Seventy-six years ago, Reverend Charlie Byers set out to put the Gospel message on the airwaves. What came from this vision was “The Gospel Tide Hour,” debuting from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania on August 11, 1946. The initial goal was to reach the local community with the Good News of Christ, and the people in the area clamored to hear biblical truths in their own homes over the radio.
Fast forward seven decades later, and what was previously known as “The Gospel Tide Hour” has now become The Tide® ministry. Through God’s guidance and provision, we are now a global outreach ministry that shares the Gospel daily 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 excitement the people in Chambersburg experienced in 1946 when they heard the Gospel through ‘The Gospel Tide Hour’ is mirrored and magnified today as people around the globe find joy and hope as they hear of salvation through Christ in their own language — many for the first time.
The fact that the Gospel is aired in local languages makes a huge impact for many listeners. One listener wrote, “Last week for the first time, I got an opportunity to listen to your radio program in my own language. It is an interesting program and I would [like to] try to listen to it again. I want to know more about Jesus Christ. Please send me some literature for my study [in a few different languages.]”
Using people’s heart languages is a key component of what we do here at The Tide® ministry. It allows people who have never heard the Gospel to make a stronger and more intimate connection with Christ because they can understand the message on a more personal level. The fact is that we have a global God, and if we are to share the truth about God around the world, we need to utilize the best methods of doing so, such as sharing the message in local languages.
As we look ahead to the next seven decades, we hope you will help us make an eternal impact in the lives of those who have little access to the Gospel by joining in our efforts to creatively share the Good News of Jesus Christ worldwide through media and partnerships as you pray for and give to the ministry.