CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.— As The Tide® (www.thetide.org) ministry, a global outreach that utilizes radio broadcasts to share the Gospel of Christ in 39 countries on three different continents, continues to celebrate 75 years of missional ministry, the staff and volunteers often think back to how The Tide® ministry started.
In 1946, Reverend Charlie Byers set out to spread the Gospel via his radio show “The Gospel Tide Hour.” Broadcasting from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, Byers started locally but with a vision of sharing the Good News around the world. In 1978, The Tide® ministry began producing global broadcasts recorded in the languages of listeners across Southern Africa. Fast forward 75 years later, and The Tide® ministry has extended their programming with partners to be able to share the Gospel daily with millions in 30 different languages in almost 40 countries including those in Afghanistan, Albania, Bhutan, India, Kosovo, Mozambique, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Thailand, and Zimbabwe.
Someone who was there from Reverend Byers’ first broadcast is his son, Nelson Byers. Nelson Byers will discuss the inception of The Tide® ministry, along with other fascinating stories, in the upcoming “I Remember When” virtual event hosted by The Tide® ministry on March 17.
Don Shenk, director of The Tide® Ministry, commented, “I’ve often heard it said that every time an elder passes away, a library burns to the ground. It is true that only a fraction of our life experiences ever gets recorded or even passed on through oral tradition. We want to make sure that the memory of the start of this ministry is preserved and cherished.
“Nelson has observed and participated in The Tide ministry since its founding 75 years ago. His memory is full of anecdotal information that has never been recorded. We want to hear directly from Nelson what the atmosphere was both at home and in the church as his father embarked on an exciting new ministry outreach, as well as other precious memories he has to share as the original Gospel Tide Hour grew and transitioned into The Tide Global Radio Ministry. For many years, Nelson was also the director of The Gospel Tide radio choir! He has a wealth of memories to share that extend outside the studio to include concerts and evangelistic campaigns to share the gospel locally.”
To learn more about the “I Remember When” event, click here.
Looking ahead to the next 75 years, The Tide® ministry and its partners will focus on the core foundationsof “The Tide Diamond Vision”:
- Amplify – The Tide ministry will increase ministry initiatives so that more people can experience God’s grace.
- Magnify – The Tide ministry will work to grow its support base to an expanded demographic.
- Solidify – The Tide ministry will develop and supply more resources to help new believers to grow in their faith and live in right relationship with God.
- Verify – The Tide ministry will measure the effectiveness of its activities to both manage them well and to demonstrate the efficient stewardship of resources.
- Glorify – The Tide ministry will strive to ensure that all it does to achieve its vision will bring glory to God.
For more information about The Tide broadcast projects, history, radio programs around the world, special year-long 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.
In addition, The Tide ministry is always actively looking for people godly and manly enough to take up the 2021-2022 “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, contact Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Beth Harrison, 610.584.1096, ext. 105, or Deborah Hamilton, ext. 102.