Ministry Partners in Zimbabwe Have God-Sized Plans for 2019

We have had a presence on radio airwaves in Zimbabwe since 1983, and 2019 will be a big year for listeners in the African nation who are hungry to learn more about Jesus. 

“Even though many Zimbabweans identify as Christian, some still engage in traditional African religious practices including ancestral spirit worship and witchcraft,” said Director Don Shenk, who was born in then-Rhodesia to missionary parents and lived in Zimbabwe for 28 years. “While Zimbabwe has been fairly extensively evangelized, there are still many who need to hear the Gospel message, and with the many doors God has opened there, the possibilities for The Tide ministry and our partners in 2019 are endless.”

The Tide ministry first began working with a church group in Zimbabwe to produce and air an Ndebele language radio program called “Amagugu Evangeli.” Since then, the ministry has also assisted in the production of Christian radio programs in the English and Shona languages. 

Perhaps the biggest development for The Tide ministry in recent months is a new studio in Zimbabwe to record Gospel programming. The larger, upgraded recording studio enables The Tide local partner ministries to continue to grow and impact more lives for Christ.

A goal for those working in the new studio will be to record and mass-produce CDs of The Tide programming, which includes the salvation message and Gospel music. Most people in Zimbabwe now own CD and DVD players, so the CD project will allow even more to learn about the saving grace of Jesus.

Partners on the ground in Zimbabwe report that those who respond to the Sunday morning radio programs request help and prayer for their marriages, relationships, economic hardships, sickness, help with clarifying the Bible and information about how to become a Christian and trust Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. 

“I received Jesus in my heart,” shared one listener. “I was excited to hear the Gospel. I was lost and sick, but now I have hope in Christ,” while another added, “I was listening to the Good News about Jesus on my radio on Sunday. Thank you for the revival; may God bless you all abundantly because (of) what you are preaching.”

The Tide radio partners in Zimbabwe also have the goal in 2019 to reach listeners on a personal level by visiting them where they live. Visiting rural districts such as Binga, Gokwe, Gwanda, Plumtree, Hwange, Victoria Falls, Beitbridge and Filabusi will enable The Tidepartners to preach the Gospel in person with traveling pastors who will hand out literature created specifically for these gatherings.

Plans are also in the works for The Tide ministry’s Zimbabwe partner to apply for a license to become a 24-hour radio station, as well as to syndicate the radio programs to possibly air on other stations around the country.