The Tide®

We have had a presence in Thailand for just a short time, but a new set of 33 programs has recently been recorded and will help listeners get a true overview of the Bible. “These new 50-minute programs in the Isaan language, spoken by 19 million people in Thailand, take listeners from Creation to the Church and give a panoramic view of the Bible,” said The Tide Director Don Shenk. “This will be very exciting for both new and experienced believers and enable them to feel closer to God’s Word.” The Tide partners in Thailand also began producing daily broadcasts on a popular radio station in Muang Samsip district, where several village house church groups are located. The morning programs reach the entire district of 82,000 people and into the surrounding districts as well. The ministry partners have been thankful for the 8 to 9 a.m. time slot, which is convenient for rural farmers. “Most of them work for a few hours in the early morning, then stop for breakfast around 8 a.m. and list...

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 bi...

Several well-known ministries are teaming up to give Christians an opportunity to bless widows in Nigeria this Christmas season. We are excited to be joining these groups! Currently, the country is experiencing terrible unrest and Nigerians desperately need prayer and hope. Uncharted Ministries , Voice of the Martyrs and American Family Association (AFA) are leading the Orange Letter Campaign, where believers can send letters to persecuted Nigerian widows who are suffering greatly. Many have lost their husbands due to the heartbreaking onslaught of persecution resulting from land ownership conflicts between nomadic herdsmen and established subsistence farmers, which has left villages devastated and families fractured. “While many of us may never know the hardships these people are facing, we can at least give a moment of peace and encouragement by lifting up a sister in Christ,” said The Tide Director Don Shenk. “May they know they are not forgotten nor alone in their time of suf...

Don Shenk has recently returned from India, Nepal and Pakistan, where he met with radio partners, encouraged pastors and made new inroads.  In Nepal,  The Tide  ministry led a leadership conference for 75 to 80 pastors, and although the pastors were uplifted, energized and motivated by the event, challenges did exist.  “While in Nepal, we witnessed a lack of signage on many churches so as not to draw attention to the worship, preaching and Bible study happening among the congregations,” said The Tide   Director Don Shenk. “While Nepal claims to have religious freedom in its Constitution, protections fall woefully short of where they should be. Additionally, an anti-conversion law that went into effect earlier this year makes it very difficult for believers in Jesus Christ to share their newfound faith—or even practice freely.” Shenk added that one difficulty occurs when people respond positively to the radio broadcasts and eventually wish to be baptized, the ...

  Things are getting hairy around  The Tide ® ministry.  Men around the country may have heard of “No Shave November,” but the 70-plus-year-old Gospel radio ministry is taking it much further for a unique, yearlong fundraising campaign.  Leading up to Jan. 4, 2019,  The Tide  ministry is looking for men who are willing to stop shaving and grow a beard for the entire year to raise awareness and funds for the ministry. Through the “ Year Beard ” campaign, the bearded guys will each have a fundraising goal that will help purchase more airtime for  The Tide  ministry’s Gospel radio broadcasts in Asia, Africa and Europe. “I’ve been considering a beard fundraiser for a couple years and it took awhile for me to have the courage to share it and for my wife to be in agreement,” said Mark Story, Director of Development for The Tide Ministry, who envisioned the idea. “I like unique things, and as I step out courageously and grow my own beard, I’m looking ...

This Sunday, Nov. 11, Christians and churches worldwide will join in prayer again for their brothers and sisters in Christ who are facing persecution around the globe. For the second week of the observation of the International Days of Prayer for the Persecuted Church , believers will unite in prayer for the 215 million Christians who are persecuted for their faith—some on a daily basis. Our Director Don Shenk recently returned from a trip to India, Nepal and Pakistan, which is No. 5 on the list, where he met with leaders, learned more about each culture and explored further broadcast opportunities. “The Bible tells us that where two or three are gathered, there the Lord will be also,” Shenk said. “When we pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters alone or with our families, God hears us. But it is so powerful when an entire church comes together in prayer—especially in this case, to pray for other churches that do not experience the same religious freedom we enjoy here in A...

