Inspirational

Offering Hope, Friendship and Companionship

FEBC's radio ministry was launched in 1945 in the wake of the widespread turmoil and destruction in Asia brought about by World War II. Hardly before FEBC could get organised, China was plunged into darkness by communism. FEBC rallied in response to this crisis. Russia had already succumbed some thirty years earlier, and within the next thirty years Indochina was to follow. In other parts of Southeast Asia other listeners were living under the oppression of Islam.

A very significant part of the Christian's witness is to bring hope and inspiration into a dark world. Just as Jesus' birth brought light to those who walked in darkness so we must also. It was clear to FEBC that its mandate, from the beginning, was to minister to those in closed countries and that this required providing inspiration and hope to those denied freedom under totalitarian governments. Inspiration in turn leads to companionship and friendship and a special relationship develops between listener and broadcaster.

No one knew how successful FEBC's inspirational ministry to China was until the country emerged from behind the Bamboo Curtain in the late 1970s. The inspirational role of Christian radio, especially during the days of the Cultural Revolution, began to surface.

The process of bringing hope and encouragement is as much by our attitudes as by specific programs -- but certain program types lend themselves especially to this application. Devotional programs come to mind. For China it was the daily devotional program Streams in the Desert (named after the book of the same name) which became a great source of inspiration - to Christian and non-Christian alike. For the Russians it was the familiar voice of Jack Koziol bringing encouragement from the Word.

But this role does not only apply to those living under totalitarian governments. Regardless of political and religious systems we have an important role in offering hope as part of the Gospel.