Metropolitan Missionaries

Dear Friends,

Urgent Prayer and supplies are needed in Myanmar. Here is the latest Myanmar story from Trans World Radio.

Dennis Ford
TWR ~ Retired

Ministry offers faith amidst misery in Myanmar
Myanmar (MNN) ― Myanmar’s government is accused of hoarding emergency cyclone relief, frustrating attempts to help survivors.
The supplies are beginning to bottleneck at the airports because the junta regime refuses to allow aid teams in to distribute them. Add to that a crumbling infrastructure, and every minute lost in getting food and shelter dispensed could be a life.
Trans World Radio’s David McCreary says that’s why their response is coming through radio. They’ve dedicated 30-minute broadcasts that will provide biblical counseling and care five days a week for the next year.
But with homes washed away and large tracts of land under water, nearly two million survivors are facing disease and starvation. So what good is radio when survival is minute to minute?
“They are suffering daily. Things like trying to find clean water, food, shelter, getting medical attention–these are all things that we are trying to address through our programs. [We can] tell them where they can go to get these needs [met]. People that have battery-powered or solar-powered radio become a vital link for these storm survivors.”
McCreary says the broadcast provides more than a map to physical help. The programming will be specifically designed to help restore the lives and spirits of Myanmar’s people. “Typically, they just try to cling to the hope that the Gospel can provide, so that’s what we’re doing: providing them hope through the Gospel broadcasts.”
TWR’s Andrew Sundar, ministry director for Southeast Asia, says, “Currently, we are broadcasting existing shortwave programs to Myanmar in both the Burmese and Sgaw Karen languages. But the new relief-focused broadcasts will be vital when it comes to addressing the victims’ ongoing needs.”
Please pray that God will provide the $58,000 in necessary funds to produce this special series of programs for the spiritually-needy residents of Myanmar.

Dennis Writes: The following TWR-related story appeared on today’s edition of Mission Network News. 

International (MNN) ― Radio and the internet can go where traditional missionaries can’t. Trans World Radio has partnered with GodTube.com for just this reason.  TWR’s Bob Hall says the cooperation will open doors to reach users already adapted to Facebook, My Space and other Web-based communications. “With the advent of some of these other social networking sites, people are looking for content such as this.”      It’s a familiar format for technology connoisseurs. On YouTube, participants are urged by the site’s trademarked slogan to “Broadcast Yourself.” However, Christians flocking to GodTube are encouraged to “Broadcast Him.”    Halls says this partnership “puts us in a cutting edge position to be able to reach out to a generation that might not be too interested in what we’re doing, or may not even be aware, to bring Trans World Radio to where they ‘hang out.’”    For many, GodTube.com is a safe place in a virtual world where every corner has some vice lurking. For others, it’s a safe place to grow in their faith. There are millions of Christians around the world between the ages of 20 to 40, speaking a message through the Internet.  GodTube provides a unique forum where they can get together, exchange ideas and encourage one another toward evangelism. Users can share podcast sermons, blog about their faith, questions and ask for community feedback.  Its purpose is to connect Christians for the purpose of encouraging and advancing the Gospel worldwide. Hall explains that what they’re providing is an invitation to action in the Great Commission. “We hope to raise awareness of what we’re doing so that people will join us, either in service, going on short-term mission’s trips, getting involved with the ministry in some way, supporting us by going to the various fields, either by short term assignments, or even in career missionary service.”  Click here to see TWR on GodTube: www.godtube.com/TWR  David McCreary 

Director of Public Relations

www.twr.org 

Read what Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Kevin Sullivan writes about Trans World Radio in The Washington Post: Shortwave Channel to God article