TWR began broadcasting in five Indian languages in 1978 from a single medium wave (AM) station with a 400,000-watt transmitter. Thirty years later, TWR-India celebrates God’s blessing and protection as ministry continues in 62 languages from various broadcasting locations in shortwave, AM, FM, as well as podcasting, television audio feed and Internet audio streaming. Listener response varies from 30,000 to 60,000 each month.
“In the last 30 years of broadcasting to the Indian subcontinent, one thing has always stood out as part of every letter or phone call received and every visit made,” says TWR-India CEO Vinita Shaw. “Something that has kept farmers steeped in abject poverty and oppressed women from committing suicide, something that has given people the strength to go on with life in spite of debilitating diseases and injustices. Hope is what keeps them going!”
TWR-India endeavors to meet the spiritual, educational, social and cultural needs of its audience through the more than 380 programs broadcast each week. In addition to the broadcasts, the ministry team is also involved in many on-the-ground personal outreaches. They sponsor five children from a boys’ home in New Delhi, and partnered with a local church and the City Care Network to distribute wheelchairs to those in need in Hyderabad. One recipient expressed her thanks to TWR: “I was suffering from high blood pressures and diabetes. Gradually my health deteriorated to such an extent that my legs were paralyzed. My people deserted me. I felt useless and wanted to commit suicide. One day I listened to TWR’s program on a neighbor’s radio. It brought peace to my heart. I began to tune in at home. The broadcast began to work in my heart and I accepted Jesus as my Savior. I am thankful to TWR for providing me with a wheelchair. May God richly bless you and your ministry.”
To mark the 30 year milestone, TWR-India is organizing national listener rallies, clergy development meetings, women’s meetings, musical events and various programs across the country.