‘Life’s Answers’ Gospel Program Heard on Thai Government Airwaves Bordering Laos

chambersburg, Pa. — Less than two percent of people in northeastern Thailand are professing Christians, a fact that recently prompted The Tide® ministry (www.thetide.org) 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.

The Tide ministry had asked supporters to pray “that God will direct us to the most effective methods to move forward.”
God did not disappoint, directing The Tide ministry 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.


For nearly 75 years, The Tide ministry has recorded and broadcast Gospel programming in nine countries on three continents in 27 heart languages spoken by millions of people in multiple regions, including Albania, Bhutan, India, Kosovo, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Thailand, and Zimbabwe. With more than 7,000 languages spoken worldwide and more than 2,000 people groups yet unreached with the Good News of Jesus, the opportunities are tremendous.

For more information about The Tide broadcast projects, history, radio programs around the world, special yearlong campaigns, the weekly Global Update radio features or other news, visit its website at www.thetide.org or its Facebook page. Read more about The Tide ministry and Director Don Shenk here.

The Tide ministry is actively looking for people godly and manly enough to take up the 2021 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, contactMedia@HamiltonStrategies.com, Jeff Tolson, 610.584.1096, ext. 108, or ext. 102.