Nearly Back to Full Speed on Guam

When Super Typhoon Mawar knocked out KTWR’s broadcast antennas last month, earnest concern spread across the global ministry for listeners who had suddenly lost access to gospel programming.

Until TWR staff at the Guam shortwave station could get the damaged technology repaired – initially undertaken while they still struggled with power, water and internet outages – broadcasts to China, North Korea and elsewhere would be disrupted. Feedback from various parts of Asia confirmed what we’ve long known, that countless listeners rely on KTWR as a primary source of Bible truth.

“As I spread the news to many supporters, ministry partners, friends and listeners, warm prayers have been received with deep care and concern for KTWR!” said the unnamed leader of a partner organization. “A listener in China responded very quickly to ask how they were to find alternative frequencies to resume broadcasts, etc. We replied that we would keep trying hard and urged them to keep praying hard for us. Another listener in China said, ‘It’s a big regret that we cannot listen to Trans World Radio!’”

TWR staff thousands of miles apart rushed to arrange with shortwave broadcasters unaffected by Mawar to temporarily carry a portion of our daily program schedule. Working flat out, the KTWR team gradually got most of the broadcast infrastructure back into working order, reviving more of broadcast schedule with each milestone in the process.

Today, praise God, KTWR’s regular programming, with a small number of exceptions, is back on the air reaching out to audiences across the continent. Four of the five antenna systems have been repaired, and the team is now focusing on severely damaged Antenna 1 and problems with Transmitter 6.

“Progress is being made,” KTWR Station Director Grant Hodgins reported. “God is good. Continue to pray for the team as they have put in many hard days. There is still a long road ahead.”

‘We Are Cheering You On’

We’re already beginning to receive upbeat responses from listeners who had keenly felt the broadcast interruption. Partnering ministry BJapan shared heartwarming thank-you messages from men who listen to the 30-minute, weekly broadcast Friendship Radio. Mike Sabin, TWR’s technical operations director for Asia, said the program draws 400 to 500 listener responses each month, more than any other KTWR broadcast.

The collection of nearly two dozen brief messages comes from male listeners of Friendship Radio spread across Japan. Amazingly, none of the writers is a Christian! They urged the Guam team to “please work safely” and reported that the revived signal is strong.

“I heard that shortwave broadcasts are much more expensive than internet distribution, but thank you very much for continuing the broadcasts. We are cheering you on from afar!"

"Thank you for the speedy restoration of the antenna. I look forward to every broadcast of KTWR Friendship Radio."

"Thank you very much for doing your best to restore the transmission facilities and antennas in the difficult situation. KTWR Friendship Radio is one of my favorite broadcasts.”

"Sometimes we have to face nature! Guam and Japan are similar. Let's overcome difficult times and situations together!"

Making It Truly a Team Effort

For those of us who aren’t on the ground in Guam and likely don’t have the skills to effect such repairs anyway, there are key ways to help out. Prayer is always job one for supporters of TWR’s worldwide gospel outreach. As Hodgins said, his team needs our prayer now more than ever.

And then there’s the financial cost of recovery. The repairs made by the KTWR team not only are challenging and sometimes risky but also are costly. We’re proud at the impressive strides made so quickly by our co-workers, but as we celebrate the return of gospel-carrying radio waves, we realize that the bill is coming due.

As they never fail to do, generous TWR supporters have already stepped up to the plate. As of June 27, over $80,000 has been contributed globally toward the goal of $338,000. The total cost of restoring the station in the aftermath of the typhoon is much higher, but the $338,000 goal would cover the costs above what our insurance will pay. If the Lord leads you to be a part of KTWR’s financial recovery, you can learn more here.

Please Pray With Us

• Praise the Lord for blessing the wide-ranging efforts to restore the Guam station to full working order, to secure temporary broadcasting for TWR programming and to get nearly all the daily program schedule back on the air.
• Keep lifting Hodgins and his staff before the Lord. As he reminds us, there’s still lots to be done in the recovery phase, and that’s on top of the usual broadcasting duties and rigorous maintenance that never let up.
• As you pray, remember TWR listeners and prospective listeners in countries like North Korea, China, Indonesia, Myanmar, Mongolia and India. The potential radio audience across this continent numbers in the billions, and countless people are unlikely to have the chance to hear doctrinally sound teaching of God’s Word if they can’t tune in KTWR.

Images: (top banner) Although the severely damaged KTWR curtain antennas have been the focus of much of the recovery, team members Darin Alvord and Etson Nena got busy checking components of the backup electrical system. (middle, left) With team member Etson Nena assisting, engineer Mike Lambert was buckled into the bosun's chair so he could complete repairs high above ground on the antennas. (bottom, right) Leasing a 125-foot boom lift helped significantly speed up the restoration work. [Images by Grant Hodgins, TWR]