Now, Transform Iran’s programming is growing. The new station Persian Worship Radio will broadcast 24/7 worship music. According to Lana Silk, “This is totally focused on worshiping our Lord and bringing the sounds of Iran, with all the right instruments, genres, or languages, and blasting out worship[…] right across the country. We know how powerful worship is in preparing the way for people to receive the Word, so we’re very excited to be able to offer this to Iranians up and down the country.”

Radio provides a unique avenue through which Transform Iran can offer hope and camaraderie. “Radio is extremely powerful because it is completely indiscriminate in terms of geographical location, education, literacy, or status in society,” Silk says. “Everyone has radio.”

And everyone has music. Music carries the characteristics and values of the culture that creates it, and Iran’s music is no different. “Iranians are extremely expressive and extremely connected with music and story in their cultures. So when you come in with their sounds, and that kind of music, and then suddenly that music is not Islamic, and it is Christian and it’s lifting the name of Jesus, it breaks down even more walls. It [creates] a heart connection with the Word of God.”

As this new project goes forward, Transform Iran needs your prayer. Pray for the safety of the team compiling music for the program or sourcing original pieces from local Iranians. Pray for their peace as they take on what could be a stressful new project. Pray for wisdom as they plan for the station’s future.

And pray for God to use this radio station to produce good fruit. “God is in this. We know the power of worship, we know the power of the Gospel, and as long as we are communicating that to the people of Iran, then the rest of the work is the Holy Spirit, and He’s so good at engaging the people Himself.”

Support Transform Iran directly right here.

Header photo courtesy of Unsplash.

What’s behind such a brutal strategy? Denise Godwin with International Media Ministries (IMM) says, “The threat for them is a threat to power. The threat for them is a threat to religion. They see it as a threat to the way of life. But I think what we see when we look in from the outside is people who are ready for freedom and choice.”

The unrest began in September after a 22-year-old woman died in police custody. She was detained for wearing the hijab improperly.

The protests have all grown from this one incident, Godwin says, focusing on freedom for women especially. “They’ve carefully stayed away from saying too much about religion. But some of that is under the surface. We talked to a ministry that’s doing stuff on the ground there recently, and their surveys and reporting have shown that only 35 percent are still feeling connected to Islam.”

Esther

IMM is currently producing a dramatization of the story of Esther. Godwin hopes to get it into the hands of Iranians soon. “There’s this threat of killing many, many people. And one person, Esther, rises up to stand in the gap. And that was in the Persian Empire (modern-day Iran). Who will stand up at this time? Will someone stand in the gap?”

“Could the world stage actually put pressure on this regime to not kill those 15,000 people?”

Pray many Iranians would find hope in Jesus.

Also, ask God to strengthen Iranian Christians. Godwin says, “We need to pray against the spiritual oppression that’s occurring when the majority of the government votes to kill protesters.”

The header photo shows a vehicle damaged during the protests. (Photo courtesy of Tasnim News Agency, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)

The SAT-7 KIDS channel is especially focusing on educating and supporting children during the confusion of COVID-19 restrictions.

Katerina Parpa with SAT-7 says, “Well, SAT-7 as a whole, is a holistic ministry. Meaning that we cater to all the needs – spiritual and educational and development needs – of our viewers. So, the programming that we’ve been broadcasting these past five weeks that we’ve been in lockdown, has been focused on instructional as you said. It’s educating children on hygiene, on washing hands, but at the same time we’re bringing the spiritual element into it.”

From segments talking about active hygiene habits to counseling programs for parents, the programs on SAT-7 KIDS help families through a difficult time.

An Increase Online

The formats of the programs vary. For instance, some kids on the program Puzzle have created music videos for those who watch. Parpa says, “They’re basically written by children and teens and they’re aimed to help our kids, our viewers, feel that they are… they’re not alone in this isolation, and that other kids just like them are having the same feelings and thoughts.”

Regular presenters are also creating and sharing content, not just on the channels, but on social media as well. And people are seeing it. Recently SAT-7 KIDS has seen an 500% increase in their Facebook audience. That means new kids hear they have value, rights, and a loving God.

“…all they have is God…”

Many of the problems both refugee and non-refugee children face day to day are increased during this time, including the risk of increased domestic violence, uncertain provisions, and more.

“Right now children are, depending on their circumstances, depending on their family, depending on the spiritual maturity of their parents – they might be at a point where they feel like all they have is God or Jesus in their life,” Parpa notes.

Allo Marianne Program airs on SAT-7 KIDS (Image courtesy of SAT-7)

That’s why this programming is so important. It provides an outlet for fun and play. Different programs offer educational resources for children and for parents while providing a Biblical view of suffering, joy, and life.