This Sunday and next Sunday—Nov. 4 and 11—Christians will join together for the International Days of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. The annual observation sets aside time to unite in prayer for the millions of Christians who are persecuted for their faith daily. From Pakistan to Kazakhstan, Nigeria to North Korea, Christians routinely face discrimination, harassment, violence and even death for their faith in Jesus, reports the International Day of Prayer website. Their suffering is unimaginable.  The Tide ® records and broadcasts Gospel programming in four of the countries that appear on Open Doors USA’s World Watch List for Christian persecution: India (No. 11), Nigeria (No. 14), Nepal (No. 25) and Bhutan (No. 33). “For 70-plus years, The Tide ministry has had a singular goal—to reach the unreached with the Gospel of Jesus Christ through media,” said The Tide Director Don Shenk. “Of those potentially millions of listeners, many experience persecution, hardship and ev...

Psalm 9:1 “I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.” In the Bible study I am following, they occasionally take a look at the original Hebrew text of the Psalms. Today they looked at the word “heart” in this verse. A little backstory, Psalm 9 is assumed to have been written by David after he had victory over the Philistines, so David should be praising God! But, our western definition of “heart” doesn’t quite express the fulness of David’s praise. In this verse, “heart” in Hebrew is the word “ leb ” meaning the heart, mind, and soul of a person (I’ve linked “leb” to the Strong’s concordance for further definition). What does it look like to praise God with your whole being? Is it being silent and reverent? Dancing and shouting? The beautiful thing is, it looks different for everyone. There is no wrong or right way to praise God. With that in mind, we also must be careful to not get in the way of others praising God with their ...

For many, summer is a time to schedule vacations and take a break from work, but The Tide ministry activities around the globe continue as our partners engage to spread the Gospel. The regular recording and production of fresh radio programming for each of the 25 languages is a constant process, and so is the accompanying work of helping curious listeners become committed disciples of Christ through correspondence, literature distribution, personal contact and organized events. In many of the eight countries where The Tide ministry is active, there is an increasing trend of listeners preferring to make contact through phone calls and text messages instead of traditional mail. This opens the door to build closer relationships for discipleship, but also increases the need for more people who are available for face-to-face interaction with seekers. We are grateful that God has been helping our partners on the...

With more than 1.3 billion people and 2,295 people groups in India, so many still need to hear the salvation message of Jesus Christ. For four decades, The Tide ®  has been recording and broadcasting Gospel programming in this populous country, potentially reaching millions with the Good News. “Of the nearly 2,300 people groups in India, about 2,000 are still considered unreached with the Gospel,” said The Tide Director Don Shenk. “Multiple religions are practiced throughout India, but Hinduism is the largest, and only about 2 percent of the population professes to be Christian. So there are still so many more who need to hear about the unconditional love and saving grace of Jesus. Even with the many testimonials we hear from listeners in India whose lives have been changed, there is still much work to do for our Savior!” In India, The Tide ministry’s radio outreach is complemented by effective discipleship activities including literature distribution, Bible correspondence ...

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 29: 11 (AMP) “For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.” The greatest hope we have in God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is that He thinks about us and has good plans for us. What’s left for us is to know God’s true plan for us. The question is:  how do you know you are in His plan? Some of the simple everyday things you can do to know Him plan for you: Praying in His will. Seeking to know Him and His will by reading His word. Listen to His still small voice. Seek to understand the simple endowments/ talents/ gift that he gave to you. At times we go through a lot of complexities and challenges that confuse us and we end up thinking that God has no plan for us. You might be going through a struggle, but you must know that He as a great plan for you. Remember in his word He says, “And we know that all things work to...

Since 1978, The Tide ® ( www.thetide.org ) ministry has not only broadcast Gospel radio programming to the ears of millions of people in India, but has put the Gospel message into their hands as well.   In India, The Tide ministry’s radio outreach is complemented by effective discipleship activities including literature distribution, Bible correspondence courses, seekers conferences and discipleship seminars, and a radio distribution project called “Radios for India.”   “This combination of ministry elements has proven to be extremely effective in changing lives throughout India and planting churches where believers can be nurtured in their faith and through which whole communities can be drawn into the Kingdom of God,” said The Tide Director Don Shenk.   Shenk is currently traveling in India, Nepal and Pakistan to meet with leaders there, learn more about the culture and immerse in the languages of these beautiful countries. The Tide team will also be honored t...

