Missionary Broadcasting, Inc. in Middle America

Missionary Broadcasting, Inc., a non-profit organization in Mobile, Alabama, works with Baptists of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama in evangelizing, planting new congregations, developing churches and training laymen and ministers.

Baptists in Mexico and Central America use a variety of methods and ministries: personal evangelism and discipleship, home Bible studies, cell groups, mass evangelism, mass media as well as inexpensive tactical media, Christian education, student work, Christian literature and book stores, appropriate agriculture, water well drilling, medicine and other forms of social work and theological education.

Radio broadcasting is seen as one of several powerful tools to evangelize and educate. Its strengths lie in inspiring and educating, reinforcing and amplifying existing personal moral values, projecting a pleasing public image of Baptist Christians, promoting events and moving the listener to higher levels of communication such as personal visits, group dynamics or personal study guides.

MBI believes much can be accomplished by combining the resources of locally-owned and operated Baptist radio stations with those of local Christians and volunteers from the United States when indigenousness and local initiative are respected.

The effectiveness of Baptist-owned and operated radio stations is enhanced when their programming promotes and participates in community service, social work projects, puppet shows, music concerts and other ministries that authenticate the proclamation of the Gospel. The use of national and North American Christian volunteers can facilitate the execution of these projects.

MBI provides quality radio programming materials in Spanish--such as spots, Bible dramas, contemporary Christian radio drama, lay training and discipleship programs-- to Baptist radio stations in Central America.

MBI also recruits volunteer broadcast engineers, construction workers, educators, lawyers, computer graphic artists, musicians and others to collaborate with Baptist radio stations in Mexico and Central America in short-term mission projects.

Most of the 20 locally-owned and operated Baptist radio stations in Middle America minister to indigenous people groups in their own languages—such as the K'ekchi', Quiché, Cakchiquel, and Tzutujil—all in Guatemala—and the Miskito and Garífuna en Honduras. Only seven broadcast exclusively in Spanish.

In Guatemala, several of the Baptist radio stations have formed the Association of Indigenous Baptist Community Radio Stations. Representatives of these stations meet monthly to discuss matters pertaining to programming, management, engineering and legal needs.