Russia (MNN) — It’s called New Life Radio Satellite Network and it’s celebrating a milestone — in Russia. The HCJB World Radio partner is thanking God for allowing them to broadcast the Good News of the Gospel in Russia over the last five years.
New Life’s Founder and President Dan Johnson says they broadcast all across Russia through direct to home satellite, but that’s not the only way its heard. “If you’re listening in the Far East in Russia you can hear us on AM from a radio station up in Nome, Alaska, or you can hear us on different Russian cable systems across the country, or you can hear us on the internet. So, we’re direct to home via satellite, but that simply gets the feed to the communities.”
The youth oriented programming features mostly music, but also specialize programming that shares the Gospel with thousands of Russians.
Johnson says New Life has satellite receivers in prisons, drug rehabilitation centers and military bases. He says people are responding, like one prison inmate in Saint Petersburg. “When he first heard it he hated it. He just couldn’t stand Christian radio, but then he got transferred to another prison and there in that prison he became a Christian and he wrote that New Life Radio is a life line for him and not only him in that prison, but there’s a small group of prisoners who have become Christians and they really cling to the radio for their daily support.”
Their partnership with HCJB World Radio has been important to the network’s success and growth. Johnson says, “They help us with the funding for the station, but they also guarantee that if any city in Russia can get a license they will provide broadcast equipment, transmitters and expertise on how to start local radio. To this day they’re our most valuable partner.”
$400 a day is all it takes to keep Christian radio on the air nationwide throughout Russia. To help support this radio ministry go to http://www.ChristianRadioRussia.org.