For millions of Americans, Sundays are set aside for church attendance, family time and fellowship.Although the Christian church experience may look much different in India, Sunday is also a day set aside for the Gospel and the hope of Christ for many believers. For four decades, The Tide ® has been recording and broadcasting messages about the Good News of Jesus in India. And many of these programs air on Sunday, when Christians in India come together to worship, pray and get into the Word of God. The Tide Director Don Shenk is currently traveling in India, Nepal and Pakistan to meet with leaders there, learn more about the culture and immerse in the languages of these beautiful countries. “We praise God that Sundays are also a day that seems to be set aside for God in India,” Shenk said. “During our travels to India, we look forward to meeting those listeners to The Tide Gospel programming that serves as a way to lift up listeners and provide the hope of Christ.” The Tide ...

I love candy, especially chocolate to name a few! I love rich, gooey pastries! Of course, too much of these foods will not only result in a more massive waistline but will also result in health problems. I understand this and limit my intake of these dainties. I also happen to enjoy other foods, especially salads. Salads are healthy, right? Of course, if I load the salad with blue cheese or ranch dressing, and I eat several slices of bread with it the nutritional value thereof is slightly more negligible. When I moved to Rome I began eating a bit differently. Oh, I still enjoy sweets from time to time, but my salads are different. The tomatoes here are incredible, as are the variety of lettuces and the myriad of olives that exist. Fresh, delicious vegetables and fruits abound where I live. I had to adjust a bit to not having ranch dressing for my tossed salads, as the Italians accent their salads with salt, olive oil, and often balsamic vinegar. It took a bit of getting used to, but ...

Open Doors USA has told the tragic story of a couple in India who was brutally beaten by neighbors in their community for one simple reason: They refused to reject their Christian faith and participate in a local ritual. These are the precious people who have access to Gospel radio programming because of The Tide ® , which has been recording and broadcasting messages of the hope of Jesus in India since 1978. Today, we offer programming in eight languages, reaching people groups that are heavily influenced by strong Hindu beliefs, traditions and rituals. These programs, recorded in the languages the people of India were born to speak, aim to lift up listeners and provide the hope of Christ. “With a population of over 1.3 billion people, India is very densely populated, and more than 2,000 of the 2,295 people groups in India are still considered unreached with the Gospel,” said Director Don Shenk. “Multiple religions are practiced throughout India, but Hinduism is the largest, an...

The Tide ® radio programs reach people around the world in a variety of settings—in busy cities, in rural farmland and in remote villages. These precious listeners are from a multitude of backgrounds, but they have one thing in common—they are valued in Jesus’ eyes. Since 2004, The Tide ministry has been recording and broadcasting gospel programming in the nation of Nepal. Today, listeners are reached through two languages, Tharu and Nepali, which is spoken by 19 million people. Some of these listeners cannot read or write, so the spoken Word of God in their own language through the radio is their only window to Christ. “The nation of Nepal is heavily Hindu, so the fraction of residents who are Christian are hungry for more information and teaching about Jesus Christ,” said The Tide Director Don Shenk. “We know that our programming reaches people of all walks of life, some of whom are illiterate, and we are honored to be their eyes and ears to the gospel and to Christ’s saving g...

Submitted by Debbie Thomas Psalm 42: 5,11 “Why are you cast down, oh my soul?  And, why are you disquieted within me?  Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him.” I have always been intrigued at the way the psalmist speaks to himself in his writings.  In the verses from Psalm 42, he asks himself why he is cast down, why he is troubled.  Rather than giving an answer to his question, however, he commands his soul to “hope in God”. The writer knows that God is his only true hope; he knows that he must take his eyes off of himself and place them upon the source of his strength! I am learning this lesson- to speak to my own soul when I begin to slide into the slough of sorrow or discouragement.  I am learning to remind myself that my hope is sure, for I do not hope in the temporal, but rather in the eternal.  My path on the adventure of life winds around curves and bends.  Metaphorically, I have scaled the jagged mountains, at times being cut along t...

For 14 years, The Tide ®  has been recording and broadcasting gospel programming in the nation of Nepal, which is heavily Hindu. Just a fraction of the population is Christian, and The Tide programs in two languages—Nepali and Tharu—aim to lift up listeners and provide the hope of Christ. The Tide ministry’s weekly program in Nepal is called “Prasasta Jivan,” which means “Abundant Life” in English. Last month, the speaker for the Nepali language program, spoken by 19 million in Nepal, spent two days recording 40 new radio programs. “These programs in the Nepali and Tharu language are vital to the faith of Christians in Nepal,” said The Tide Director Don Shenk. “Especially now with an anti-conversion law in effect, Nepali Christians can come together as part of a radio community and be encouraged through these recordings. We are thankful for those on the ground who work to make these programs a reality and even face danger in an environment that can be hostile to Christianity.”...

