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Visions

Radio: sowing seeds in Nigeria

Jesus, the teacher and healer, walks to a lake and sits down. A large crowd gathering around him causes him to get into a small boat, sit down, and teach the followers from this better vantage point. Drawing their thinking toward sharing the good news with others, he teaches them with a story. Viewing in their mind a farmer throwing seed onto the ground, Jesus walks them along the path and shows them various reactions of the seed to the surrounding circumstance…some bear no fruit whereas others bear many times their weight in abundance. (Matthew 13:1-23)

Now picture with me another group of people near a lake—Lake Chad—on the north-eastern corner of the African country of Nigeria. The people are called Kanuri. The tall, dark Kanuri people, over five million strong, are mostly farmers who would understand the miracle of multiplied seed growing to provide for their people. The Kanuri are Islamic with less than .01% as evangelical—there are some believers but no formal church.

But the seed of good news is being sown. Trans World Radio broadcasts every day in the Kanuri language to the people in Nigeria. For several years the seed has been sown, needing the watering of time before fruit could come forth. But slowly a breakthrough is being seen.

Another scene can be seen in central Nigeria with the 21 million Hausa people. This people group is also Islamic with less than .01% evangelicals, but a different result is seen with this seed—more believers can be found and a group of churches are the result. TWR broadcasts the good news ½ hour daily in Hausa to Nigeria.

The evidence of fruit is clearly seen in the response from a former religious teacher who confessed Christ as Lord of his life. This Hausa man said he had been listening to TWR’s TTB (Bible study) radio program every day for four years. Each day he would compare the teaching of his own religion with the teaching of the word of God. Finally, he came to the conclusion the word of God is truth.

In southern Nigeria the scene is much different from the central and north regions. The Yoruba speaking people, numbering 25 million making it the third major language group of Nigeria, have worshipped with indigenous beliefs such as voodoo. Recently, however, they have undergone significant change as many are converting to Christianity. They have a widespread church. TWR broadcasts daily ½ hour programs in the Yoruba language to Nigeria. The seed is producing much fruit.

Three people groups—one country—one Gospel broadcasting the seed of good news. Some seed is planted on souls that respond in great number; some seed is sown on hearts that boldly respond under difficult circumstance; and some seed is sown and left for a time before the fruit is seen, one soul at a time.

These are three of several languages TWR broadcasts into the most populous country in all Africa, Nigeria. TWR will begin broadcasting in mid 2007 from a new transmitting station in Benin, next door neighbor to Nigeria. Several of these languages are already being prepared for casting into Nigeria. Pray with us that:

• God’s protection would be on the producers of these radio programs into difficult areas. The cost is high for many of these believers.

• The finances will be available to expand the reach into Nigeria. Praise God for the consortium of African churches who help sponsor some of our broadcasts.

• The seed given out on the air would penetrate hearts and change lives to bring in an abundant harvest of soul.

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© 2007 Momentum Magazine.
Related: The Mission Manual · Justin Long's Annotated Links and Notes