For instance, one program presenter shared with the children that, “The Word of God says out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants, you have ordained strength because of your enemies. You may silence the enemy in the event.”

Parpa continues, “This was psalms eight, verse two and many kids are calling into the live program and they’re sharing their prayers. They’re sharing their thoughts. It’s so simple for kids to know that just by praising they can fight off the fears and the stress of what is happening.”

Kids hear this, feel the hope of the message, and share Gospel truths with friends and family. Hope is being absorbed and proclaimed through SAT-7 KIDS programming.

Our Daily Bread

The reports of impact are encouraging and show how much SAT-7 KIDS has the potential to encourage children.

“We are dealing with this situation as well and yet we need our daily manna. We need our daily encouragement. We need our daily strengths,” Parpa states. “And how much more so are these children who are in refugee camps, or displaced, or their families have lost their jobs? Their parents are frustrated and angry and can’t provide for them. So it’s important that we keep sharing the message that God is with them. That God is taking care of them that their security is not in things. It is not in people, but it is in God.”

(Image courtesy of SAT-7 USA)

Even in these uncertain times, SAT-7 KIDS depends on the support of partners to continue their work. Parpa encourages people to join ministry work in a number of ways.

“They can support a channel or the ministry with a donation. They can share our content with their friends as well. We post a lot of content on our social media and our website that updates our supporters who are interested. We post almost daily.”

Join the financial support of SAT-7 KIDS  here.

Header image courtesy of SAT-7 USA.

(Photo courtesy of Jesus Film)

TWR’s Brandon Neal tells us a bit more about the project.

“A lot of people in the world has seen The JESUS Film, but not a lot of people have heard the message of Jesus. So, they took the audio track out of the film, and then they added in what was necessary so that it made sense as a full stand-alone audio product,” Neal says.

“What that means is they would add in things like…sound effects for people walking or things like that…so that it makes sense to a listener.”

The Story of Jesus

The whole audio drama of The Story of Jesus is about a ninety-minute listen. TWR is airing the audio drama to hundreds of millions of listeners worldwide in 69 languages via shortwave, AM, FM, and satellite broadcasts. The audio drama is also available to stream online. Play it on your device for those long travels to visit family this holiday season or listen to the audio drama on Christmas day!

(Photo courtesy of TWR via Facebook)

In its three years, TWR and Jesus Film are already seeing the fruits of their labor across the world.

“This actually came from a European broadcast in [the] Polish language. And this person wrote in and said, ‘I’m a blind person. Your programs are irreplaceable to me. The soundtrack of this Jesus movie that you broadcast this week is the most precious gift for Christmas and New Year’s’,” Neal says.

“This person who could have never seen The JESUS Film is able to hear the content from The JESUS Film, which is essentially the Gospel of Luke. And this person is able to be encouraged; they’re able to draw closer to the God that made them. They’re able to hear how much God loves them through what Jesus did during His life, His ministry, His death, burial, and resurrection.”

Pray for Listeners

Along with listening to The Story of Jesus, will you pray for God to use this audio drama to reveal Himself to listeners?

“Pray for the people that are listening to The JESUS Film audio drama in their language, and also for the teams on the ground who are answering their questions,” Neal asks.

(Photo courtesy of JESUS Film Project).

In many locations, TWR staff asks questions at the end of the drama. These questions dig into people’s thoughts and ask if they want to know more about Christ. Then, the audience has the opportunity to respond to these questions through letters, texts, phone calls, and emails. When listeners reach out, TWR staff connect with them directly to answer questions and respond to comments.

During Christmas of 2018, when TWR broadcast The Story of Jesus, TWR heard back from over 4,700 people. At least 43 of those people decided they wanted a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Pray God continues using this audio adaptation to draw people closer to Him.

“That’s why we do what we do. That’s why we’re in media missions, is to see people come to faith in Christ, to be encouraged in their faith, and to essentially go from a position of doubt to a position where they can make a decision to where they’re in a discipleship relationship with someone, with another believer,” Neal says.

To stream the audio drama The Story of Jesus, click here!

Explore more of TWR’s work here.

To learn more about Jesus Film, click here.

Header photo courtesy of TWR.

Beauty and Brokenness

Maeng thinks the world of art can help people access the Gospel, especially since art is so accessible in the modern age.

“Everyone sees art, every looks at art,” he says. “Even in this new Instagram age, people are photographers, even if they wouldn’t say they are, because now there are filters and all these things that are accessible to people, so everyone’s constantly looking at art.”

