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Showing posts from 2019

The Tide® Gospel Radio Ministry Looks Back on an Impactful Year of Reaching Listeners for Christ

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.— The  Tide ®  ( www.thetide.org )   global radio ministry is reflecting on the blessings experienced worldwide this year and looking back on an impactful year of reaching millions of listeners around the globe with the hope of the Gospel.  “As we consider all God has allowed this ministry to accomplish through His power and providence this year, we are beyond blessed to interact with His children in far corners of the world, introduce people to His Son, Jesus, and hopefully impact their lives eternally,” said Don Shenk, director of The Tide ministry.  Shenk noted that while the true impact comes in the form of listeners’ feedback and testimonials of life change, numbers help partners on the ground to reflect on the many who were reached throughout the year.  Listeners who responded to broadcasts via mail, email, phone and text: 14,118 Discipleship mail pieces sent to listeners, including Bibles/New Testaments, Gospel booklets, tracts and Bible lessons: 14,125 Li

Christmas Around the World

During this season of Advent, it’s easy to assume that Christmas is celebrated the same everywhere! Here is how Christmas is celebrated around the world: Albania: As a predominately Muslim country, Christmas isn’t quite as popular as it is in the US. In fact, due to the lingering effects of communist rule, during which Christmas was banned, New Year’s has taken the place of Christmas! Instead of Santa coming down a chimney Christmas Eve, “Santa” delivers presents on New Years as “the Old Man of New Year.” One Christmas Eve tradition is having a meal consisting of fish, vegetables, beans, and dessert—including baklava! India: Even though the Christian population is small, Christmas is happily celebrated in India! Midnight mass is especially important to the Catholic population. Instead of pine trees, some people decorate banana or mango trees!     Pakistan: In addition to celebrating Christ’s birth, December 25th is a day that the Pakistani people remember Jinnah, the founder of

The Tide® Gospel Radio Ministry Helps Listeners Worldwide Know the True Meaning of Christmas

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.— Christmas is fast-approaching, and as Christians everywhere celebrate Jesus’ birth—the true reason for the season— The Tide® ( www.thetide.org ) global radio ministry is blessed to share about His life with radio listeners around the world. “We are grateful that God allows us to reach millions of potential listeners in eight countries through 25 languages, as we tell them why Jesus came to Earth—to ultimately die for their sins and give the gift of eternal life,” said Don Shenk, director of The Tide ministry. “But at the same time, as we ready our homes and hearts for Christmas, we are cognizant of the fact that many around the world who are also making these preparations don’t know the true reason of why they celebrate. We pray that this Christmas, more global listeners will meet a baby in a manger for the first time and realize He is the greatest gift in all of history.” Ilirjana from Switzerland has realized that gift and found the joy of Christ, thanks to lis

The Tide® Ministry Continues Spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ All Around the Globe

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.— There’s nothing like hearing the truth of the Gospel in your own heart language—the language you were born to speak. Rather than using translators or adapting the message for radio listeners in other countries, The Tide® ( www.thetide.org ) global radio ministry works with indigenous pastors and partners on the ground in eight countries on three continents to offer the saving truth of Jesus Christ to people in 25 different languages. “For 73 years, The Tide ministry has stayed true to our vision to creatively share the Good News of the Gospel through multiple media avenues,” said The Tide Director Don Shenk. “In some remote locations, that means providing radios so entire villages can gather around them and listen to programming about Jesus in their own language. In other places, it means distributing media players so people in urban areas can hear the Gospel on busy streets. Whatever the method, The Tide ministry is committed to reaching people where they are—an

Construction Company Partners with The Tide® Ministry to Install Solar Panels at Zimbabwe Studio

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.—A major project for The Tide® ( www.thetide.org ) global Gospel ministry throughout 2019 has been the construction of a new studio in Zimbabwe that will not only broadcast life-changing programming but also serve as a sustaining source of income for the community. And a local construction company was able to be part of that project from many miles away. This fall, Lehman Construction Services, Inc. (LCSi) in Chambersburg, Pa., where The Tide ministry has had its U.S. headquarters for many years, donated $6,000 to cover the installation of solar panels on the newly constructed recording studio in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. LCSi President Jay Finkenbinder and Secretary/Treasurer Alice Hyatt-Hawbaker made the gift to The Tide ministry after learning that electrical power is only sporadically available in Zimbabwe, rendering the new studio useless for long stretches of time. “We understand the need for power and know the importance of solar energy in the industry, so we se

Report on The Tide Leader to Leader Mission Trip to Zimbabwe

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In August 2019 The Tide ministry conducted a Leader to Leader mission trip to Zimbabwe. The primary purpose of the trip was to host a seminar for church leaders from the rural areas of Zimbabwe. The Itinerary also included a dedication service for the new studio we constructed in Zimbabwe and participating in the annual General Conference meeting of the BIC Church in Zimbabwe. A unique aspect of this trip is that we had three Lancaster Bible College students as members of our team. It is incredibly encouraging and exciting to see young people engaging in the Great Commission, and we are grateful for the writing and photography these young ladies provided for this newsletter and other publications. – Don My trip to Zimbabwe was nothing short of amazing. We saw God work in every aspect of our trip overseas! Our team consisted of 12 individuals: myself, Hannah and Moriah (LBC Communication Students), Mark (Director of Development for The Tide), John (Chairman of the Board of Directors

