A Unique Opportunity

Miss Nichara Boontanai is a Christian, who works as the manager of a community radio station in Ubon Ratchathani Province.  The station is operated by a group of local business people.  Throughout the week the station broadcasts community and government programs.  Miss Nichara does two of the programs every day, Monday through Friday.

Miss Nichara is a member of a church that uses radio programs produced by Lutheran Hour Ministries Thailand (LHMT).  She has always enjoyed these programs, because they are very practical and useful.  One day she got the idea that she could use some of these programs to share the Christian message with her friends and neighbors.  Miss Nichara asked her supervisors if she could broadcast the LHMT programs on weekends.  She was given permission to air them from 12:30-1:00pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

Mr. Prawit Chularangsi, the speaker of “Cheerful Life’

The radio station has never broadcast any Christian programs, so Miss Nichara is excited for this unique opportunity.  She will start using the LHMT programs in April and will begin with “Cheerful Life.”  She plans to personally do follow-up activities with any listeners who show interest.  Miss Nichara hopes that the LHMT programs will be interesting and useful for the people in her community and that they will begin to learn about God and Christian beliefs.

Please pray that the listeners will respond positively to the programs and that the station owners will be happy to continue airing the Christian programs.

New Live Broadcast for New Life Radio

Under the leadership of Pastor Chatri Pimjaiprapa, Bangkhunthian New Life Churchhas been operating New Life Radio, a community radio station in Bangkhunthian District in Bangkok.  In May 2011 Pastor Chatri contacted LHMT about the possibility of obtaining three radio programs produced by LHMT.  Many community radio stations that are owned and operated by Christian churches in Thailand have difficulty producing enough programs to fill their broadcast schedules, so LHMT is happy to help them with that. 

LHMT staff and radio speaker during the live broadcast

On July 20, 2011 some LHMT staff and one of the LHMT radio speakers went to Bangkhunthian New Life Church to conduct a live broadcast of the “Home for Love” program from the New Life Community Radio station.  During the 1-hour program about family issues, the speaker asked the listeners questions about what impressed them about their families.  One of the callers said that she was impressed by the way her family cared for each other.  Then she told the speaker that she was also impressed with this live radio program and that she looked forward to listening more of our programs on this station in the future.

Pastor Chatri Pimjaiprapa (left) receiving the sample of LHMT's materials from staff

During the visit the LHMT staff shared with Pastor Chatri and some of his church members about the many different LHMT ministries and they discussed ways in which LHMT and Bangkhunthian New Life Church can work together.  LHMT will continue to provide the church with more radio programs and looks forward to building a close relationship in the months to come. 

LHMT Director and Speaker Interviewed for “The Rhythm of the Heart” Program

Mr. Teeraporn Pintong (seated) and his coworkers from "The Rhythm of the Heart"

“The Rhythm of the Heart” staff interviewing LHMT director

The Siam Christian Broadcasting Network is operated by the Operation Blessing Foundation here inThailand.  One of the television programs that they produce is a 1-hour program, “From Heart to Heart,” which is aired every Monday night on the government television station. 

On April 7, 2011 the Lutheran Hour Ministries Thailand (LHMT) director and one radio speaker were interviewed for a segment of the program, “The Rhythm of the Heart.”  The main focus of the interview was how to share the Gospel through media, especially proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ through radio programs.

Mr. Prawit, LHMT radio speaker explaining how to produce the Gospel radio program

The main points that they wanted to share on the program included the history of LHMT radio programs and the reasons for choosing to proclaim the Gospel to the Thai people through radio broadcasts.  They also wanted to know how many and what type of programs LHMT produces. 

The last question was about the effectiveness of using the radio to communicate the Gospel.  They wanted to know how radio programs could be helpful for people who struggle in life. 

Through talking with the interviewers about the radio ministry of LHMT and telling the story on “The Rhythm of the Heart,” the LHMT director hopes that more people will become aware of the radio programs produced by LHMT.  Hopefully more people will become interested in listening to these programs.

Ministry Partners in Bangkok

Siam Bangkok Church has operated a community radio program in Bangkok for the past two years.  The church trains some of their youth to be DJs and radio speakers to promote the church and to support their outreach events in their local community.

In June of this year some of the church members heard some radio programs on our Lutheran Hour Ministry (LHMT) website.  They enjoyed the programs and thought that they would work well in their community, so the pastor contacted our office and asked to use three of our programs on their community radio station.  We were happy to share the programs with them.

On September 15, 2010 two LHMT staff and one radio speaker visited Siam Bangkok Church.  It was the first time the pastor, church members and LHMT staff were able to meet each other.  From 11:00am until noon the speaker did a live broadcast of “Because You Are Loved.” 

During the broadcast the speaker asked the listeners, “If today you could get one blessing from God, what would you ask for and why?”  Five people called during the program.  One young Christian woman answered the question by saying, “Please pray for my parents, because I want them to also become Christian.”

