IBS & TWR Joint Radio Bible Programme in China Marks One Year

Thursday 24th March, marks the first anniversary of the broadcasting of the Bible-based radio programme Radio Bible into China, which is a cooperative network run by three world recognised evangelical ministries - International Bible Society (IBS), Faith Comes By Hearing (FCBH), and Trans World Radio (TWR).

The alliance celebrated the success of the Radio Bible Project. The estimated total number of listeners has been 10 million since the Word of God was first broadcasted in March 2004.

The radio programme is available to listen to online on the website - www.ktwr.net - which is based in Singapore. The word-for-word Scripture from the whole book of the New Testament and some books of the Old Testament are dramatised as the first part of 15-minute programme. With lively background music, the bible stories become more attractive to the listeners.

The second half of the 15-minute programme features an introduction of the passage, explanation of biblical background, teaching, and application using the Life Application Bible notes. As part of the project, printed Bibles with study notes and Scripture recordings on cassette tapes/CDs are distributed to church leaders.

As the Radio Bible programme is made in Mandarin, which is the most commonly spoken language in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and among the overseas Chinese community, the broadcasting has contributed greatly to the Chinese global mission.

Dr. David Tucker, TWR President and CEO , was delighted at the first anniversary of the programme, "The Radio Bible brings together in a wonderful mix the inerrant Word of God in a dramatised format, and the special gift of God to our generation- radio. With this combination, the ‘Word comes to life,’ particularly for those in oral societies. I am excited to think of the spiritual fruit this partnership brings to the glory of our Lord."

Morgan Jackson, International Director for FCBH, stated, "God is using partnerships to bring His Word to those who have been locked away from Him due to illiteracy and poverty. We rejoice in the partnership with IBS and TWR and believe this project will allow millions to become disciples by hearing the whole New Testament and major stories of the Old Testament."

"The potential of releasing God’s power through His Word through the Radio Bible Project is beyond measure," said Peter Bradley, President of IBS. "We anticipate reaching many millions of people who speak any one of 22 languages over the next five years with the gospel of Jesus Christ."

The International Bible Society (IBS), founded in 1809, faithfully translates and reaches out with God’s Word so that people around the world may become disciples of Jesus Christ and members of His Body.

TWR was founded in 1952 by Dr. Paul E. Freed with a passion to reach the world for Christ by mass media.

FCBH is committed to put every translation of the Bible in audio form, and to implementing FCBH in every church or village in the world, so that all people, especially the 50 percent of the world who cannot read, can hear God’s Word in the language they pray in. Hosanna/FCBH has headquarters in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The Radio Bible Project has recently pioneered a new land into Malayalam speakers. Since 1st January 2005, the programme has been aired to Kerala - India’s most southwesterly state and home to more than 30 million Malayalam speakers.

Kerala has India’s largest population of Christians, broadcasting the Radio Bible over the airwaves has efficiently satisfied the spiritual hunger and emptiness of both Christians and non-Christians. All of the New Testament and most of the Old Testament will be preached over a two-year period.