voice magazine Winter 2015

voiceFeba UK’s Magazine Winter 2015

IRAQIraqFM update p3

DRCRadio on the street p4

SIERRA LEONEFighting stigma and Ebola p8

TIBETEvangelism with Tibetans p10

2 voice magazine | Winter 2015

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Ivy Arch Road,Worthing, West Sussex,BN14 8BX, UK+44 (0)1903 237281

Feba Radio: A registered charity no. 257343. A non-profit making company limited by guarantee no. 940492.Registered in England, Registered office Ivy Arch Road, Worthing

Welcome

THIS is the first edition of our new look re-sized voice magazine. We really like the fact that we can reduce our costs

- meaning we have more money to use with our partners, bringing lasting transformation through life-giving media.

In a famous passage from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells the crowd: ‘You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.’ (Matt 5:13-14). He urges them to be both salt and light – to make a tangible difference in the world while also lighting the path to God. The same calling holds true for Feba and it’s wonderful to see how our partners put it into practice.

I was struck by this quote (on page 3) from a listener In Iraq: ‘I am starting to love Christians because they truly love and care for us.’ Jesus went on to tell those listening: ‘let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.’ (Matt 5:16). As you read through this edition of voice I hope like me you’ll be encouraged to see how that principle is being worked out - people experiencing, and hearing about, the love of God in Jesus through the work of our partners as they use life-giving media.

Tim Hollingdale, Support Development Director

In this issue...Iraq

DRC

Sierra Leone

Tibet

3

4

8

10

*Names changed throughout for security reasons

[email protected]

FebaUK@Feba_UK

Feba UK 3

Iraq

Snapshots from IraqIn a very demanding context, Iraq FM is doing extraordinary work, serving its community and witnessing to listeners of a Muslim-background…

IN ONE of Iraq FM’s programmes, the presenters spoke about self-esteem and how easy it is to think negatively of ourselves and other people. They gave listeners practical tips on increasing their self-esteem. *Hakim called the station, saying: ‘After listening to your programme, I move from being in chains of hopelessness to being free, and I think positively about other people, too.’

A female listener, *Leyla, called and told the presenter: ‘Your station is unique. You love our community and you pray for our people. I am telling my friends about your

station and other people are doing the same.’

*Farrah had been badly burned in an accident. In hospital, her doctor was a Christian. She told the doctor: ‘I listen to a Christian radio station and I am starting to love Christians because they truly love and care for us.’

These are wonderful examples of one of our partners being ‘salt and light’ to their audience. Iraq FM’s workers are making a tangible different in their community and, as they do so, they reveal God’s truth in a compelling way.


DRC

A better life is possibleOur partner’s radio project in Kinshasa is challenging perceptions of street-living children while also changing the lives of the young team members...

MUNGONGO ya Muana (‘The Voice of the Child’) went on air in the summer, broadcasting pre-recorded shows into a large market in Kinshasa and has now launched live progammes. The programming seeks to empower street-living children, speaking into issues which matter to them and challenging common misconceptions of what street children are like. The street-living children and young people participating in the project have shown

great enthusiasm for their training, have been closely involved in the pre-recorded shows and will soon be ready to deliver live shows and even open air broadcasts, directly to the marketplace.

Feba UK’s Stephen George and Stephanie Mooney travelled to DR Congo in the Autumn, to meet a cross-section of those involved with the project, and to assist with a six-month review. As their visit progressed, it became clear to Stephen and Stephanie that not only is Mungongo

Two members of the team taking part in training.

Feba UK 5

ya Muana reaching the wider community, it is transforming the lives of the street children involved in the project.

It also highlighted just how vulnerable these young people are. Some of the project leaders have wives and children but they are still living on the streets. Sadly, one of the street children leaders died just a few days before they visited.

There are many circumstances that could lead a child to live on the streets. One of the children involved with Mungongo ya Muana – a ten year-old boy – shared his story with Stephen and Stephanie. He told how he was wetting the bed at night and couldn’t stop. His stepmother took him to their pastor and

asked if this was witchcraft. The pastor said it was, so his stepmother forced the boy out of their house and wouldn’t let him come back. He’s been living on the streets ever since.

The radio station is giving young people the chance of a better future; teaching them skills, helping them to grow in confidence and maturity, giving them hope that a life away from the streets is possible.

‘We have to be careful in managing their expectations,’ says Stephen. ‘But this really is making a difference in the lives of street-living children. It’s about improving the lives of the team members, just as much as challenging how they are perceived in the community.’

Stephanie Mooney with some of the street children.

Mungongo ya Muana goes live in Kinshasa.


EGYPT*Basma, Voice of Egypt’s Station Manager has had a baby girl. Basma is still involved in the project, but the other team members are assuming more responsibility for a while, to enable her to spend some time with her family. Please join us in praising God for this new life and praying for energy for Basma as she continues to work at the station and adapts to being a Mother.

News in brief

Feba UK 7

ZIMBABWEThe studio at Karanda Mission Hospital is now fully equipped and the hospital’s chaplains are production-trained and excited about the work lying ahead. The challenge now is to ensure the chaplains can balance their radio ministry with the one-to-one support for patients which they have provided so faithfully for so long.