After the program finished, seven church members came to meet our staff and to receive gift sets.  We’re very happy to finally meet the pastor and some church members of Siam Bangkok Church and we look forward to working together with them again in the future.

First Live Broadcast in Bangkok

Mr. Prawit Chularangsi doing the live broadcast "Home For Love" program

Lutheran Hour Ministries Thailand (LHMT) recently started broadcasting in Bangkok.  One of our radio speakers did a live broadcast of “Home for Love” on August 21 from 2:00-3:00pm.  In addition to being our first broadcast in Bangkok and the first time we have worked with that station and studio technician, this was also the first time that we have done a 1-hour program. 

Because the broadcast was in Bangkok, almost all of our LHMT staff were there to help and encourage the speaker.  While on the air, 9 listeners called in and talked with our staff.  The speaker talked with another caller on the air.  We left gift sets for the staff at the radio station to give to anyone who came to visit the station after we left.   

From September through February we’ll be experimenting with live broadcasts in Bangkok every Saturday afternoon.  Because we have more than one target audience, we will not continue to do hour-long programs.  Instead, we’ll divide the hour into two parts.  We’ll do a 30-minute “Home for Love” program that focuses on families and a 30-minute “Cheerful Life” program that appeals to workers.

At the end of February we’ll do an evaluation to determine how successful our live programs have been.  At that time we’ll decide if we should continue doing the programs in the same way or if we’ll try something different.

 

Making Connections

 

Ms. Acharaporn Imsomboon, radio speaker for "Because You are Loved"

When radio speaker and two Lutheran Hour Ministries Thailand (LHMT) staff traveled to Prachuap Khirikhan to do a live broadcast, they didn’t expect to discover so many connections that LHMT has in that area.

On the morning of July 21 Ms. Acharaporn Imsomboon and the two LHMT staff made a visit to the campus of Southern Theological Institute (STI), where they met the director of STI, Pastor Sawang Kusawadee.  Each year STI receives from our LHMT office packets of Christian materials that they give as gifts to their graduating students.  Although STI and LHMT have been doing this for several years, we never visited their campus or met them personally. 

Pastor Wichian Rakhantho and his wife are teachers at STI.  When they heard that we were doing a live broadcast in their area, they came to the radio station to meet and encourage our radio speaker and staff.  In 2009 we did a school outreach program with Pastor Wichian Rakhantho in four schools in Guiburi District of Prachuap Khirikhan, so it was nice connecting with them again and having some time together. 

From 12:00-1:30pm Ms. Acharaporn Imsomboon did a live broadcast of “Because You are Loved” at community radio station HIT, which operates by Mr. Sanan Shaisang, the member of the Full Gospel Church in Prachuap Khirikhan.  Pastor Khamphi Yhousantikul arranged for this live broadcast.

In addition to giving an encouraging message, Ms. Acharaporn also did a contest during the program.  While on the air 24 people called to talk with her and to participate in the contest.  All of the callers were non-believers.  Later, 2 other people visited the station to meet Ms. Acharaporn and staff to receive the gift packs that LHMT was giving away.  Our LHMT staff will contact these 26 people again and their names were given to Pastor Khamphi, so that he and his church members can do personal follow-up visits. 

We thank God for Pastor Khamphi Yhousantikul and his church members for sharing the Gospel in their community through their community radio station and personal visits to the listeners.  We also thank God that we were able to make personal connections with Pastor Sawang Kusawadee at STI and Pastor Wichian Rakhantho and his wife.  As more Christians work together to share the Gospel and reach out to the non-believers in Prachuap Khirikhan, the good news about Jesus will be heard throughout the province.  We pray God’s blessings on STI and Full Gospel Church of Prachuap Khirikhan.  We look forward to connecting with them again to do more outreach activities in the future.

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Live Broadcasts Continue to be Successful

Mr. Prawit Jularangsi, radio speaker and LHMT staff producing live broadcast

Doing live broadcasts in different parts of Thailand has proven to be very helpful.  When our radio speakers do programs at the community radio stations, listeners really enjoy being able to talk with them on the air or meeting them after the broadcast. 

On June 26 two LHMT staff and one radio speaker traveled to Phitsanuloke Province to do a live broadcast from the community radio station at Kunanutgool Church in Muang District.  During the hour on the air they presented two programs, “Home for Love” and “The Cheerful Life.”

Station leader, Ms. Tahrarin Titakharuetai, was very pleased with the quality of the programs and happy to have six listeners call to talk with the speaker while on the air and sixteen listeners came to visit after finished the programs.  Pastor Samerhjai Simala enjoyed meeting with LHMT staff and radio speaker who came to the church after the broadcast. 

Once again the live broadcast was a good opportunity for the pastor and church members to have contact with people in the community, who normally would not visit the church.  Because the live broadcasts are so popular and valuable, we plan to do one every month.