Volume 7 | Number 2
WAVELENGTH
Spring 2018 | woh.org
In This Issue: • Out of the Ashes • Church at a Crossroads • Remembering Paul Hostetter • In Memoriam
WORDS
HOPE OF
Good News. No Boundaries.
A WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT be
in
the
You will also see a list of memorial names in this issue.
mirror
of
the
These too tell a story of hope, because these dear saints and
2018 calendar, but we are
their loved ones made Words of Hope part of their lasting
resurrection people every
legacy so that others might become Easter people, too.
day. We have, as Psalm 78:7
The story of one of those whom we have lost to this life,
says, “set our hope in God.”
Paul Hostetter, will particularly inspire you. His buoyant
When a rock climber sets
faith and joyful hope were always a great encouragement
the knot in the rope and
to our Words of Hope family.
Easter rearview
may
begins to climb, he does not look back or let momentary
How about you? Where does your day find you? I am
obstacles derail the journey. If the end of the rope is set,
praying that you live today as one whose hope is set in God.
he is secure, knowing the joy of the end will one day come.
Peter testifies to it this way: “[God] has caused us to be born again into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus
This edition of the Wavelength is full of stories of people
Christ from the dead.” (1 Peter 1:3)
who set their hope in God. You will read about a stunning rebuilding effort in Niger. Our God has truly done great
Living in hope with you,
things out of the fires that consumed church buildings in that country not long ago. Bricks and mortar were destroyed, but nothing can destroy the Easter hope of God’s people.
WAVELENGTH Volume 7 | Number 2 WAVELENGTH is published quarterly by Words of Hope, an international media ministry working to build the church throughout the world. Written by Megan Nollet. Designed by Claudia Elzinga. All photos are by staff and volunteers of Words of Hope unless otherwise noted. Specific names may be changed to protect our listeners. Copyright 2018 by Words of Hope. Words of Hope 700 Ball Ave NE Grand Rapids, MI 49503 1-616-459-6181 www.woh.org
2 | WAVELENGTH • Spring 2018
Jon Opgenorth
NEWS BRIEFS Internet Radio for Iran Iran is a very difficult place to share the gospel. Currently, less than one percent of the population in this Middle Eastern country is Christian. What’s more, Muslim-background converts to Christianity risk imprisonment or even death if their beliefs are made public. All evangelical churches have been forced to close, and Bibles may not be published. For twenty years, Words of Hope has been able to send the good news about Jesus inside the country of Iran via radio waves, which are very difficult for the government to intercept. Now, increasingly, Internet is providing even more ways to contact individuals inside Iran without alerting government suspicion. While Words of Hope satellite radio broadcasts into the country will continue, Internet radio broadcasting will be launched this year as well. The online service will allow Words of Hope to broadcast programming 24 hours per day, but even more importantly, it will provide valuable listenership metrics that will help us shape our content creation for the future. Words of Hope is actively expanding its presence on other social media networks to connect with Iranian listeners as well. The team currently receives as many as 75 messages per day from those who are seeking to learn more about Jesus Christ.
Listener Survey in Turkey The Radio Listening Services Organization in Turkey is conducting a survey for Words of Hope’s radio station partner, Shema Media Group. So far, the group has submitted a report on data gathered in the city of Ankara. The surveyors placed phone calls to a randomized grouping of 3,000 people living in Ankara and asked about their media habits. The results of the survey have shown that at least two thirds of the people contacted listen to our radio station on a daily basis! The surveyors were surprised by this result, since the broadcasts are specifically Christian in the context of a predominantly Muslim population. These results may also be slightly skewed by the fact that Turkish Muslims are often reluctant to admit to listening to Christian programming. Perhaps even more are tuning in than we know! Pray with us that as more and more people listen to the broadcasts, God’s Spirit will move in their hearts to commit their lives to him.
Training for Women in India The Words of Hope facility in Lohardaga, India provides media ministry that reaches the northern parts of the country. The Lohardaga district is home to some of the poorest in India, with individuals there experiencing a nearly 79% unemployment rate. The majority of people in Lohardaga who can work earn less than $375 per year. Women are particularly vulnerable, with an average literacy rate of merely 6%. Most women who do have jobs can only perform menial labor. But today, there is new hope for the women of Lohardaga. Thanks to your support, Words of Hope has been able to refit one of the rooms in its Lohardaga center to house ten sewing machines. We have employed a sewing trainer, and can now begin equipping local women with new sewing skills. The project has been dedicated, and the first group of women has begun training. Good seamstresses in India can earn $200 to $300 per month. Please join us in praying for these women. Pray that Christ’s love will shine through the ministry and that the community of Lohardaga will be blessed.
