope's Vice President for Broadcasting.
Spirit FM broadcasts in five different languages: Dinka, Nuer, Bari, Arabic, and English. It hopes to expand its programming to other local FM stations.
"With people inside Sudan, we are exploring relationships with other FM stations," DeYoung said. "We want to begin, as we have already done in other places...to use a greater amount of local FM station broadcasting in addition to, and perhaps eventually in place of, the shortwave."
The opportunities could extend the success that Words of Hope has already enjoyed in the region. Its shortwave Gospel broadcasts in the Dinka and Nuer languages are already among the most listened-to radio programs.
In addition, radio broadcasting is a powerful influence in this part of Sudan. People rely on the radio for their information.
"We're encouraged that audience research in the past two years has indicated that, in some parts of Sudan, the shortwave broadcasts are the most listened-to communications media of any that were surveyed, having a much bigger presence over newspapers, or television, or satellite, or internet," DeYoung explained. "Radio is really the primary medium for many in south Sudan and throughout much of Africa."
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