African Radio Questions and answers


Frequently asked Questions Question one: How many people listen to the radio in Africa? Findings: Radio is used for news, entertainment and spiritual reasons by eighty-three percent of the people interviewed by the ARM team. This figure is even higher than the 72% figure mentioned in an Ethiopian government report on media published two years ago. Radio is the most widely used means of receiving information for most Ethiopians. Outside of Addis Ababa and the larger towns there are few television sets or computers and few newspaper delivery services. Good quality radios that receive short wave, medium wave and FM broadcasts are found in most villages. These radios are sold in shops for six dollars. We purchased two AA batteries in Dembi Dollo for twenty cents. Liberians also use radio for their chief source of information from the outside world . Implications: Radio is the most effective and economical way to bring the Gospel to the people of Ethiopia and Liberia. Continue broadcasting the ARM programs and increase the program time if possible. Question two: Are people listening to the ARM programs? If so, how many? Findings: Thirty-two percent of Ethiopians surveyed in Western Ethiopia in March 2006 listen to one or both of the ARM programs. Since our sampling did not include the strongly Orthodox Tigre region in the north, nor the strongly Islamic areas in the east where only a few people listen to Christian broadcasts, it is probable that a country-wide percentage of those listening to ARM programs would be about fifteen percent. The total population of Ethiopia is approaching eighty million. Fifteen percent (percentage of ARM listeners) of that figure less twelve million very young children equals about ten million ARM listeners. Admittedly this is an estimate but we are confident that future survey work will confirm that these estimates are realistic. Implications: Continue the present programs and expand programming to include other groups. Question three: What are the listening groups like? Findings: The size of the gatherings listening to ARM programs varies from two or three family members or friends to thirty or more. Information from interviews and from letters from eighty-seven groups indicates that the average number of listeners in a group is between six and ten. Most listeners have had at least some contact with Christianity but many are from Muslim and Orthodox backgrounds. In some Muslim areas listeners meet secretly to avoid persecution. The groups are found in towns, villages, colleges, vocational training schools and in prisons. Implications: The radio pastor must continue to preach the Gospel with the diversity of the audience in mind. Certain topics that would be helpful to special groups can be included but not in ways that are irrelevant to the other groups. Loneliness, for example, is a topic of particular interest to prisoners but also to others. “Who is Jesus?” is a useful topic for all. “Mary, the mother of our Lord” is a topic that Orthodox listeners request more information about and would be useful for others who need to know how to answer questions from Orthodox and Catholic friends. Question four: Are people worshipping God in a group under the leadership of the ARM radio pastor? If so, how many? Findings: Overall, seven percent of those surveyed said that they listened to the ARM program in a gathering. It was not easy to differentiate between which of these are using the radio for worship and which are gathering around the radio as a normal evening social activity. About half of the people stated clearly that they worship in a group during the program. Using the same adjustment factors stated under question two this three point five percent converts to two point three million ARM radio listeners now worshipping in Ethiopia. If the average size of a listening group is about eight, we can divide the total number of group listeners by that number to conclude that the number of worship groups is about two hundred and ninety thousand. Again these are estimates that the ARM staff hopes to confirm as accurate with later survey work. Implications: It is imperative that the worship gatherings be supplied with Bibles, Catechisms and the Bible study course so that the listeners can grow in their understanding of the faith and what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. Wherever possible ARM personnel must provide listeners with information about nearby churches. Listener contact information must also be given to the Mekane Yesus evangelism department so that they can invite new Christians, individuals and groups, into their fellowship and provide them with training, instruction and the sacraments. Conclusion The questions about whether or not people are listening to the ARM program and whether or not God is using the program to foster the creation of worship communities have been answered affirmatively by the survey’s nearly unbelievably positive findings. Bear in mind that anecdotal information and letters support these findings. What is the explanation for these wonderfully high figures? First, eighty percent of all Ethiopians rely on radio as their primary source of information from the outside world. Secondly, there are very few programs in Oromifa and Amharic to choose from. The real explanation, however, lies in the people’s hunger for and openness to the Good News about Jesus. Church membership for all denominations is growing. The EECMY membership alone increased by two hundred thousand in 2005. There is also a deep desire in the hearts of those who have experienced the reality of God’s love to worship Him. The ARM worship programs are connecting with and providing expression for this desire to praise our Lord Jesus Christ in Ethiopia and in Liberia. A massive challenge lies ahead of ARM and the Mekane Yesus church. Now, with the evidence everywhere at hand that the cell groups exist in great numbers, all means must be used to bring them into the fellowship of the larger church and to provide them with all that is necessary for their nurture and spiritual development. It is our prayer that all who read this document will assist financially with this high endeavor and honor ARM by praying that God will bless, protect and use these programs to his Glory. Donations and ARM’s Financial policy From the beginning of the ministry in January, 2005 until the present ARM has adhered to a policy that requires that all donations and gifts be sent to support the work overseas. All US expenses and work are paid for or done by volunteers. Donations are always needed for the broadcast and production of the programs and can be sent to: African Radio Ministries Gary Thies, Mission Development Counselor 40718 Hwy E16 Mapleton, IA 51034 Although the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod assists African Radio Ministries by receiving and holding funds for ARM it does not support ARM financially. ARM relies on the support of Godly individuals and groups that see the value of radio work in reaching the lost with the Word and worship services.