From photography and graphic design to drama and music, art is everywhere, and yet Maeng thinks Christians have not used art as well as they could be in recent decades.

That’s unfortunate, since Maeng says artists are uniquely equipped to explore the complexity of the Gospel message.

“Artists always have to look at the brokenness of the world or the beauty of the world,” he says. “I think because everyone inherently looks for the beauty and also experiences pain and brokenness in the world, the Gospel’s perfect for bridging that gap.”

God redeemed the world through beauty and through brokenness, and art gives us a chance to relay that emotion.

Art can be relatable, beautiful and intriguing. It can be visual, musical, and physical. It provides opportunities for conversation that can lead to exploring the Gospel message.

Maeng’s art from Urbana ’18

Pursuing Creativity

Maneg created large pieces of art for the Urbana ‘18 conference to grab people and disarm them, hoping to start conversation about beauty and brokenness. He started by working with the evangelism department on an arts ministry project, but the art quickly evolved into something larger.

Now, it’s all about equipping Christians to pursue their own creativity.

“We don’t hope that there are only a couple of specialists,” Maeng says. “We want lots of people running around being bringers of the Gospel and the good news.”

Good art means good conversation, and students and young people are starting to use that.
“We’ve been working together to figure out good questions partnering with great art and how those questions and art pair together and bring people into deeper conversations and deeper stories about their particular lives.”

Maeng thinks art gives people a chance for vulnerability, honesty, and community, but art needs artists. He wants the Church to encourage young people to pursue creativity.

“Pray that there would be other artists that would rise up and create art that is evangelistic, that would rise up and see the beauty of God and tell the story to the new generation of why God is beautiful and why God cares for them.”

Not sure you’re cut out for art? Maeng says Jesus could be knocking on the very door you’re sure is closed.

“Look at what passions are burning in your heart that you’re saying “no” to and let Jesus into that. Let Jesus walk with you in that. It might not be jumping into the deep end, but it might be a few steps here and there moving you forward into a new stage of life.”

See some of Maeng’s own art here.

Connect with InterVarsity to equip young people right here.

Dr. Peggy Banks of Trans World Radio’s Women of Hope says, “An area of ministry that is very close to my heart and we see all over the world is domestic violence and sexual abuse. And when I talk to our leaders, nine different regions, and I hear the reports of what our leaders are dealing with on a daily basis, with our listeners, with women on the ground—two things: sexual abuse and human trafficking.”

It doesn’t matter what area of the world you’re looking at—women face sexual exploitation in so many contexts. Trans World Radio has a project focused on giving women hope. But it’s very important that these women see the hope has a trustworthy foundation.

Banks says, “Hidden Treasures is an audio drama that just tells the story that God has not forgotten them. That God has a purpose for their lives and they’re beautiful in his sight. And as they listen to these different stories of women getting out of human trafficking, the last episode does introduce them to Jesus as Savior– tells them that they can have a new life, they can have a different life.”

(Image courtesy of TWR Women of Hope)

The drama consists of 10 30-minute episodes which are available online and also through personal listening devices. The content is based on the real-life story of a woman who is in ministry today, but the identities and locations are omitted for security and privacy reasons.

“It basically tells the story of one woman who was rescued out of human trafficking. And she goes back onto the street to talk to women who are being prostituted and just invites them into her story, and helps them see that there is a God who has not forgotten them. A God who sees them,” Banks says.

For some women, this message of hope is brand new. For others, Banks explains, it is something they’ve been waiting for—even asking God for. She says she’s encountered many women stuck in human trafficking who grew up in a Christian home or heard the Gospel and maybe even became believers. But through life circumstances, they became trapped in a life of prostitution.

“But yet they know and they’re praying for God to send someone to rescue them. I can’t tell you how many women I’ve encountered that that’s part of their story.”

TWR Women of Hope is partnering with six different organizations in Europe who are distributing and following up the Hidden Treasures content with tangible help and discipleship. They will be able to help women find a safe house and a community where they can learn more about Jesus and find healing all while having their value affirmed. This is huge in helping the women reintegrate into normal life.

TWR Women of Hope also hopes to produce more relevant content in order to help these women learn about God at a deeper level.

Why it works

Banks says the audio drama is powerful, simply because they are true stories. No one made them up. But it’s also important to follow up with these women and let them go at their own pace to accept this new grace and new life.

“I actually met the woman that this audio drama was created around in Europe. Today she’s about 85 years old and still runs a ministry on the streets there in the red-light area. So, you’re never too old to reach out to them. But these women, I think, find hope—a little glimmer of hope.