This Thanksgiving, The Tide® Gospel Ministry Is Grateful for Listeners, Partners, Donors and More

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.—As Americans around the country set aside time this week to count their blessings,  The Tide®( www.thetide.org )  global radio ministry is doing the same. Over the past year,  The Tide  ministry has made continued progress on three continents in eight countries through Gospel programming in 25 languages. And in 2020, more exciting projects are on the horizon. “This year, as we pause to consider our many God-given blessings, The Tide ministry is thankful for so many things,” said The Tide Director Don Shenk, “the millions of listeners who are responding to the Gospel worldwide, our dedicated partners on the ground who are carrying out this important work and meeting new believers right where they are, and our faithful donors who believe in what The Tide ministry is doing and continue to support us.” Thus far in 2019,  The Tide  ministry is reflecting on several areas of impact: The Tide  ministry’s unique  “Year Beard”  challenge has raised more than $18,000 for t

Letters From Abroad: Nigeria, India, Zimbabwe

NIGERIA I want to thank the Lord for his is mercy towards me. I am writing in fulfillment of a vow I made to God. I promised that if my troubles are over, I would thank him immensely. I am a witch doctor. I received this power from my uncle who initiated me into the cult. I have gone to many churches looking for help but to no avail. One day, I listen to your radio program. Not that I have not been listening before. But this time around I took down the phone numbers mentioned as the contact. Happily we arrange a visit to my home. After the prayers, I confessed that I had secret temple in my room. The speaker and his followers destroyed the temple by burning it. I am now free. My vow was I would live and die with Christ Jesus. Silver and Gold I have none but I will for others what he was done for me and is still doing for me. – Okon I have been drinking all sorts of wine. I am a drunkard. No day passes without my been drunk. It was as if I was under the influence of a spirit. But God

The Mind I Left Behind in Zimbabwe

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In August The Tide global radio ministry blessed me with the task of documenting our time in Zimbabwe through journaling. Although I only spent one week in Zimbabwe, seven days have never impacted me in the way Africa has. My heart for God has been positively altered by the Christian lives in Zimbabwe. Life is not easy in Zimbabwe, and I will admit I do not personally understand the struggles they deal with each day. Technology, electricity, water, housing, economy, health—none of these elements are guaranteed in their living, yet the people I saw in Zimbabwe responded with unified worship pro- claiming, “God is good!” I am unable to give identity to simply one source for quoting “God is good” in my six days there; I heard countless people communicating this truth. During my time in Zimbabwe, the local bishop, Bishop Sindah Ngulube, was attending his mother’s funeral, yet he and his wife joined our team for din- ner to welcome us with “open arms.” There was pain from the recent lo

The Tide® Gospel Radio Ministry Branches Out to Work with New Partners in Pakistan

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.— For nearly 75 years, The Tide® ( www.thetide.org ) ministry has focused on creatively sharing the Good News of the Gospel through multiple media avenues. That mission has led The Tide ministry to offer audio programming in 25 heart languages spoken by millions of people in multiple regions of Albania, Bhutan, India, Kosovo, Nepal, Nigeria, Thailand and Zimbabwe, making it possible for multiple people groups to hear the Gospel in the languages they were born to speak. Now, The Tide ministry is branching out yet again to work with partners to offer Gospel programming in Pakistan to an unreached people group in their own language. Plans are in progress to recruit and train media ministry teams with a goal to have a radio outreach in the language of one of four unreached people groups ready to launch by January 2020. The Tide vision is to be sharing the gospel with all four groups in their own language within the next five years. “We’re thrilled and honored to begin

College Student, Year Beard Participant Embarks on Extended Radio Broadcast for The Tide® Ministry’s Unique Initiative

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.— All year long, a group of brave men has grown their beards—no shaving allowed—for a good cause. The unique “ Year Beard ” challenge from  The  Tide ®   ( www.thetide.org )   global radio ministry seeks to raise funds and awareness about how the ministry spreads the Gospel worldwide. One college-aged participant, Abraham Riggin, is embarking on a final push to finish Year Beard strong by conducting a radio broadcast marathon at Lancaster Bible College, where the communication major is involved in the radio program. The Year Beard broadcast and fundraising effort will be part of his senior project.  WHO:       The   Tide   Year Beard participant Abraham Riggin WHAT:    Year Beard extended radio broadcast WHERE: Lancaster Bible College radio station, live online at  lbc.edu/radio WHEN:    2 p.m. to midnight ET, Monday, Nov. 18, 2019                   The Tide   Director of Development Mark Story, also a Year Beard participant, will be a guest on the broadcast from

Christians Join Hearts for International Days of Prayer for Persecuted Church This Month

