CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.— People across the world have been struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic that continues to affect millions of lives. Most people are longing for a time of “normalcy,” when masks, vaccines and other pandemic-related issues are just a thing of the past. But for some, a global pandemic is not enough to stop their mission.
Team members of The Tide® (www.TheTide.org) ministry in India have been leading adult literacy programs to help the local people learn how to read and write. This program is in addition to The Tide® ministry’s main method of reaching people—global radio broadcasts that share the Gospel in listeners’ heart languages, or the languages they were born to speak.
“These adult literacy programs provide an essential need for the people in these regions,” The Tide® Director Don Shenk commented. “It gives the local people a valuable skill that they can utilize in their day-to-day lives, as well as provides them with the ability to teach it to others in their community.”
It can be difficult to continue programs like this during a global health crisis, but The Tide® ministry staff have persevered. Staff members were unable to meet in large groups to continue the adult literacy program, but The Tide® ministry teachers went to the individuals’ houses regularly to meet with them, provide COVID information as well as preach the Good News of the Gospel.
These additional efforts are already making an impression. One social worker has been able to reach out to ten villages over the past two months, with 24 people coming to Christ and five of these new believers getting baptized. The adult literacy program workers also provide COVID and hygiene education, as well as preparing people to start their own gardens in the months ahead. The staff even provide some livestock to villagers, such as chickens and goats. One goat has already given birth to two kids, which provides the villagers more self-support.
“It is so encouraging to hear that despite the current events of the world, peoples’ lives are still being touched by the teachers in our adult literacy programs,” Shenk stated. “We hope that it reminds the locals that they are important to us—and even more important to our heavenly Father. Hopefully this outreach will continue to grow and change lives, all for the betterment of the Kingdom.”
Being focused on the kingdom is precisely what The Tide® ministry is all about. The organization tells the truth of the Gospel daily to people through radio broadcasts all around the world in over 20 different languages on three continents, reaching millions of people including those in Afghanistan, Albania, Bhutan, India, Kosovo, Mozambique, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, and Zimbabwe.
The Tide® ministry is currently celebrating its 75th year of global mission, all while looking forward to the next seven decades with their plan called “The Tide® Diamond Vision:”
- Amplify – The Tide ministry will increase ministry initiatives so that more people can experience God’s grace.
- Magnify – The Tide ministry will work to grow its support base to an expanded demographic.
- Solidify – The Tide ministry will develop and supply more resources to help new believers to grow in their faith and live in right relationship with God.
- Verify – The Tide ministry will measure the effectiveness of its activities to both manage them well and to demonstrate the efficient stewardship of resources.
- Glorify – The Tide ministry will strive to ensure that all it does to achieve its vision will bring glory to God.
For more information about The Tide broadcast projects, history, radio programs around the world, special year-long campaigns, the weekly Global Update radio features or other news, visit its website at www.thetide.org or its Facebook page.
In addition, The Tide ministry is actively looking for people godly and manly enough to take up the 2022 “Year Beard” challenge. Visit www.YearBeard.org for background and to meet some of the participants who are growing out their facial hair to raise awareness and financial support to help The Tide ministry reach an additional 1 million people with the name of Jesus next year.
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To schedule interviews with Don Shenk, director of The Tide global radio ministry, contact Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Beth Harrison, 610.584.1096, ext. 105, or Deborah Hamilton, ext. 102.
To inquire about airing any of The Tide® ministry radio broadcasts, contact Michael Hamilton, 610.584.1096, ext. 101.