The Global Village
Newsletter of Missionary Broadcasting, Inc.

New Baptist Radio Station in Tabasco

The Mexican government has assigned a frequency--89.7 FM—for a new community radio station to be operated by Baptists in Tecolutilla, Tabasco in southeast Mexico. Deadline for going on the air is May 1, 2009.

Since 2004, volunteers from East Brent Baptist Church, Pensacola, FL and Dayspring Baptist Church, Mobile, have partnered with Baptist pastor-evangelist Eleazar Leyva to construct the Radio Reflexión building, present Vacation Bible Schools, show Christian films in the parks and engage in other evangelistic and church planting activities.

Funds are needed to purchase studio and transmission equipment: 1) 1KW FM transmitter $8,000; 2) Antennas $1,400; 3) Coaxial cable $200; 4) CD/mp3 player $500; 5) Mikes $100; 6) Acoustics $800; 7) Furniture $800. Mexican Baptists already have paid a $4,000 license fee. Dauphin Way Baptist Church, Mobile is donating a computer. An individual has donated funds to purchase an audio mixer. Mail your tax-deductible donations to Missionary Broadcasting, Inc. 7401 Wesley Court, Mobile, AL 36695.

A team of volunteer carpenters and electricians will install the acoustics and complete the electrical installation Feb.

Community Radio Stations in Guatemala Face Uncertain Future

Low-power Christian radio stations in Guatemala are being harassed by the government, and two Baptist stations have gone off the air since August. Radio K’ekchi’ FM in Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas and Voz Evangélica de Chisec went dark in the face of threats by the government to fine each of them over $67,000 dollars and jail the managers for terms of three years.

One pastor in another area of the country whose station was ranked the most-listened-to station in its market in a survey by a large university in Guatemala said his listeners would rise up in protest if pressured by the government to shut down. “If they threw me in jail, it would just give me another opportunity to witness for my Lord,” the pastor said.

The root of the controversy surrounding unlicensed community radio stations in the indigenous areas of Guatemala dates back to 1996 and the peace treat between the government and the rebels to end the 30-year civil war. At that time, the government promised the 22 indigenous people groups in the country access to the mass media. When that did not happen, the indigenous peoples—mostly Evangelical Christians—started going on the air with low-power (i.e. 30- to 1,000- watt) FM stations.

The understaffed Ministry of Telecommunications simply did not have sufficient personnel to monitor the “pirates” and enforce the law which was written by large media conglomerates whose political clout intimidated the politicians.

But lately, the commercial media groups—some owned by large Mexican and American networks--have forced the hand of the government.

Attempts to pass legislation that would legalize and govern low-power community radio stations have repeatedly been opposed by the commercial media giants.

Radio K’ekchi’ went on the air in March of 1988 as a 2,000-watt short-wave station. Its original vintage SW transmitter quit working in about 1995 when the station began using a 750-watt backup SW transmitter. This backup transmitter was struck by lightning in 2004, and since that time the station has operated only on FM with a power of 500 watts.

In light of this most-recent political crisis, Radio K’ekchi’ is seeking to restore the 750-watt SW transmitter and return to the air as soon as possible. The K’ekchi’ Baptist Association owns and operates a licensed 2.5KW AM station in San Pedro Carchá near Cobán.

Two other community stations operated by K’ekchi’-speaking Baptist churches, one in Setúl, Petén and another in Pocolá, Alta Verapaz have remained on the air even in the face of threats by the government. Three other Baptist stations—all operated by churches—are located in the Quiché and Tzutujil areas. Please pray for these stations as they face political opposition and harassment by commercial broadcasters.

Volunteer Engineers Repair Stations in Guatemala

Three volunteer electronics engineers repaired equipment at Baptist radio stations in Guatemala on a recent trip to that country in late September. Vernon Ayre of Falkville, AL; Ron Stooksberry and his wife Donna of Rogersville, AL and Adair Park of Chattanooga, TN accompanied me on the 10-day trip. They repaired the short-wave antenna of Radio K’ekchi’ in Las Casas (which had been damaged by vandals).

For Radio Amistad 90.3 FM in San Pedro La Laguna on the shores of beautiful Lake Atitlán, they erected a new inverted-V short-wave antenna and installed an AM transmitter to the electrical system of the town. The studio-to-transmitter link (STL) of Radio Luz 840AM in San Pedro Carchá also was repaired. Many thanks to these hard-working volunteers!

Alabama Baptist Article Highlights New Hispanic Radio Program

A weekly radio program produced by Missionary Broadcasting for Hispanics in South Alabama and southeastern Mississippi was highlighted in an article published last July by the Alabama Baptist.

The headline in the July 10 article read “Gulf Coast Hispanic Radio Broadcast Impacts Lives.” The 55-minute program, Revista Radial (Radio Magazine), is broadcast each Sunday at 12 noon on WPAS 89.1FM in Mobile-Pascagoula. It’s been on the air since Easter Sunday of 2008 and is supported by five Hispanic congregations in Mobile and Baldwin counties in Alabama and one in Pascagoula, MS.

The program features contemporary Christian music in Spanish, short messages by local Hispanic pastors and short features by renowned international Hispanic Evangelical producers such as Luís Palau, Hermano Pablo, Guidelines, the Mennonites and Latin American Mission—as well as the many spots and Bible dramas produced by Baptists.

Consultation About Radio Program in India & Bangladesh

I consulted last Saturday night with IMB Missionary Everett Miller about the possibility of a Baptist radio program to impact the town of Sylatt, Bangladesh with the Gospel. We’re thinking about airing audio segments of the JESUS video from a radio station just inside India—about 30 miles away--where there is more access to local radio. Privately-owned local radio is just now opening up in India and Bangladesh. Until now these countries have had only large government-owned stations in the capital cities with many repeater stations in the provinces.

Lorna Works With Hispanics

Lorna enjoys her job with the Mobile County Public School System as liaison with Hispanic migrants. Among her many duties is teaching Hispanic pre-schoolers basic English to prepare them for first grade in a new language. We work with an Hispanic congregation in Semmes, AL.

A Note from the Director

Funds are desperately needed to make Radio Reflexón a reality! The Mexican government’s deadline for launching this station in Tabasco is May 1, 2009.

We served in Mexico from 1968 to 2003. During 15 of those years, the government outlawed religious broadcasts, so you can imagine our jubilation over this opportunity—not just to broadcast a program—but to provide Christian programming hour after hour, day in and day out.

We must take advantage of this open door! The Year 2008 is quickly coming to an end. Make your end-of-the year tax-deductible donations before Dec. 31! Thank you, and may the Lord bring untold blessings to you and your family during this Christmas season and the New Year ahead.

David Daniell, director

Missionary Broadcasting, Inc.

7401 Wesley Court

Mobile, AL 36695-3543

(251) 633-4774
(251) 533-0676 cell
ddaniel@comcast.net

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