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.—This coming Sunday, Nov. 10, is set aside for the annual International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, when Christians join together to pray for their persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ worldwide. The Tide ® ( www.thetide.org ) global radio ministry has seen and heard some of this persecution from millions of radio listeners around the world. For 73 years, The Tide ministry has recorded, produced and broadcast gospel radio and audio programming. Of the eight countries where the ministry works, half are on the 2019 World Watch List for Christian persecution from Open Doors: India (No. 10), Nigeria (No. 12), Nepal (No. 32) and Bhutan (No. 33). Likewise, The Tide is making inroads to offer the hope of Jesus to a people group in Pakistan (No. 5), where Christians experience extreme persecution. According to Open Doors USA, more than 245 million Christians live in places where they experience high levels of persecution. In one year’s time, more than

Guys Who Grow Goatees Can Join The Tide® Ministry’s Year Beard ‘No Shave November’

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.— Men who weren’t quite brave enough to be a part of The Tide® ( www.thetide.org ) ministry’s unique “Year Beard” challenge during all of 2019 still have a chance to help the global radio organization raise funds and awareness as it spreads the Gospel worldwide. The Tide ministry and “ Year Beard ” participants are on the cusp of a special monthlong observation called “No Shave November,” where guys who grow goatees, a beard or even a mustache can make a shorter facial hair commitment yet still help more people learn about the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Fourteen men have been growing their beards all year with a $1,000 fundraising goal each to help The Tide ministry purchase more airtime for its Gospel radio broadcasts in Asia, Africa and Europe. A motivating factor is the knowledge that for every dollar given, 20 more people worldwide can hear about Jesus. Thus far, $16,000 has been raised through the initiative. “The group of ‘Year Beard’ men have created s

The Tide® Ministry Sees Zimbabwe Radio Listeners Become More Engaged with New Studio

HARRISBURG, Pa.— With a brand new radio studio up and running in Zimbabwe, more listeners are hearing the life-changing—and life-saving—Gospel of Jesus Christ through programs from  The Tide® ( www.thetide.org )  global radio ministry. After many months of planning, fund raising and construction, the new studio opened this spring and was officially dedicated in August when 12 leaders and representatives from  The Tide  ministry traveled to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and pastor training seminar. The Tide  Director Don Shenk, who was born to missionary parents in then-Rhodesia and taught at a Bible school in Zimbabwe, said it is evident that more listeners are becoming engaged with the new studio and its offerings. “We’re seeing that more listeners are not only tuning in to hear from local preachers and teachers, but more are also downloading WhatsApp devotional content on their phones and devices,” Shenk said. “Besides hearing the programming, they are hungry f

Radio Listeners in Zimbabwe Experience Life Change and Eternal Salvation Through The Tide® Ministry Programs

A new radio studio in Zimbabwe has allowed more listeners to hear about the saving grace of Jesus Christ through   The  Tide ®   ( www.thetide.org )  global radio ministry, as they also experience growth through downloadable devotionals and interact with pastors for prayer and other needs.  “Listeners in Zimbabwe most commonly ask for prayer concerning their marriages and relationships, finances and health,” said The Tide Director Don Shenk. “They also contact preachers with questions if they are new believers, need doctrinal clarification or are seeking encouragement and strength in their faith walk. Our partners and pastors are thankful that more are reaching out to them for guidance and insight. This means listeners are taking what they hear over the airwaves and applying it to their lives.” The new studio in Zimbabwe was under construction for many months, opened this past spring and was officially dedicated this summer. While the project has allowed more people to hear the Gospe

The Tide® Ministry Sees Zimbabwe Radio Listeners Become More Engaged with New Studio

HARRISBURG, Pa.— With a brand new radio studio up and running in Zimbabwe, more listeners are hearing the life-changing—and life-saving—Gospel of Jesus Christ through programs from The Tide® ( www.thetide.org ) global radio ministry. After many months of planning, fund raising and construction, the new studio opened this spring and was officially dedicated in August when 12 leaders and representatives from The Tide ministry traveled to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and pastor training seminar. The Tide Director Don Shenk, who was born to missionary parents in then-Rhodesia and taught at a Bible school in Zimbabwe, said it is evident that more listeners are becoming engaged with the new studio and its offerings. “We’re seeing that more listeners are not only tuning in to hear from local preachers and teachers, but more are also downloading WhatsApp devotional content on their phones and devices,” Shenk said. “Besides hearing the programming, they are hungry fo

Letter on Zimbabwe

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During August 2019 The Tide ministry conducted a Leader to Leader mission trip to Zimbabwe. One of our twelve team members was Emma, who is currently a student at Lancaster Bible College where she is majoring in Communications with a goal to eventually serve God through working with non-profit organizations like The Tide ministry. The following is a letter Emma wrote to thank the many people who made financial contributions to send her with The Tide team and prayed for her while she ministered in Zimbabwe. We share it here because it expresses so well how all of our team members feel about our time in Zimbabwe and those who made it possible for us to be there. Hi Friends and Family! I bring you greetings from my sweet friends in Zimbabwe. I am now home from our 10-day trip, and full of joy reminiscing about our trip. I returned to the US on Saturday, just a few short days ago, and then moved back to Lancaster Bible College to start the new semester on Sunday. The semester has be