A Voice for Senegal's Believers

August 2009 - Partner Ministry Inter-Senegal Mission hosted a seminar on Christian radio broadcasting for 12 eager participants to provide training as they launch a new radio station. A radio frequency has been acquired and many participants are willing to serve. All that is needed now is your prayers for their success.

From July 1-11, Inter-Senegal Mission (ISM) organized a seminar on radio ministry. The station is strategically located half way between the capital city and Thies, where ISM is headquartered. This Partners-sponsored seminar is a follow-up to the October 2008 training, where 28 participants attended. This year, only 12 participants were able to return, but the training encouraged and strengthened many of the participants' work.

Victor, an editor at the oldest newspaper in Senegal, shared, "I believe that the Church in Senegal needs to have a voice. My experience is that Christian opinion is not always accepted in the local press. Because we are a 95% Muslim country, certain Christian beliefs are censored. If we want the populations to hear our voices, we need to work in order to put a Christian press group in place."

He went on to say, "The advantage of a Christian press group is obvious. In other presses, they bring up the topic - say, for example, rape. The advantage we have is that while we talk about the same subjects, we bring a supplement: God's way of seeing things and His solution. People need that and they don't find it in the actual press."

Another participant, Pastor Camille, said that he wants to plead with and encourage church leaders to support the ministry because radio broadcasts go where other ministries can't. "It helps prepare the ground before we get there physically."

The seminar helped the pastors understand how to conduct interviews, produce radio reports, and tips for oral expression while recording a program. They also focused on making their programs understandable for all ages and all religions.

Many expressed their regrets that the seminar could not be longer, since there is so much to learn to successfully produce radio broadcasts. Charles, the facilitator for the seminar, said that in previous trainings in other countries, the people at the seminar started with lesser capabilities than the people who attended this seminar. "When I think of what they could be doing  in the future , I'd say they have a range of people with real talent and abilities."

One of the radio follow-up committee members, Ruth, emphasized the benefits and needs. "For the people who cannot go to church, who are afraid of giving their lives to Christ, or are afraid of rejection by their family members or society, radio ministry will be an outreach for them to know Jesus and grow in their faith. We need your prayers to make this successful."

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