Less than two percent of people in northeastern Thailand are professing Christians, a fact that recently prompted The Tide® ministry to pray that God would create new pathways for expanding the reach of its radio programs that deliver the gospel around the world in people’s native languages. Before long, God answered that prayer in surprising ways, including using a government station to broadcast teachings of the book of Acts.
Already broadcasting twice daily from Muang Sam Sip, a district in the province of Ubon Ratchathani about 335 km west of Thailand’s border with Laos, The Tide ministry was looking for another radio station in the province to carry its “Life’s Answers” broadcast in Isaan, a language spoken by 19 million people.
We had asked our supporters to pray “that God will direct us to the most effective methods to move forward.”
God did not disappoint, directing us to a government-controlled radio station with a broad reach, as well as to well-networked individuals in the community.
Although the airtime on the government station costs more, the broadcast signal is more expansive, reaching individuals in this largely Buddhist region with the gospel for a total of 30 minutes per day, five days per week.
“The importance of delivering the gospel in the language that people were born to speak is why The Tide exists,” said Don Shenk, Director of The Tide. “We will take whatever measures are necessary to reach people across the globe, including a radio station owned by the government and that costs a bit more. A life that is eternally saved is priceless, and The Tide will walk through the open doors that God provides so that His Word may be heard and lives may be changed.”
Getting the “Life’s Answers” broadcast to more people required some retooling. The new broadcast has been distilled into a shorter format — a 15-minute study of the New Testament book of Acts with a few points of application, and one worship song in Isaan. This initiative, which began in June, has already recorded seven broadcasts and will continue at least through the end of the year.