“When you’re working with victims of human trafficking, the longer that they’re experiencing severe trauma like that, they become less and less likely to think that their life could ever change, they could ever be anything else, and anyone would ever love them.”

It takes time and consistency to help a survivor accept that there is a way out of the life they’re living, and that there is plenty of love and grace to help them heal.

“And that better life is because God sees her and has already planned something better for her. And it’s just walking with her to trust the Lord because she has lost all trust in anyone.”

Another reason why it’s so important to have a team on the ground to walk alongside these women is because the content of this audio drama can be difficult to listen to. Banks says the episodes be an emotional trigger for any woman who has been sexually abused and exploited.

“So that’s why it’s important to us—TWR Women of Hope—that there is somebody right there next to them that can follow up right away and not leave them alone with this emotional kind of re-traumatization.”

But over time, with the proper support, these women can come to understand that they are not alone, and that healing can take place.

Support this work

There are a few ways you can support this ministry. First of all, ask God to use TWR Women of Hope and Hidden Treasures specifically to reach both men and women with hope and an understanding of just how much God values women. Pray that they would come to know Jesus.

Secondly, you can help the Hidden Treasures program grow. Banks says they’d like to expand the ministry into India and Africa, but that will take new programming to fit the local languages and cultures. They are also in need of more devices to send to their partner organizations on the ground so that more women can have access to this content.

If you’d like to support this initiative financially, click here.

Around the world more than 150 million vulnerable children live in appalling conditions. Their everyday experiences are marked by sexual abuse, prostitution, human trafficking, forced labor, and other horrors.

But there is hope. Every day caregivers reach out to orphans and other vulnerable to children to show them the love of Christ. However, they need help. Stepping into the lives of children marked by this kind of loss is difficult and painful.

(Photo courtesy of RiverCross)

That’s why RiverCross, a ministry of Trans World Radio (TWR) exists. The non-profit is passionate about bringing children out of places of hurt and into the everlasting peace and joy that comes from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

RiverCross created the #ThemToo to allow those who are not directly serving vulnerable children to join the fight. They can help champion hope by supporting audio programs that reach kids around the world with the Gospel.

Specifically, the #ThemToo campaign funds will benefit the Jabota Bridge radio program, a follow-up to the globally successful Holding Esther program.

Tackling the tough stories

Cindy Finley, a Global Ministry director for RiverCross, explains a little more about the program. “Jabota Bridge is an audio drama. And we’re in pre-production for the first 8 episodes of Jabota Bridge and it truly is the story of a woman whose name is Naomi. She is an indigenous caregiver and she runs a safe house. And all of the kids are kids who have been orphaned, or are on the street, and experiencing war or are refugees and it’s just the stories of these kids. And we deal with the brutal realities they experience, except we do it through the lens of Gospel hope.”

Jabota Bridge tells the stories of characters that are relatable to vulnerable kids. As the characters process their pain through the redemptive plan of the Gospel, the children listening can see how God can work through their situations. Episodes provide doors for caregivers to begin to talk with these kids about Christ’s ability to transform lives, beyond a child’s current circumstances.

A team of writers and producers with experience on acclaimed productions like Focus on the Family’s Adventures in Odyssey will bring Jabota Bridge to life. The program will be aired around the world through the Christian broadcasting organization, Trans World Radio (TWR).

Transforming orphan care

Jabota Bridge came out of a request directly from caregivers who work with vulnerable kids every day. They wanted a program that speaks directly to children in a variety of contexts, helping them to open up to the Gospel and begin a healing process.

Finley says, “This is an area of orphan care that no one is addressing. And our caregivers on the ground say that what we are doing literally, and this is a direct quote, has the power to transform orphan care.”

Finley says that they are praying that as the children listen to these stories, they see hope because they see how God can work through their situations.

Bringing Jabota Bridge to production

#ThemToo is one step toward providing this hope. Through the funds raised in the #ThemToo campaign, production can continue on the Jabota Bridge project.

And RiverCross is praying expectantly for God to provide. Their goal is to raise $100,000 by the end of the year through the #ThemToo campaign and other giving. Donations up to $30,000 will be matched until December 31^st.

Are you passionate about reaching vulnerable children with the Gospel? Today is the day to do something about it.

RiverCross encourages people to join the campaign by donating directly or creating Facebook fundraiser pages based off the RiverCross #ThemToo resources. These pages create awareness for the children and the ministry that is trying to reach them. Facebook friends can donate to radio programs that bring the Word of God into vulnerable children’s lives.

Learn how to set up a Facebook page to raise funds here or donate to the Jabota Bridge project here. Most importantly, pray that God will supply the funds necessary to see Jabota Bridge through to completion.

