Through its broadcasts, The Tide® global gospel radio ministry reaches listeners by “speaking their language”—both literally and spiritually. Through its radio and online programming, the gospel message reaches nine countries in 27 different languages.
By using local languages, which it calls “heart languages,” the ministry spreads the life-altering message of Christ’s hope and wisdom in Kosovo. Thus, it reaches not only those who have already put their faith and trust in Jesus, but also those who may be far from Christ or not yet introduced to His love and grace.
In partnership with native missionaries, The Tide ministry has been instrumental in bringing many around the world, including Kosovars, into a relationship with Jesus Christ and establishing healthy, growing indigenous churches.
“The Tide ministry, first broadcasting over radio airwaves in partnership with Radio 7, then through media players, livestreaming and, most recently, through a television program geared toward young people, has been honored to share the Good News in Kosovo for the past five years,” said The Tide director Don Shenk.
In addition to producing its evangelistic radio programs in the local languages, The Tide ministry team, which includes several pastors as well as the staff of Radio 7, provides radios and media players where needed, and facilitates discipleship and leadership training through literature distribution, correspondence courses, teaching seminars and spiritual conferences. Listeners write from all over to thank the ministry team for their work, giving testimony to the working of the Holy Spirit through their programming.
“Pastor Gani faithfully preaches the truth on-air while also leading a church he is planting in Albania and Kosovo,” explains a faithful Christian listener from Kosovo in a letter of appreciation to the radio ministry.
Altina, another Christian from Kosovo, shares a profound spiritual insight gained while listening to the teachings of Pastor Gani, whose popular broadcast is heard through Radio 7:
“I listen to Radio 7 at work almost all day long. I love to navigate the website as well and listen to my favorite programs over and over again. Pastor Gani is a great Bible teacher; he makes [the] Bible so easy to understand, and, as he says, we have to ‘live by the book.’ I have been listening very carefully to his series of programs from the book of Ruth. This is the first time I have read this book of the Bible—I had never before heard about Ruth. I understood that I have a problem with bitterness and how that is damaging me and the people around me. Thank you so much for this program. God bless you.”
Between April–June 2020, Pastor Gani, with the other pastors of The Tide ministry, reached approximately 60,000 listeners through Radio 7 Kosovo and Radio 7 Kosovo South, in on-air and online broadcasts. But their programming is not their only interaction with listeners: in addition to their broadcasts, the pastors and Radio 7 staff conduct listener follow-ups via phone, e-mail, letters, Facebook as well as face-to-face, bringing great wisdom, comfort, hope and healing to their radio flock. And the people continue to respond; as word has spread, listener response has been overwhelming.
Shenk reflects on the ministry’s impact in people’s lives. “Through these interactions, listeners and viewers gain a sense of belonging to the greater body of Christ, giving a sense of community, which has helped ease the isolation recently brought about by the pandemic,” he said. “It is edifying to hear from viewers who are touched by the content of the programs, from Christians as well as those who are not yet Christian but are open to hearing the gospel message. It is amazing when we hear from unbelievers that they have been uplifted or are now putting their faith in Christ after listening to a Tide partner pastor.”
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 year-long campaigns, the weekly Global Update radio features or other news, visit thetide.org or its Facebook page. Read more about The Tide ministry and Director Don Shenk here. {eoa}
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