Radio Africa
Since 1996, Dan Hayhoe, co-founder and CEO of Future Vision Ministries, has been broadcasting a weekly program called "Vision for Christ" on Radio Africa and Radio East Africa. Each broadcast is 15 minutes in length. It reaches a total potential listening audience of almost 500 million people since the addition of a third station (Radio Southern Africa) in August 2004.
"Vision for Christ" is transmitted in English via shortwave radio, and is a vital means of spreading the Gospel of Christ in areas where literacy rates are often as low as 25%. Listeners in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Liberia, Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, Zambia, and many other countries across Africa tune in regularly to the broadcast. The newly added station reaches across southern Africa including Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Lesotho, and South Africa.
Every month, these listeners send response letters to FVM Canada. About these response letters, Pan American broadcasting states: "Radio stations estimate that for every listener letter that you receive, at least 1,000 others have also heard your message. By broadcasting via radio, you are reaching a multitude of souls in a very efficient and economical fashion."
It was to reach these people that Dr. Hayhoe began "Vision for Christ." Today the program continues to spread the Good News in a culturally specific way, which is one of its most important elements. "All of the messages come from the Word of God, but we try to make them relevant to African culture, we try to use examples from African life," explains Dr. Hayhoe. "It's extremely important when we're sitting in Canada preaching these things that we do it in the context of African life experience."
Over the years, a variety of speakers have delivered messages on "Vision for Christ." Whether delivered by Dr. Hayhoe or by other contributors, the message is always warmly received by listeners like Pastor Peter F. Chidatha in Malawi, who writes: "Your message has stabbed my heart for the truth."
Radio africa, radio east africa and Radio Southern Africa
"My name is Bwalya I am 10 years old and I am doing Grade 5 at Parins Primary School. I thought of writing to you and inform you that I listen to your programs on Radio East Africa. I got the example from my parents who encourage me to listen to this program. Glad that you are always talking the love of God and Jesus and I love God and Jesus I would love to learn from you. Bye Bye from Zambia."
Bwalya, Zambia.
"This program have brought grace to our many listeners on Radio Africa. I am also encouraging some of my friends to tune into the program."
Beaweh Payne, Monrovia, Liberia.
"All my congregations are blessed and strengthened by the message from God, over the airwaves. We are encouraged and receive more people who are coming to God. We have other churches in Mozambique."
Chief Masanduko, Nsanje, Malawi.
"It's great to note that through your programme on Radio East Africa you are reaching us spiritually here in Africa. Praise the Lord for that. Many from our group have been saved from your programme because it's spiritually uplifting. Please continue with the programme for it is our spiritual food."
Janee Kagendo, Kenya, East Africa.
"Your message has stabbed my heart for the truth."
Pastor Peter F. Chidatha, Blantyre, Malawi.
Why Short Wave Radio?
In North America, it is rare for people to listen to shortwave radio. In Africa, however, every radio is sold with shortwave capabilities and it is these stations that local listeners consider the most trustworthy and reliable. In countries where the media is often subject to government censorship, the three shortwave stations are broadcast across many countries without the censorship of local governments.
"Ultimately, the greater the political upheaval, the greater the fragmentation of the communication infrastructure in the country, and therefore the greater our impact via shortwave becomes," explains Dr. Hayhoe of the program. This was evident during the war in Liberia when local AM and FM stations were destroyed, and so the only thing people could listen to was shortwave programs like "Vision for Christ." For the first time, FVM started getting reader response letters from Liberia, and today those listeners continue to tune in to the program.
Cost
In order to reach this incredible listening audience of a potential 500 million people every week, "Vision for Christ" costs less than $20,000 Canadian dollars per year. This cost includes the broadcast of a brand new message every week, which is transmitted on three different stations each week, and is heard across most of Africa. The "Vision for Christ" message on these three shortwave stations is a highly effective and cost-efficient way to reach millions of people with the Good News.