January, 2011
NRB Strategic Partnership Prayer NewsletterNumbering Days…Seeking God’s Heart I have a calendar that has the days numbered both ways…up and down. I know that whe Yes, I know. That isn’t a big deal…unless you have deadlines and major events for which you must plan. Then it begins to make some sense to know where you are in the calendar, and how many days are left. And, it helps you evaluate your days…how you spend your time…what you are accomplishing. The Bible even speaks to that. In what is probably the oldest Psalm…written by Moses…it talks about the value of numbering our days. Moses spends the opening verses of this prayer to God by acknowledging the eternal nature of God versus the brevity and frailty of His creation. Some commentators believe this Psalm was written near the end of the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness of the Children of Israel. Moses had watched the people make poor decisions, and now were facing the consequences of life…and the death of all those who had rejected God and had doubted His providential hand. When you read these verses in light of this understanding, they hit hard. “You have set our iniquities before You…. Yet Moses was not without hope. Verse 12 springs off the pages like a resurgence of life, a desire to learn, seeking, as John MacArthur says, to live a significant life. “So teach us to number our days, ”The turning of the calendar pages from 2010 to 2011 gives us a chance to do what Moses was doing…evaluate. Look at past mistakes, acknowledge the sovereignty of God, and ask for both His mercy and His direction. I believe that all of us would want a life of significance. But what does that mean? Significance does not necessarily mean notoriety or man’s applause. It doesn’t mean we will gain notice by others by how we live, though God may grant that if it serves His purpose. What it does mean is that we will live a life of obedience to the will of the Father who sent His Son to pay the price for our sins, our mistakes, our selfish decisions, our failures. And out of that obedience comes the Lord’s victory…and the only significance that really matters. As this New Year 2011 begins, I am asking the Lord to help me evaluate…number…my days; to help me recognize the brevity of life, and to acknowledge the supreme sovereignty of God in all matters of our life. I am asking Him to help me discern His will and His way as it relates to my calling in helping Christian broadcasters around the world. I want to use the resources of time, experience, energy, and finances in a way that furthers His work and completes His agenda. And I am asking the Lord to help me not only number my days, but order them for the greatest significance…accomplishing His plan to reach our world…His world…with the hope of the Gospel of Christ. Would you join me in that prayer? Ministry Opportunities and Prayer Needs As we begin this new year, I want to give a brief mention of the countries and ministries with which we are in contact and for whom we are praying and, as God leads, assisting in their significant work. Each comes as a prayer request for the work, the ministry, the country and the great servants God has spreading His Good News. Albania Also in Albania is Emanuel Radio in the southeastern city of Korce. I met and got to know Tani and Eftali Baraku at the Balkans Media Training last fall in Romania. This husband and wife team is doing a great job in this region of Albania. Their close proximity to both Macedonia and Greece gives them an opportunity to minister across the borders to Albanians living in these countries. Other NRB members have been helping this ministry, and we hope to join with them in assisting Radio Emanuel to carry the Light of Christ to many who live in darkness.
Bulgaria France Paul and Laura Herrigan continue to seek a broadcast frequency
Pray for Lucian Despa, who heads up Radio Voice of the Gospel. The nine stations in their network covers much of the country, but there is need to grow, both in number of stations and in impact. Also pray for Tudor Petan of Alfa Omega Television. They have moved Russia At the same time, some of these broadcasters talked of new strategies that would help them reach the people of Russia with the hope of the Gospel. I am excited to see these faithful servants who are standing firm on God’s Word and looking for new and more effective ways to spread the Good News. Pray for Russia, for the Christian broadcasters there, for protection, and for amazing favor as they serve. And pray that God will give us discernment to know how we may help them to accomplish this.
Sasko and Ira Bogeski lead this much-needed ministry from their home in Belgrade. Pray for them to find an appropriate place where they will have adequate office space and room for growth. There are those who are already supporting this effort financially, an answer to prayer. Pray for Sasko as he gains additional training and experience, and as they set up their budget for the ministry. And pray for others to come alongside them to help grow the ELION Media ministry in Serbia and Macedonia. South Asia Pray for the broadcast associations in this area, including a new one formed this year. Having a unified voice gives them more strength as they deal with authorities that would like to diminish the work of the church and these who proclaim the Gospel. Pray for the various international ministries, like HCJB Global, TWR, and Far East Broadcasting, who have ministry partners in this part of the world. And pray for the impact of the Gospel to touch hearts and lives living in spiritual darkness. Spain Pray for the leadership of this ministry as they seek God’s direction. Pray for those NRB folks whom God is leading to become further involved with Radio Onda Paz. And pray that the financial resources to meet the cost of broadcasting in Barcelona will be met in a way that honors God and furthers His purpose for the salvation of souls and discipleship of the saints in Spain.
