TWR-Romania is passionately helping the Bible come alive for unengaged children in their nation where abortion rates are high and thousands of kids live on the streets.
Most children in Romania know little or nothing about the Bible or their own need of Christ’s transforming power in their lives. Trans World Radio-Romania is meeting the challenge of reaching unchurched Romanian children through its 30-minute radio program, Children’s Universe.
“I’m very glad that you helped me to learn from the Word of God,” wrote one young Romanian listener. “For me, you are wonderful people and a real blessing from the Lord because you have a lot of passion for us, the children. Through Children’s Universe, you help us to learn a lot of important things and better understand God’s plan for us.”
Begun in the fall of 2003, the drama broadcast uses talking animal characters to address issues children face and apply the Bible’s teaching to their lives. Production is done in TWR-Romania’s studio in Bucharest, and studio and office staff help voice the programs. A professional Romanian actress also does voicing and serves as a voice coach for other non-professional speakers. Children’s Universe is now being broadcast weekly on 10 local FM stations, and TWR-Romania hopes to eventually syndicate the program throughout the country.
TWR-Romania’s outreach to children includes not only radio programs, but drama presentations as well. After a year and a half on the air, the program gained such a wide audience that staff could not keep up with all the correspondence. From that experience, TWR-Romania learned about two types of young listeners and decided to take on the challenge of setting up two different types of broadcasts—a radio drama mostly for children who did not know Christ as their Savior to be broadcast on FM secular stations (Children’s Universe), and one for older children consisting of Bible-based teaching for their spiritual growth. The TWR-Romania staff has also created a special children’s “show” that has been performed in a local theater in Bucharest.
“Kids were coming mostly with their parents, and the rented hall with 300 seats was almost packed,” recalled Katka Vajova of TWR-Europe. “They were waiting impatiently, chatting and listening to the background music that filled the atmosphere.” Vajova said the children were attracted by the stage decorations and looking forward to the drama. Once it started, she added, “I could see excited kids following the drama on the stage. It really caught their eyes, ears and hearts because it was rich in dialogue, singing and dancing, and it was also interactive. It absorbed them completely.”