Many youth living in the cities of northern India are career driven and materialistic, and still face deplorable situations of urban life, compounded by the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS. TWR is reaching out through a 15-minute weekly radio program designed just for them.
Because India’s youth number some 500 million, which is 50 percent to 60 percent of the population, they are a potent economic, social and cultural force. Yet they face the same problems many young people face worldwide: unemployment, drug addiction, alcohol and illiteracy. Despite a focus on education, the country is home to around 80 million nonliterates between the ages of 15 to 35. Urban poverty is growing, caused by increased migration from rural areas, mismanagement of scarce available resources, corruption, severe natural disasters and ethnic conflicts. Many Indian youth are enamored by the numerous Indian English mainstream programs on the air, so Trans World Radio-India is producing similar programs, with the primary emphasis on bringing them to Christ.
Sparsh (Touch), which aims to meet young Indians at their point of need, began airing in 2006 and is the only program TWR has for Hindi-speaking youth. The broadcast is packed with a variety of segments, including sketches, stories and interviews. Sparsh discusses issues that touch youth and affect their lives, such as peer pressure, drugs and physical relationships, in the context of God’s Word. Sometimes a question-and-answer session is featured. TWR-India will be working closely with other organizations involved in youth ministries in India in order to obtain materials and share their expertise to produce this program.
Sparsh is already challenging Indian youth and helping many come to Christ. “Recently I heard your youth program Sparsh for the first time. I loved listening to it!” wrote one listener, who continued: “I thank God for giving me a program like this. The message has challenged me to live a holy life. No person or program have touched my life the way Sparsh has. It has encouraged me to love Jesus, and I want to know more about Him.” Another teenager said: “I am 18 years old. I am regularly listening to your program Sparsh and I have accepted Jesus as my personal Savior. It is my desire to know Jesus intimately. Please pray for me.”
Sparsh is also helping Indian young people reach out to their peers. One new listener wrote: “A friend of mine introduced me to your radio program, Sparsh. Since then, I have been regularly listening. It is my desire to know more about Jesus.”