Pray for this dedicated staff, led by Roger Anrfjell. Pray for the funds to acquire the right frequency that has the power and signal to make a major impact in the capital of Sweden. Pray for the development of programming in Swedish that will teach God’s Word to the most secular audience in all of Europe, and that many will hear, believe, and follow Christ as Lord of their lives. Strategic Partnership Support We have been blessed to have individuals and ministries contribute financially to NRB’s efforts to encourage and enhance the work of Christian broadcasters around the world. Others have given through NRB for work in specific countries and for specific projects. All are a blessing and allow us to continue this amazing work, only possible by your generous heart and your prayers. Most of all, pray with thanksgiving for the Lord’s people serving around the world in Christian communication. They are called by God to this task, and often serve in challenging cultures and times in their country. Yet the Lord is blessing thousands through these ministries…thousands that you and I would not be able to reach. I am honored to serve with them, to encourage them, and to assist them as God gives us direction. Let’s see what our Lord will accomplish through all of us… as we use our days effectively and as we develop a heart of wisdom…all for His glory.
Ronald L. Harris, DD |
nit is January 10, it is the 10th day of the year, and there are 355 days left. OK…that one is easy. But March 19? August 21? November 13? That’s where it’s a real help.
God has blessed the work of Radio 7/Media 7 in amazing ways. Along with growing a strong radio ministry in the capital of Tirana, their signal reaches out across a large section of this formerly Communist country. Now they are seeking to have impact in Kosovo, receiving a broadcast license for that country that is almost totally Muslim. Pray for great wisdom for Enkelejda Kumaraku and her Media 7 leadership team, for favor from authorities, and for protection from any harm as they proclaim the Gospel.
Our NRB Partnership division doesn’t have an active project going with Radio Mosoj Chaski in Bolivia, but we continue to communicate with them and look forward to assisting them in reaching the Quechua Indians in Bolivia, especially those living in the Andes Mountains. Galcom International, an NRB member from Canada, supplies fixed-tuned, solar powered shortwave radios for Mosoj Chaski to distribute to the Quechua so they can hear Christian radio totally in their language. Pray for those who lead this broadcast ministry that has over one million regular listeners. And, pray also for future development into video production to provide Bible study materials with this technology.
of Studio 865 on the planning team for the Balkans Media Training. He heads up this Christian television production ministry that is launching a TV channel of Christian programming. Dr. Petkov is also a professor of communication at the New Bulgaria University, and is highly respected in this realm. We enjoyed meeting a number of his broadcast team from Sofia at the Balkans training seminars last fall. It is exciting to provide further training and inspiration for these who serve in such critical places. Pray for them as they produce TV programming that introduces the message of Christ and that impacts lives throughout Bulgaria. Pray for this significant voice for Christ as Studio 865 further develops Christian television programming to impact all of Bulgaria for the Lord Jesus.
Like much of Europe, France is dealing with secularization and apathy for the Gospel and for God. Christian broadcasters there struggle to gain any momentum in reaching the population for Christ. However, the French language is spoken in some 50+ countries, and an impact here could have a ripple effect in many countries in Africa and the Americas. Pray for Denis Steffan, who gives leadership to the dedicated group of Christian broadcasters trying to break through the apathy and touch hearts with God's Hope.
for Paris. In a recent newsletter from Radio Gospel/France for Christ, Paul writes: 
God continues to open many doors of opportunity for Christian broadcasting in Romania. It seems clear to me that this former Communist country is a key part of God’s plan for spreading His Word to that region of the world. There are quite a number of Christian radio stations and groups doing a good job in reaching their cities and areas for Christ. There are also television stations and networks that are touching the Romanian people, even those living beyond the borders of that country.
into a new broadcaster center in Timisoara, Romania, but need to finish out the building. In addition, they are in need of new equipment to replace old technology and to expand the capability of the network and their satellite delivery system.
It was my privilege to once again be in Russia with the Association of Christian Broadcasters this past fall. I was present about 10 years ago when this group was formed under the leadership of Hannu Haukka. He continues to lead these broadcasters to serve as effectively as possible under the current situation. Talking with these Russian broadcasters we learned that it is increasingly difficult to be an evangelical believer in Christ and serve in Russia.
ELION Media ministry continues to grow. The addition of a DVD duplicator has allowed them to begin distributing their first project, “More Than Dreams” with Serbian subtitles. This video series is a great witnessing tool for those trying to reach the Muslim community. ELION is also assisting other evangelical organizations, providing them with videos of their conferences, as well as material the ministries can use for promotion.
me of the verse, “Where sin abounds, grace much more abounds.” Many of these countries deal with strong Muslim influence, along with Hindu and animist religions. Yet by God’s grace, there are many Christian broadcasters in these countries who are standing firm and letting their world know of God’s love, and the opportunity for salvation through Jesus Christ.
Radio Onda Paz in Barcelona held their first-ever Radiothon to raise needed funds for the ministry. This is a new experience and out of the comfort zone for the radio ministry, and is a learning process. Pastor Julio has help from NRB members who are helping to guide the ministry to have a greater impact in the whole Catalonia region of Spain.
and programming that will deepen the listeners spiritually.