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” – James 1:27

(Screenshot courtesy of Living Water International)

International (MNN) — In a technology-ridden world, we can forget that sometimes, maybe the best way to do something is the way it’s been done since the beginning of time.

This is how Living Water International feels about how the Bible is shared.

Jerry Wiles of Living Water International tells us about the merits of orality, or “a reliance upon non-written communication,” as he explains it, when sharing the story of Jesus with others.

By taking the media of spoken word, song, storytelling, drama, parables, poems, proverbs, and visual arts, Living Water International hopes to promote reaching people with the Gospel in a way that is simple, effective, and reproducible.

On their Web site, Living Water stresses that this method is biblical and understandable, as well.

“Orality is really a superior way of Bible teaching: telling stories so it’s more interactive, it’s engaging, it’s participatory, and it sticks,” Wiles says. He explains that the behavior change is more evident when people are engaging in the Word actively and together rather than when they read it on their own.

Living Water International holds training conferences to teach others how to participate. What’s surprising is that even though we have to learn how to use orality, this concept isn’t really anything new. For one thing, many unreached cultures depend primarily, if not solely, on non-written communication.

And check these worldwide numbers: “It’s progressively changing the way we do things because [we have] a better understanding now that 70% of the world’s population would be considered oral learners by necessity or by preference,” says Wiles. “That’s 5.7 billion people in the world who can’t, don’t, or won’t read, or prefer to learn by means other by written instruction or print-based media.”

In areas where Living Water International brings clean water to those without, the percentages climb even higher than 70%.

(Screenshot courtesy of Living Water International)

So if storytelling is the way to engage the large majority of the world, across various cultural and lingual barriers, how do we begin?

Wiles says we have a very good example: “Jesus is our best model as a communicator, as a trainer, as a disciple-maker. So how did He do it? Well He told stories and parables; He created relationships in community in a way that was reproduced for 1500 years until the Church became more dependent on literacy based [communication].”

Living Water International says orality is the fastest growing movement in evangelism today. It makes sense when you consider groups of people who don’t have a written language or the Bible in their language yet. However, this way of teaching can be applied in Western countries as well.

Wiles says, for “churches that are sending people on short-term mission trips, the leadership often learn about orality, and they want the training for people who are going on short-term mission trips, whether it’s Latin America, or Africa, or some other [place]. But once they see how it works, they see that it’s universal in its application; it’ll work right here in the United States and in our churches.”

To fully understand orality as Living Water International teaches it, you’ll have to experience it, says Wiles. You can find more information about Living Water International and orality here.

In the meantime, ask God to protect His servants and to guide them in biblical truthfulness as they share His Word throughout the world.

The next annual conference is coming up this October and will take place in Nairobi, Kenya.

The name means that every situation can be looked at in a few ways. The series features an
ordinary family dealing with ordinary issues like lying, smoking, and hypochondria. 

The show is not too heavy but rather uplifting and relevant all at the same time, according to Program Director Rita El Mounayer. "The main purpose of the show is to make you reflect on important issues as you laugh about them! It is not a heavy drama, and the story, even when dealing with sad issues, will lift your spirit," she said.

By attracting viewers to a show on a regular basis, SAT-7 is able to accomplish part of their goal:  "To build bridges between different religions by explaining the Christian faith ‘with gentleness and respect' to a wider general audience that has few other sources for accurate information about Christ and His followers."

The scriptwriter is a wellknown Christian actor and singer, Fady Tabet. Tabet is also the General Director of Voice of Charity, a Christian radio station.

Only recently has the church used this powerful tool to proclaim the message that Jesus is the only way to God. Native Americans have been using drama even longer to teach important lessons of their heritage, and now they're using it to share their faith in Jesus Christ. 

At the Warrior Leadership Summit sponsored by Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, the power of drama goes beyond entertainment. Napthalee Thoms works with youth in Arizona and says the power of the theater conveys something more important. "Kids can connect on a differnet level." Thoms says the youth also see the actors in a differnt light. "They see 'Joe' on stage and then they see him off the stage. They see 'he's one of us.' They see that he's an actor, but he's also lived on the reservataion. He went through all the hard times we've gone through on the rez, and he's an amazing man of God."

Thoms will graduate from college with a minor in theater, and she says the power of the message behind the mask helps connect the message the teens are hearing on stage.

Thoms hopes that teens will see more than just a skit, be it humorous or serious, more than just a moment to distract them but bring the message of the Gospel home to them. "I don't want them to just hear a fluffy message," she says.  "I want them to see Christ."