Asia (MNN)–The anti-conversion laws throughout India are increasing difficulties for evangelistic ministries. Mission group after mission group report a growing repression of the Christians and their faith.
In China, the underground church continues bearing the weight of government scrutiny, with arrests growing more frequent.
And yet, even as reports of persecution against believers continue to surface throughout India and China, a Christian radio ministry is looking at the potential.
With that in mind, HCJB World Radio’s Ron Cline says their focus this year could open a lot of doors for the hope of the Gospel. “Probably the most important thing we’re doing in the last year has been the development of the Asia-Pacific region. Trans World Radio and Far East Broadcasting Company has been there for years, but you’re talking about three-point-five billion people, and lots of languages and limited transmitter space.”
Cline explains that the excitement is mounting as ministry moves forward. “We managed to get permission from the Australian government to put a transmitter in Australia beaming into India, and soon, one will beam into China. That’s probably the most important thing because it involves language development, it involves follow-up programs and services, it involves all of that.”
HCJB World Radio-Australia began broadcasting from a new shortwave facility in Kununurra on January 5, 2003, “Voice of the Great Southland,” after years of planning and crossing barriers.
This signal has the potential of reaching more than 60 percent of the world’s population. Daily English programming airs to the South Pacific and South Asia via a HC100 shortwave transmitter. Urdu also airs to South Asia, and additional languages such as Oromo and Hindi will be added as resources become available.
The facilities are on a 20–acre farm owned by HCJB World Radio-Australia. The farm will become self-sustaining, growing crops such as sugarcane, bananas, papayas and mangos.
The site is being developed to create funding and develop a ministry of encouragement to pastors, church and community leaders.
Broadcasts in English and Urdu are already airing; more in Hindi, Oromo are planned.