Question one:
How many people listen to the radio in Africa?

Findings:
Radio is used for news, entertainment and spiritual reasons by eighty-three percent of the people interviewed by the ARM team. This figure is even higher than the 72% figure mentioned in an Ethiopian government report on media published two years ago. Radio is the most widely used means of receiving information for most Ethiopians. Outside of Addis Ababa and the larger towns there are few television sets or computers and few newspaper delivery services. Good quality radios that receive short wave, medium wave and FM broadcasts are found in most villages. These radios are sold in shops for six dollars. We purchased two AA batteries in Dembi Dollo for twenty cents. Liberians also use radio for their chief source of information from the outside world .

Implications:
Radio is the most effective and economical way to bring the Gospel to the people of Ethiopia and Liberia. Continue broadcasting the ARM programs and increase the program time if possible.

Question two:
Are people listening to the ARM programs? If so, how many?

Findings:
Thirty-two percent of Ethiopians surveyed in Western Ethiopia in March 2006 listen to one or both of the ARM programs. Since our sampling did not include the strongly Orthodox Tigre region in the north, nor the strongly Islamic areas in the east where only a few people listen to Christian broadcasts, it is probable that a country-wide percentage of those listening to ARM programs would be about fifteen percent. The total population of Ethiopia is approaching eighty million. Fifteen percent (percentage of ARM listeners) of that figure less twelve million very young children equals about ten million ARM listeners. Admittedly this is an estimate but we are confident that future survey work will confirm that these estimates are realistic.

Implications:
Continue the present programs and expand programming to include other groups.

Question three:
What are the listening groups like?

Findings:
The size of the gatherings listening to ARM programs varies from two or three family members or friends to thirty or more. Information from interviews and from letters from eighty-seven groups indicates that the average number of listeners in a group is between six and ten.

Most listeners have had at least some contact with Christianity but many are from Muslim and Orthodox backgrounds. In some Muslim areas listeners meet secretly to avoid persecution.

The groups are found in towns, villages, colleges, vocational training schools and in prisons.

Implications:
The radio pastor must continue to preach the Gospel with the diversity of the audience in mind. Certain topics that would be helpful to special groups can be included but not in ways that are irrelevant to the other groups. Loneliness, for example, is a topic of particular interest to prisoners but also to others. “Who is Jesus?” is a useful topic for all. “Mary, the mother of our Lord” is a topic that Orthodox listeners request more information about and would be useful for others who need to know how to answer questions from Orthodox and Catholic friends.

Question four:
Are people worshipping God in a group under the leadership of the ARM radio pastor? If so, how many?

Findings:
Overall, seven percent of those surveyed said that they listened to the ARM program in a gathering. It was not easy to differentiate between which of these are using the radio for worship and which are gathering around the radio as a normal evening social activity. About half of the people stated clearly that they worship in a group during the program. Using the same adjustment factors stated under question two this three point five percent converts to two point three million ARM radio listeners now worshipping in Ethiopia. If the average size of a listening group is about eight, we can divide the total number of group listeners by that number to conclude that the number of worship groups is about two hundred and ninety thousand. Again these are estimates that the ARM staff hopes to confirm as accurate with later survey work.

Implications:
It is imperative that the worship gatherings be supplied with Bibles, Catechisms and the Bible study course so that the listeners can grow in their understanding of the faith and what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. Wherever possible ARM personnel must provide listeners with information about nearby churches. Listener contact information must also be given to the Mekane Yesus evangelism department so that they can invite new Christians, individuals and groups, into their fellowship and provide them with training, instruction and the sacraments.

Conclusion

The questions about whether or not people are listening to the ARM program and whether or not God is using the program to foster the creation of worship communities have been answered affirmatively by the survey’s nearly unbelievably positive findings. Bear in mind that anecdotal information and letters support these findings.

What is the explanation for these wonderfully high figures? First, eighty percent of all Ethiopians rely on radio as their primary source of information from the outside world. Secondly, there are very few programs in Oromifa and Amharic to choose from. The real explanation, however, lies in the people’s hunger for and openness to the Good News about Jesus. Church membership for all denominations is growing. The EECMY membership alone increased by two hundred thousand in 2005. There is also a deep desire in the hearts of those who have experienced the reality of God’s love to worship Him. The ARM worship programs are connecting with and providing expression for this desire to praise our Lord Jesus Christ in Ethiopia and in Liberia.

A massive challenge lies ahead of ARM and the Mekane Yesus church. Now, with the evidence everywhere at hand that the cell groups exist in great numbers, all means must be used to bring them into the fellowship of the larger church and to provide them with all that is necessary for their nurture and spiritual development. It is our prayer that all who read this document will assist financially with this high endeavor and honor ARM by praying that God will bless, protect and use these programs to his Glory.

Donations and ARM’s Financial policy

From the beginning of the ministry in January, 2005 until the present ARM has adhered to a policy that requires that all donations and gifts be sent to support the work overseas. All US expenses and work are paid for or done by volunteers.

Donations are always needed for the broadcast and production of the programs and can be sent to:

African Radio Ministries
Gary Thies, Mission Development Counselor
40718 Hwy E16
Mapleton, IA 51034

Although the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod assists African Radio Ministries by receiving and holding funds for ARM it does not support ARM financially. ARM relies on the support of Godly individuals and groups that see the value of radio work in reaching the lost with the Word and worship services.