International (MNN) ― Electronic communication has changed a lot in the last quarter century. From radio to television to the Internet, the world's boundaries grew exponentially.
With the popularity and rise in usage of instant messaging programs, e-mail, and chat rooms came the emergence of a concept that fit the immediacy and compactness of these new communication media.
For most of the free world, these forms of communications offer identity beyond the borders. But, in closed access countries, what was once radio's world has shifted and these same forms of communications may offer a degree of anonymity, and with that, protection.
Short message services (SMS or text) are developing very rapidly throughout the world. In 2000, just 17 billion SMS messages were sent; in 2001, the number was up to 250 billion, and that doubled in 2004.
Many ministries utilize the service for mobile access to devotionals or daily programs. For others though, it's a way of underscoring the point of radio.
Words of Hope's Lee DeYoung they're now using text messaging to share the hope of the Gospel. "Text messaging is often much less expensive than regular voice calls so we think this a wave that's going to increase in the future. We're trying to set up the facilities so that people can call a place where there's not going to be suspicion and where the call can't be easily traced to us or to our partners in various parts of the world."
DeYoung notes other ministry possibilities. "We have set up some computer-based things that enable us to do this more efficiently. We are seeing some instances now where people are also calling in, or writing in, I should say, questions for a radio programs, things to pose to the host. We think this has potential for live call-in programs as well."
Pray for the team as this arm of their ministry grows.
