HCJB World Radio Celebrates 75th Anniversary in 2006
Pioneer missionary radio broadcaster HCJB World Radio will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2006, holding a variety of activities throughout the year to commemorate its initial broadcast from Quito, Ecuador, on Christmas Day, 1931.
HCJB World Radio President Dave Johnson will launch the year of special
events with a program in Colorado Springs, Colo., at 10 a.m. (MST)
Wednesday, Jan. 11, in combination with the mission's monthly day of
prayer.
"To me this anniversary is a wonderful milestone of reflecting on God's
faithfulness and a legacy of a number of generations that have been
faithful in impacting the world through radio in so many languages," he
said. "We can be absolutely confident that God wants to continue using us
in the future. The key is realizing that all that has been accomplished
has been done in the power of Christ-working through people.
"When you look at the history of HCJB World Radio, people have always
been willing to take a risk to do what God is calling them to do,"
Johnson explained. "We've never been in 'maintenance mode,' whether it's
establishing a hydroelectric plant in Ecuador, putting up huge
transmitters and antennas, building clinics and hospitals, or setting the 'World
by 2000' challenge, working with other broadcasters to make Christian
radio programs available in all of the world's major languages. All of
these things caused people to start asking questions, pushing us beyond
our resources. But when we look back, these are the stories we like to
tell because God worked in incredible ways!"
The theme for the anniversary year is, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness," and
the key verse is Isaiah 26:12, "Lord . . . all that we have
accomplished you have done for us."
On Sunday, Jan. 1, HCJB World Radio launched its 75th anniversary
website in English (www.hcjb.org/75) while a Spanish site
(www.vozandes.org/75) will begin at a later date.
Public events planned for Ecuador include the Quito Day concerts Dec.
1-3, an open house and sharathon Dec. 7-9 and a special Spanish service
at 4 p.m. Dec. 25 (EST), the time of the first actual broadcast on
Radio Station HCJB. A series of events for donors will also be held across
the U.S. at cities and dates to be announced.
Events for the staff include the annual HCJB World Radio Prayer Retreat
on May 3 and "Forever Family" reunions for all former HCJB World Radio
staff members in Colorado Springs May 9-13 and Quito Sept. 8-18.
Special receptions are also planned for staff members and government
dignitaries in Quito in December.
A 75th anniversary book will be released in September, highlighting not
only the history of HCJB World Radio, but today's ministries and the
future vision. It will be a hard-cover, 9-by-12-inch, 96-page full-color
book with many high-quality photos. A Vision Video in both Spanish and
English will also be available to celebrate the vision through the
mission's various presidents, past and present.
How will the next 75 years look different than the past 75 years at
HCJB World Radio? "What began with co-founder Clarence Jones playing
'Great Is Thy Faithfulness' on his trombone to a handful of radio receivers
in Quito on Dec. 25, 1931, has led to focusing on discipling local
believers and training them in mass media and healthcare around the world,"
explained 75th Anniversary Coordinator Cheri Birkey.
"In the last 75 years the mission has developed a unique mix of radio
and healthcare ministries, working together to reach all nations for
Christ. In order to enhance these ministries, we want to integrate
passionate discipleship and practical tools so that national believers are
trained and equipped to complete the Great Commission. What began in Latin
America has expanded to other parts of the world. Lord willing, we will
continue partnering with local believers and equipping them to do what
we've been doing for 75 years-reaching people for Christ through mass
media and healthcare."
Together with local partners, HCJB World Radio now has ministries in
more than 200 cities in more than 100 countries with Christian broadcasts
in more than 120 languages and dialects. Thousands of healthcare
patients are also meeting Jesus. Believers are being trained as missionaries,
pastors, broadcasters and healthcare providers. HCJB World Radio's
desire is to integrate discipleship with practical tools to equip the
growing church around the world and see lives transformed.
"What we are as a mission today is directly related to our past,"
Birkey adds. "The 75th anniversary is the perfect opportunity to celebrate
God's faithfulness. Throughout the Old Testament the Israelites were
encouraged to remember God's goodness. We hope not only to remember what
God has done in the past through HCJB World Radio, but to celebrate what
He is doing today and the mission's vision for the future."
Last Updated ( Saturday, 31 December 2005 )
http://www.hcjb.org/anniversary/site/press_release_-_75th_anniversary_celebration_2.html
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Alokesh Gupta
New Delhi, India.
