CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.—The Tide® (www.thetide.org) ministry looks forward to another hairy year as participants begin the “Year Beard” challenge to stop shaving in 2021, but it is not too late to commit to putting razors down. The Tide ministry is looking for even more men to participate in the “Year Beard” challenge. These men will grow beards to raise awareness for the ministry so that radio broadcasts can continue to expand around the globe.
About the inception of Year Beard, The Tide’s Director of Development Mark Story said, “It came to me a few years ago that if I could get men to grow ridiculous beards, people would stop them and ask, ‘Why have you grown that beard?’ With each man tasked with raising awareness for The Tide, that was just what we needed.”
In the second year of this challenge, the ministry has opened up the campaign to men who are willing to grow their “head hair” out for an even hairier experience. Through Year Beard, the hairy guys will each have a goal that will help The Tide ministry’s Gospel radio broadcasts expand around the world in Asia, Africa, and Europe.
“All over this world are bearded men,” said The Tide Director Don Shenk. “But there’s a distinction between many of those bearded men and the bearded men participating in this challenge; that distinction is in the heart. My desire is to see more hearts change, and every bit of support that comes in makes it possible for at least 20 people to hear the gospel message and have their hearts transformed.”
The Tide ministry records and broadcasts Gospel programming in eight countries on three continents in 27 languages. With more than 7,000 languages spoken worldwide and more than 2,000 people groups that have been unreached by the Good News of Jesus, the opportunities are tremendous, and the need is great.
Participants in the Year Beard challenge can still sign up to grow out their hair for one, three, or six months with the goal to raise money each month for The Tide ministry. A motivating factor is knowing that for every dollar given, 20 more people worldwide can hear about Jesus, and in 2019, the challenge raised more than $27,000.
Depending on the time they commit, participants receive t-shirts, beard combs, beard oil, and a devotional book called “Bearded Gospel Men,” along with conversation starters such as country fact sheets, a testimony sheet, and a pocket info card so they can speak to potential donors about The Tide mission. Those who raise the most money for The Tide ministry throughout the year will be eligible to win sporting event tickets and gift cards.
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, Marjorie Pratt, 610.584.1096, ext. 107, or Deborah Hamilton, ext. 102.