YEMENHundreds of thousands of Yemeni citizens have been displaced to neighbouring countries because of the civil war. But in the midst of their trauma, our partner in the region is reaching out to them. The refugees can also pick up the Yemen Project’s radio signal in neighbouring countries and hear the station’s messages of hope and life. The project’s follow-up workers can connect with these listeners with fewer restrictions than when following up listeners within Yemen.

NEPAL

Since the April earthquakes in Nepal the team at Afno FM in Okhaldhunga has been instrumental in helping local residents rebuild their lives. They have broadcast critical information and messages of encouragement as well as helping with the physical reconstruction. The result has been a powerful sense of unity amongst local people, who are supporting one another and have even provided Afno FM with a temporary studio. A more permanent studio is Afno FM’s next goal. An engineer has already drawn up provisional plans.


Sierra Leone

Speaking out against EbolaRadio has been a powerful weapon in the fight against stigma and infection…

DURING the Ebola epidemic, Feba responded, working alongside Tearfund’s partners on the ground to provide over 1,000 wind-up and solar-powered radios to some of the most vulnerable households in Sierra Leone. These radios helped families access crucial information on the prevention and treatment of the virus. As the epidemic has begun to wane and thoughts have turned to helping communities to recover, Feba is exploring how we can source high-quality, Christian-based material for local radio stations, on topics as diverse as the stigma around Ebola survivors, and the availability of health services.

The role played by radio has been critical in informing people about the

virus: how it is caught and how it spreads. Broadcasts in local languages from community radio stations have been extremely useful in sharing accurate information and countering the stigma associated with Ebola.

Fatmata is an Ebola survivor, a widow and a mother of three children. Two of Fatmata’s children contracted Ebola, and she was accused of bringing the virus to her village. Her solar-powered radio is making a huge difference to her, bringing vital information and raising her hopes for the restoration of her community.

Fatmata’s story is far from unique. All too many people affected by Ebola have been stigmatised and rejected by their communities. There is a

Feba UK 9

widespread belief that Ebola is caused by witchcraft. Alongside this problem, Sierra Leone’s already extremely limited health systems have been left in further disarray. Health services are mistrusted and the understanding of the virus is very limited in some communities. For these reasons, it is very difficult for individuals and communities to recover from Ebola, and to prevent a recurrence of the virus. Feba hopes to be a part of the long-term solution to these issues.

The Hands on Health project will

enable local communities to be active in eradicating Ebola and meeting challenges related to it. The project will use radio broadcasts to raise awareness of Ebola, address stigma and help communities rediscover a sense of resilience. Feba are planning to work with an established radio station as part of a pilot. There is some way to go before Hands on Health will be ready to broadcast, but it has real potential to make a lasting positive impact on a country just beginning the process of recovery.

“All too many people affected by Ebola have been stigmatised”


Tibet

Strong wordsGaweylon’s gentle approach to evangelism has prompted a striking response …

GAWEYLON, a station broadcasting to Tibetans in India, Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet, has never hidden its Christian ethos, but is culturally appropriate and sympathic in how it presents the Christian faith. Members of several different faith groups are listening carefully.

*Tenzin emailed from a large Buddhist monastery in South India: ‘I am in charge of the library in my monastery. Please send me the Bible and books and CDs about Jesus. There are many monks in our monastery, they will benefit from your literature.’

*Miah, a Muslim, wrote from Kerala in India: ‘Your talk about God was interesting

and the health talk was educative and useful. I have a question for you. How does God measure our sin?’ Members of the Gaweylon team were able to contact Miah to discuss his question in more depth.

*Rajesh visited the Gaweylon centre from Himachal Pradesh: ‘I am happy that I came to know Jesus as my saviour. I have a burden to reach out to my own people and also the Tibetans who live near me. Please give me your resources so that I can distribute them among them.’

Gaweylon’s approach to sharing the good news is gentle but effective. It is wonderful to see God at work through them.

Feba UK 11

Salt and light

I N the summer, my wife bought a string of solar-powered outdoor lights. I have two young

sons, both of whom enjoy football and frequently give the garden a battering, so maybe ‘pretty lights’ after dark would be a nice idea! Once night fell, the effect of the lights was, indeed, quite pleasant. Not surprisingly, however, it wasn’t long before the solar panel charging the lights was struck and sent flying! Lights – however ‘pretty’ – are not much use if they’re not alight!

We’re probably all familiar with the call to be ‘salt of the earth’ and ‘light of the world’. But alongside these positive encouragements, there are cautions: Jesus warns us not to lose our saltiness or hide our light (Matthew 5:13-14).

Both salt and light have a purpose and must be used accordingly. We can only be effective as salt and light if we remain in Christ – acknowledging our reliance on Him, seeking to bring Him glory (v16).

In order for us at Feba to serve as part of God’s mission, it is essential we stay close to Him. We seek to honour God in our relationships with one another, with our supporters and with our partners.

In our varied roles and responsibilities, we must always look to God as the source of all we need to remain salty and alight. Please join me in praying Feba will continue to be known for being salt and light to the world.

Bob Chambers,Chief Executive

Reflection

Ivy Arch Road,Worthing, West Sussex,

BN14 8BX, UK

+44 (0)1903 237281

[email protected]

Feba Radio: A registered charity no. 257343 A non-profit making company limited by guarantee no. 940492.

Registered in England, Registered office Ivy Arch Road, Worthing

FebaUK

@Feba_UK

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voice magazine Winter 2015

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