AFRICAN RADIO MINISTRY NEWS OCTOBER 2008
Dear friends and partners in the Lord's work,
YOU HAVE A ROLE, A PART TO PLAY IN HISTORY !
"Please, please bring the Gospel Message to the Oromos too." These are the words of modern day reformer Getachew, a priest from the Ethiopian Coptic Church. He continues, " Our church has strayed from the true Gospel message of the Bible. Please use your Lutheran radio programs to bring us back to Jesus, the rightful center of the true faith."
Two years ago African Radio Ministries began broadcasting Biblical law/Gospel messages for the Coptic Church in the Amharic language. The response has been terrific with over six hundred letters from listeners coming in each month telling us how Christ has changed lives and families. In one famous monastery about four hundred monks and priests are listening as a group to the evening program. After the program they continue discussing the message as if it were a class right up to midnight.
Listeners write to ask that the programs be aired more often and that they be made longer. But the priority request from Priest Getachew is, "Please give us these worship and teaching services in the Oromo language also." There are about thirty million Oromo speakers. Some are Coptic believers and many are Muslim but almost all will listen to the Gospel message if it is broadcast in their own language. Radio is very important to Africans
Earlier this year Getachew and other reformers prepared a meal for our little delegation and presented gifts of cloth to express their thanks for the work that we (and you) have done. After the meal they made a heartfelt, touching appeal for the programs to be also broadcast in the Oromo language.
In January a delegation of six friends of the ministry took a first hand look at the people and communities that that are listening to the worship programs in Ethiopia. They spoke with priests of the Coptic/Orthodox church and heard first hand that "Whoever calls upon the name of Mary will be saved." Many of these people are believers but they need to focus on Jesus and salvation by faith in Him alone. They also met with reformer priests who use ARM programs to reach their people with Christ centered Gospel messages. To say thank you these priests and their friends prepared a special meal and a time o f thanksgiving for the blessing of the radio work.
The ARM group also met individuals and families that worship God in remote villages and in a prison where they were allowed to speak to some of the believers and hear directly from them how the radio has brought them hope and salvation in a difficult place. They saw the prisoners weaving cotton on small hand made spinning wheels. The maximum earnings for one month? About one dollar!! The prisoners requested Bibles to aid them in their study of how to live as followers of Jesus. They were given a few Bibles but more are needed for the twenty prisons around the country.
I replied, "We are Lutherans, people of the Reformation. We will do our best to support programs in Oromo and to bring your great church back to Jesus and to faith in Him as the only way of salvation."
What an historic opportunity this is. It is as if Martin Luther himself is making this appeal. If one program per week were sent out to these thirty million people, it would have enormous impact and bring many into God's Kingdom.
Here are some of the basic costs to make their request a reality:
$5.00 for one Bible. Few Coptic members have a Bible and surprisingly many monks and even priests are without Bibles-- the Reformation needs the Word as its foundation.
$75 for producing, recording and mailing one program to the shortwave station in South Africa.
$217 for one half hour of air time to broadcast one program from the radio station in South Africa. Four, sometimes five, programs are aired each month.
Pray for these efforts and consider your part in bringing the Gospel to the Oromo people.
Support for these projects can be sent to:
ARM
C/O Gary Thies,
LCMS development coordinator
40718 Hwy E16
Mapleton, IA 51034
In Christ,
Rev. John and Kathy Duitsman
The group took many photos and made a DVD which tells the story of ARM's work in Ethiopia. For a free copy call Rev. John Duitsman : 760-912-7888.
Those that made the trip were thankful for the opportunity to see what the Lord has done in that very interesting part of the world. The team: Rev. John Duitsman, Dr. Tilahun Mendedo, Decon Nick Derose, supporters Van and Timothy Duitsman, Teacher Andrea Davis.
Priests celebrating Christmas in Ethiopia
Jeff Johnson and Dave Brekebede visit Liberia
To read the full story Click Here
