In Russia, most children have grown up in an atheistic environment with little knowledge of God and the truths presented in His Word. But TWR’s programs are changing their views, as evidenced by the responses the Mission receives from Russia and its neighboring countries. One Russian team produces a special broadcast for preschoolers titled Light in the Window, a 10-minute program to show Russian children how they can live life with God’s help. For example, a little boy named Andryusha is experiencing different situations in kindergarten, at home, on the playground, with neighbors and friends and with parents and grandparents. The producer is Raissa Kulikova.
Young Masha from Belarus wrote: “Hello Andryusha from the program Light in the Window. I am 5.5 years old. I go to Sunday school. I love God, and I pray to Him. I love your program. Good-bye! I wrote this letter myself!”
An area of the world where TWR has seen an overwhelming response from children is Latin America. TWR’s team in Venezuela produces the Pedrito el Pulpo (Little Peter the Octopus) program, which is heard throughout Latin America, Mexico and the United States. TWR-Venezuela had a goal of reaching about 10,000 children in 2006 by focusing on outreach in public and private schools throughout the country. During the year, team members visited 36 schools in six states, and kids attending the rallies numbered more than 14,000. Approximately 5,090 accepted Christ, and 5,463 school kits were distributed.
Happy Children’s Garden (HCG) is a popular children’s program produced by TWR’s Cambodia staff, which has seen a huge increase in response to the program this past year—8,774 responses compared to last year when they received only 69 responses. This is largely due to finding ways for listeners to get their letters to TWR’s office through pastors and church leaders and, in turn, these pastors and church leaders using taxis and buses as couriers.
In addition to producing broadcasts and handling follow-up, TWR’s Cambodian team gave out 200 gift boxes from Samaritan’s Purse to children’s clubs in several villages and provided meals 19 different times to 3,755 children, helping to build better relationships with churches and children in those places. It also ensured that children who really needed food to eat had a healthy meal, something they rarely experience At the same time, it enabled the church attendees to fellowship together as the women gathered to help cook for the children.
“I’m so happy that you provided the money to make food for these children,” one pastor commented. “A lot of non-Christian villagers can see the love of God through what we do now. You can see that these children are so happy.” A girl named Sophea added: “I’m so happy that today I can study the Bible and eat together with my friends. I don’t have this nice kind of food to eat every day. I’m going to ask for some extra from the aunties [the ladies who cooked] to bring home for my mother and my sisters.”