The first item purchased by many citizens of developing countries is a radio.
…The second is shoes.
The mission of Words of Hope, an organization headquartered in Grand Rapids, MI, is to build the church worldwide. They do this primarily through broadcasting. They were founded in 1945 by congregations of the Reformed Church in America seeking to expand their evangelistic endeavors over the radio. Today, through a network of partnerships with churches and organizations around the world, they produce and air over 100 radio programs in 30 different language every week. Christian broadcasting is especially important in places where religion, politics, geography, or economics restrict Christian witness. Words of Hope has identified 11 strategic ministry fields: Albania, the Arabic speaking world, English, Iran, Niger, South Asia (includes India, Bhutan, and Nepal), Sudan, Turkey, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Indonesia.
At FCC, we partner with Words of Hope by focusing on their Ugandan Ministry and the ministry of Titus Baraka, chairman of Words of Hope-Uganda. Words of Hope-Uganda began in 2007. Uganda has seen more than its share of war and devastation, and is still recovering from the social and economic shambles left in the wake of Idi Amin, Milton Obote and, more recently, the effects of a campaign of terror by the so-called Lord’s Resistance Army in the north. As refugees and internally displaced people return home, Words of Hope broadcasts are helping to restore the bonds of community and faith.
For more information about Words of Hope, visit their website at woh.org. Interested in giving? Stop by the mission display in the Cross Way and pick up a mission giving envelope for Words of Hope and either drop it in the offering plate during worship or drop it off in the church office. Want to hear more?
Don’t miss worship the weekend of September 17-18. Words of Hope president David Bast will be here, and the Rev. Dr. Haluk Bilgen will be speaking at all worship services.