Dear Friends

Already in this year we have seen some notable events, a Global recession, conflict in Gaza, major earth quakes in Italy and Mexico, flooding in Australia, a new USA president with new international policies, recent world concern about the spread of Swine Flu.

Equally notable is what God has been doing, South Africa saw almost 200 000 men gather for the Mighty Men conference, which encourages men to be Christ’s leaders in their homes, the Orissa region in India saw peaceful elections where Christians were able to vote despite former persecution. A Wycliffe Bible Translators press release says that they have, since October 2008, received $117 million to press ahead with a billion-dollar effort to provide literacy and humanitarian aid for ALL the world's small language groups in need of language development by 2025. All this in an economically depressed environment.

And there’s more from Africa, please read on for other prayer and praise items from some of your radio colleagues and a reminder about the AbR Continental Convention 17-19 September, 2009.

God bless

Your colleagues at AbR

[Click "Read More..." for more letters and translations]

Galcom Intl

Please pray for our new project with Radio New Song in Bo, Sierra Leone to expand their station on their own property. Pray that we can get all the equipment shipped and through customs in time.

We are also working a project for Southern Sudan. We need the details to come together befor June.

God bless, Dave Casement

Mozambique, Times of Restoration.

My prayer request is … that my radio program, which is called Times of Restoration can touch many souls for Christ. I would like to receive more training on Christian radio and how to develope skills using the recording equipment. I believe in Radio Ministry so it is very important for me to have knowledge on how to use these, to present Jesus to people in a strategical way. Yours in Christ: Arone Matavele. (Meu pedido do prayer é… que meu programa de rádio, que é chamado Época da restauração pode tocar em muitas almas para Christ. Eu gostaria de receber mais treinamento no rádio Christian e como desenvolver habilidades usando o equipamento de gravação. Eu acredito no Ministry de rádio assim que é muito importante para mim ter o conhecimento em como usar estes, apresentar Jesus aos povos em uma maneira estratégica. Seu em Christ: Arone Matavele)

2K+

01 May:  Norman Brierley joins us 2 days a week as Africa Development Manager.  Pray that Norman will have success as he promotes our work among radio stations in Africa.

06 May: The official launch of our weekly, 15-minute programme, Planet Sport.  Pray for Adrian Barnard (England) and Clayton Bjelan (Melbourne, Australia) presenting the show.  Pray that the 20 or so radio stations who expressed interest will now broadcast the show.  Pray that Planet Sport will be successful in our aim to introduce sports fans to Jesus.  The show is also available on our website: www.planetsport.tv – why not click the link now and see and hear for yourself?  Please consider introducing the site to sports fans you know – and why not make a note to listen there yourself every week too?

Please also pray as we plan reporting from major sports events:

Paralympic World Cup, Manchester, 20-25 May.  Norman Brierley will be our reporter.  Pray for a good response as we contact radio stations to offer our service.  Traditionally interest in disability sporting events has been much lower than for able-bodied events.

World Championships in Athletics, Berlin, 15-23 August.  Give thanks for a sports ministry contact in Berlin who has offered to help find accommodation for our reporter Norman Brierley.  Pray that the media accreditation we have requested for Norman will be granted.

Thank you for your prayers which underpin our work and may God bless you richly this month. Adrian Barnard.

ACB Southern Africa

• Give thanks for the ACB conference in March. For each participant.

• Pray that Christian broadcasters will follow through on things the Lord spoke to them about at the conference.

• Pray for those who are preparing to submit new community radio license applications to ICASA. That the Lord will give them wisdom.

• Pray for the new ACB Board elected at the AGM in March that the Lord will give them His direction & focus for the year ahead.

• Pray for ACB training courses being planned and for fruit from those courses. Dave Hotchkiss

UCB Africa

1. Please pray for our UCB Africa team of Radio Andrea. Pray for their safety in turbulent times - as you are aware the turmoil in Madagascar is not over yet.

(Priez svp pour notre équipe d'UCB Afrique d'Andrea par radio. Priez pour leur sûreté dans des périodes turbulentes - car vous vous rendez compte que l'agitation au Madagascar non plus d'encore.)

2. For Radio Pulpit, South Africa - a review application was launched this week, to ask the High Court for a review of ICASA's decision not to award our full license.

God bless, Roelf.

FEBA Radio

Malawi - Feba Radio and TWR have been working together to develop local broadcasts for the Yawo in central Malawi. Unfortunately, recent interpretations of broadcast regulations have interrupted the project. Please pray for Feba and TWR staff in Malawi as they work together to find creative solutions for delivering programs to the Yawo.

Radio Nuru, Macomia Mozambique - In partnership with AIM, Feba Radio is assisting missionaries in Macomia to start a local FM station to reach the Mwane people. The construction of the station is nearing the final stage, but the license application has not yet been approved. Please pray that the license and its frequency will be released soon so that the project can be completed and the broadcasts can begin. (Na parceria com ALVO, o rádio dos Feba está ajudando a missionários em Macomia a começar uma estação local de FM alcançar os povos de Mwane. A construção da estação está aproximando o estágio final, mas a aplicação da licença não foi aprovada ainda. Pray por favor que a licença e sua freqüência estarão liberadas logo de modo que o projeto possa ser terminado e as transmissões possam começar.)

