Northwestern Media Missions Project - HCJB

Portable Studios in North Africa and the Middle East

Project Overview

Although Christian radio stations are not possible in North Africa / Middle East, those living there are still hearing the Gospel through HCJB Global’s shortwave, satellite and Internet radio broadcasting. Programs are produced by local believers. To allow these believers to record the programs quickly and easily, we provide portable studios. This project will fund eight portable studios – four to go into new locations and four to replace studios with updated equipment

The Need and the Solution

The 355.2 million people living in North Africa / Middle East are about 98.99% Muslim. Restrictions deny them access to the Good News of Jesus Christ, yet many are searching for love, truth and hope in their lives. Illiteracy rates among women can be high -- making radio an effective tool for both evangelism and discipleship.

There has been evidence that “this generation” of Arabs is more open to Christ due to the compassion many have experienced through Christian agencies as refugees or during famines or natural disasters. Through our radio training experiences and responses from listeners, we have found that many listeners discover what they are searching for.

Project Details

HCJB Global started training local believers in North Africa and the Middle East in1998 to produce radio programs in their own dialects for broadcast via our shortwave and satellite services back into their home countries. And people are listening! A recent independent media survey revealed that in Morocco alone, 614,000 households reported listening weekly to either the satellite or shortwave service broadcasts -- a huge increase from the same survey in 2004.

In this way, we are able to empower the local believers of North Africa and the Middle East to reach their own communities for Christ. We provide equipment, training and a broadcast facility, and they provide the original ideas, insider knowledge of their culture, and voices for recordings, so that the most effective programs will be produced for transmission.

Response From a Shortwave Listener

When I listen about Jesus Christ I feel a peace inside of me that I have never felt before. I do not feel at peace unless I listen to your Joyful News Station and hear about Jesus. I am very eager to learn more about Him. Please send me the Bible and correspondence course and help me to embrace Christianity and be part of the Christian believers.