Pastor Sagar Baizu, the spokesperson and co-general secretary of the Federation of National Christians in Nepal, was attacked while sipping a coffee between meetings earlier this summer. Pastor Baizu was blindsided in a café when six to eight men suddenly attacked him from behind. They beat him and fled, telling the Christian leader they would “blast your church” and “shoot you and all your leaders,” reported ChristianHeadlines.com . Instances like this are becoming far too common in countries where Christianity is viewed as a threat to the national religion, says The Tide ®  global radio ministry. The Tide ministry has been broadcasting gospel programming in Nepal since 2004, beginning with a weekly program reaching a potential of 19 million people who speak the Nepali language called “Prasasta Jivan” which means “Abundant Life” in English. Then in 2013, The Tide ministry began offering a program in the Tharu language to help make disciples and plant churches among this peo...

It is now harder for Christians in Nepal to share their faith and help others to know the saving grace of Jesus Christ. In August, a law criminalizing religious conversions and the “hurting of religious feelings” went into effect in Nepal, a year after the bill was passed, reported The Christian Post . And Nepal’s Christian minority fears the new law will be abused by those seeking to settle scores—as has happened frequently in neighboring India. The Tide ® has been broadcasting gospel radio programming in Nepal since 2004, beginning with a weekly program reaching a potential of 19 million people who speak the Nepali language called “Prasasta Jivan” which means “Abundant Life” in English. Then in 2013, The Tide ministry began offering a program in the Tharu language to help make disciples and plant churches among this people group. “This new anti-conversion law in Nepal will certainly pose a great difficulty for Christians there,” said   Director Don Shenk. “At one time, ...

A sampling of letters from those whose hearts have been touched by The Tide radio programs. (Full names and locations are not include to protect identity) ALBANIA Every day when I go to work I listen to Radio 7 Nord. I listen many programs but today I would like to share something about the program Sipas Fjales. It is in 13.30 Tuesday and Thursday. This is a perfect time for me, because we have the lunch break. I prefer during lunch break to have my radio on on my phone and listen to the program. My friends that work with me, got curious what I was listening and they asked me. So I was so happy to share with them what I was listening pastor Klodi share on the program. The program is a great help to open up discussions and share about my Christian faith.  I gave my life to Jesus 5 years ago. My faith journey was not easy because my parents were against my decision and it is a daily battle for me. Many times I can’t go to church, though my heart aches for fellowship with other beli...

Few organizations or ministries will be successful and God-honoring without the full support of their leadership. This isn’t a problem for us, having been blessed with the opportunities and abilities to share the gospel with listeners around the world for nearly 75 years.   “The Tide ministry is blessed to have leadership, staff and board members who are fully engaged with and committed to our mission to creatively share the Good News of Jesus Christ and leading as many people as possible into a life transforming relationship with the Savior,” said The Tide Director Don Shenk.   For example, earlier this summer, The Tide ministry welcomed Director of Development Mark Story, who will help the ministry take steps to sustain growth and longevity. Story been working in the nonprofit sector for over 25 years, leading fundraising efforts for a Christian conference center, Habitat for Humanity and the Franklin (Pa.) County Public Libraries.   “My heart reso...

Earlier this year,   The Tide ®  began a new initiative to share gospel messages through weekly devotionals. While  The Tide  ministry is motivated by the mission to creatively share the love and hope of Jesus around the world, the devotionals serve as weekly encouragements here at home. “We hope these devotionals will serve as a weekly dose of grace, love, reassurance and inspiration to those who sign up to receive them,” said The Tide Director Don Shenk. “The Bible tells us that if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we will have fellowship with one another. Whether we are neighbors in close proximity or several nations apart, we are one community in Christ.” A recent devotional from  The Tide  ministry focused on clean and renewed minds, as Paul talks about in Ephesians 4:23. In fact, our senses, interactions and foundations can all contribute to how we can keep our minds focused on Christ: Eyes: What we see feeds into our min...

Join us this year for our promotional dinners! Free food, fun, and fellowship for you and your family as our way of saying thank you for your continued support. You can find the sign up links below! September 13 // Antrim BIC September 20 // Manheim BIC September 27 // Mechanicsburg BIC The post Promotional Dinners for 2018 appeared first on The Tide .