Radio Wimbe, Pemba Mozambique - Feba Radio and IBRA are joining hands to launch a new radio station in the coastal city of Pemba. The project is now being defined. Please pray for the local association and leaders from the two ministries as they begin working to prepare the way for this project to proceed. (O rádio dos Feba e IBRA estão juntando as mãos para lançar uma estação de rádio nova na cidade litoral de Pemba. O projeto está sendo definido agora. Pray por favor para a associação e os líderes locais dos dois ministries como começam a trabalhar para preparar a maneira para este projeto proseguir.)

Bob & Barb Bartz - have just returned from a period of home assignment in the US. Bob will assume the role of Development Director for Southern and Central Africa for Feba Radio. Pray for Bob as he begins developing ministry contacts and moves projects forward in the region.

Radio Africa Network
N/W Africa – we were saddened to learn that the project we were partnering in in this region has been called off for strategic reasons. Please pray that another opportunity will present itself for the people of this region to hear the Gospel in their language from a local fm station. (N/W Afrique - nous avons été attristés pour apprendre que le projet que nous étions partenariat dedans dans cette région a été réclamé au loin des raisons stratégiques. Veuillez prier qu'une autre occasion se présentera pour les personnes de cette région pour entendre l'evangile dans leur langue d'une station locale de fm.)

Zambia – continue to pray for the local team that are working on a station to air local language Christian programmes. Pray that finances and final arrangements will come through. Pray for other opportunities in this country to materialize as God wills it.

Rural radio – pray for us as we work on opportunities for this kind of radio. Pray for developments of power sources for areas without electricity.

Pray for training opportunities to develop and for finances to continue this work so that Christian broadcasters can be trained up to do their job well.

IBRA Africa (East, Central & Southern)

“But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;”  (Psa 103:17 KJV+)

• The radio station Alpha and Omega in Goma, DRC finally came on air the last days of January. Many, many find their way to the station for counseling. Listeners give their lives to Christ, some are healed from sicknesses and delivered from powers of darkness. Praise the Lord! Pray for the radio team and local pastors as they struggle to keep up with the work load. (L'alpha par radio de station et Omega dans Goma, transporteur sont finalement venus sur l'air les derniers jours de janvier. Beaucoup, beaucoup trouvent leur chemin à la station pour la consultation. Les auditeurs donnent leurs vies au Christ, certains sont guéris des maladies et livrés des puissances d'obscurité. Félicitez le seigneur ! Priez pour l'équipe par radio et les pasteurs locaux comme ils luttent pour suivre la charge de travail.)

• In January 2009 the Ethiopian partner Hiyaw Tesfa added three more Oromo programs to their schedule. At the same time they began welcoming listeners to contact the studio also by telephone.

We praise the Lord for all that are touched, and pray that more people will understand the truth of salvation.

• Habari Maalum College in Arusha, Tanzania had the graduation ceremony the 27^th of March. Pray that these students will serve the Lord as effective “media missionaries” wherever they will be employed across East Africa.

• The building process at Habari Maalum College has come to a standstill as the contractor did not perform up to requirement. Pray that God will lead to the right building contractor as the new tendering process now is launched. Pray for Amos Makiya, the administrator at Habari Maalum Media, Arusha Tanzania who is recovering from an eye surgery.

• Pray for the planning process of a FM station in Pemba Mozambique. IBRA in partnership with FEBA Radio. Pray for wisdom and guidance as many issues needs solutions, funds must be raised and strategies hammered out. (Pray para o processo do planeamento de uma estação de FM em Pemba Mozambique. IBRA na parceria com rádio dos FEBA. Pray para a sabedoria e a orientação tantas como soluções das necessidades das edições, fundos deve ser levantada e estratégias ser resolvida.)

• In the middle of May a seminar will be held in Rufiji, Tanzania with an aim of defining a church planting strategy among the Makonde people using newly developed hand cranked MP3 players. Pray for God’s guidance. In Christ, Jan-Erik Nyman

AFRICA BY RADIO

From 17-19 September, 2009 AbR is hosting our first African Continental Convention in Johannesburg, South Africa. It will be a time for Africans, and those working on the continent, to network, hear excellent speakers, attend informative workshops and learn about media trends affecting Africa today. For more information contact the AbR Secretariat on This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or visit our website on www.africabyradio.org or our blog This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it We would be delighted to see you there at an event not to be missed!

Please pray for the Continental Convention in September. For God to provide for the arrangements of the convention and also the funding for the attendees. Pray that the convention will be a great success and enhance Christian broadcasting across the continent to the glory of God.

We thank God for the welcome AbR received in Maputo, Mozambique when we held our recent meetings there. Pray that God will further develop opportunities for Christian radio broadcasts in Portuguese speaking Africa and add His blessing to the work already being done by our colleagues in those countries.

Priez svp pour la convention continentale en septembre. Pour Dieu à prévoir les arrangements de la convention et également du placement pour les participants. Priez que la convention sera un grand succès et augmentera le chrétien annonçant à travers le continent à la gloire de Dieu.

Pray por favor para a convenção continental em setembro. Para o deus a fornecer para os arranjos da convenção e também de financiar para os participantes. Pray que a convenção será um sucesso grande e realçará o cristão que transmite através do continente ao glory do deus.(Nós agradecemos o deus para o AbR bem-vindo recebido em Maputo, Mozambique quando nós realizamos nossas reuniões recentes lá. Pray que o deus desenvolverá mais mais oportunidades para transmissões de rádio Christian no português - África faladora e adicionará seu blessing ao trabalho já que está sendo feito por nossos colegas naqueles países.