The distribution of radios is an important facet of TWR’s ministry. For people to tune in to the broadcasts in their language and hear the gospel, they must have a radio. Many nonliterate people groups, however, as well as those living in countries closed to missionary activity, do not have easy access to radios.
Because of TWR’s “Radios for the World” project, radio distribution has taken place in southern and northern Africa, North Korea, Southeast Asia, Nepal, China and for Gypsies in Romania.
One type of radio that TWR distributes is the Grundig windup radio. TWR gives these to listeners in the African countries of Mozambique, Angola and Namibia, where electricity is nonexistent in many rural areas and batteries are not affordable.
In other countries of the world, such as Romania, TWR provides solar radios. Solar radios have three components: the radio set; a solar panel; and a rechargeable battery. These solar radios are fix-tuned to only receive the station that broadcasts TWR’s programs. These radios are of particular benefit to Romanian Gypsies, a people group that is often neglected and shunned.
“Some of the children were shy at first when they saw strangers enter their village, but most of the young faces lit with smiles as they wondered what the new guests had brought,” reported a TWR team member who traveled to Romania to distribute solar radios to the Gypsies. “The first lady to receive a radio was painting her house. She was surprised and pleased. She seemed happy to meet people who had an active interest in her and her family, and who were willing to give a gift for free.”
Another Romanian listener wrote to TWR after listening to the Gypsy broadcasts: “There are very good teachers and those Gypsy programs are beautiful. I like those wonderful testimonies told by the Gypsy brothers. I like their style as they are singing.”
TWR also provides battery-operated radios to those living in areas where batteries are easily accessible. Radio distribution is a major benefit in many countries where distance and terrain are considerable obstacles for believers in gathering together to worship in a church setting.