Taken from HCJB Global’s “Voice and Hands” newsletter, November 2010…

An HCJB Global radio planter recently spent 10 days in a village of central Nepal with a local partner who heads a community outreach. His father was the first person in the village to commit his life to Christ back in the days when it was illegal to become a Christian in Nepal. This led to the family’s persecution.

But things are changing in Nepal. After centuries of being a Hindu kingdom and decades of political unrest, the Himalayan country became a democracy in 2008. One of the results was that the government released applications for local FM community radio stations, and in 2009 HCJB Global Voice helped install two community stations.

“Today the church in Nepal is growing, but there are still many areas where there are few Christians and even fewer churches,” said Ty Stakes, newly appointed director of the Asia Pacific Region. “Our newest partner station is planted in one of these areas.”

HCJB Global staff members and Nepalese believers gathered in June for a celebration to mark the beginning of a third partner station, culminating months of efforts with local citizens to build the studio, connect the electricity and finish the groundwork for the station. The mission then worked with yet another local partner to plant a fourth community station in the country this fall.

“We’re thrilled about the doors that have opened for radio planting in Nepal,” added Stakes. “We are praying that as God allows greater penetration of this country with His gospel, we and our partners will witness a huge harvest for the kingdom of Jesus Christ.”

More Highlights of 2010:
•  Developed two new partners in Indonesia; added four community stations.
•  Held the renamed Global Voice Institute in Indonesia with introductory and advanced classes.
•  Planted four stations in Thailand, helping local partners develop a radio strategy while continuing to implement Spotlight English Clubs.
•  Developed two Cambodian radio partners who plan to launch stations for 2011.
•  Weathered a typhoon that damaged partner stations in the South Pacific.
•  Made significant progress on the development of a 1,200-acre site adjacent to HCJB Global-Australia’s international broadcast facility in Kununurra
•  Appointed Ty Stakes as the regional director.