WAVELENGTH • Spring 2018 | 3
You are helping to rebuild the churches in Niger Rev. Soumaila Labo, pastor of Boukoki II Church, stands outside his burnt church building in Niamey, Niger. ABOVE:
BELOW: Boukoki II Church after Muslim protesters looted and set fire to the building. PAGE 5: The rebuilt Boukoki II Church.
Issaka knew that something was wrong.
The smell of smoke can carry far with the wind, and while he was traveling home, a phone call from a friend warned him that churches throughout the country of Niger were being set on fire by protesters. Authorities blocked entry into his hometown for safety, so Issaka had to wait for hours as the worry mounted inside him. His pastor’s family had been living inside their church building. Had they escaped? And what about his own home and family? Issaka prayed that everyone was safe. At 5:00 PM on January 17, 2015, Issaka was finally allowed to enter his city. Thankfully, his own house and family had been spared and his pastor’s family had not been harmed either. But their church had been burned down, and all of the pastor’s belongings had been either stolen or destroyed in the blaze. A total of 80 Christian churches and homes
Muslim gunmen assassinated contributors to the French magazine for depicting images of the prophet Muhammed. Marches were organized around the world to protest what the gunmen had done. People organized in Niger as well, but here Muslims gathered to voice their continued anger over the portrayal of their prophet. On January 17, some of the Muslim protesters in Niger lashed out against Christians, who are an extreme minority in the country. In a shockingly organized sweep, churches and Christian homes around the country were looted and set ablaze. The world was waiting to see how the Christians in Niger would respond to these
attacks. Soon, Words of Hope’s producer Sani Nomaou gave a statement that ended up being aired on BBC radio. “We forgive them,” Sani urged. “Our God is a God of peace.”
were burned throughout the country of Niger
that day. The tragedy occurred in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo shooting, in which two
The courage and grace that Sani extended over the radio spread throughout the church
communities in Niger. Issaka explains that a letter was sent out to all of the congregations in the country. “This is a time of persecution,” the letter stated. “But it is also an opportunity to share the gospel with people.” Thanks to your support, the churches in Niger were able to increase their broadcast time following the church burnings. They featured live broadcasts of fearless gospel preaching. In a united show of bravery, none of the churches cancelled their services for the following weekend. Their gatherings were improvised—some congregations meeting under the shade of trees, some setting temporary shelters, but all gathering to worship the Lord. Many
Muslims
in
Niger
were
overwhelmed by the response of the
Christian church broadcast over the radio. Some called in, weeping, expressing their sadness that anyone of their faith would do this to Christians. Many apologies were offered. Some Muslim neighbors offered to help rebuild the churches that had been destroyed. Most surprising of all, some of the Muslims who had been involved in looting church compounds returned the items they had stolen. “These events have brought our Muslim brothers and sisters closer to us,” shares Issaka. “They are asking for forgiveness
"By making the statement saying that they forgave, the Christian showed a proof of their faith that consists in loving one’s neighbor. They have shown a greatness of spirit above all this. The faith they have in God made them forgive, and this really touched us. I think that made the church of Niger greater. For me and my family, although we are not Christians, we feel united with Christians, like brothers with them. As neighbors, we have seen the work of rebuilding the church, from its beginning to its end. We are really impressed by the work done here. I even asked the pastor to invite us the day of the inauguration of the new church." —Aboubacar Harouna, Muslim neighbor
and even showing compassion to the church of Niger.” Issaka’s church has a prison fellowship that began ministering to inmates who had been arrested for taking part in the arson. In response, 26 of the rioters wrote a long letter to the churches expressing their repentance. “Among Christians,” Issaka explains, “what happened is a kind of revival. Those who were not really coming to church regularly have now started to become stronger in their faith. Among non-Christians, we are now having many people who are understanding who Christ is through the forgiveness statement of the church. Many are accepting Christ and understanding his message for the world.” In the past, the church of Niger tried to isolate itself—partly for survival. The
country is, after all, 97% Muslim. But as church leaders began rebuilding efforts, they realized that this was an opportunity to also rebuild relationships with Muslims living in their communities. The question was not, ‘“how could their churches be safer?” but rather, “how could they get to know their Muslim neighbors better?” “Now we are thinking about all the activities that can bring us together, not isolate us from one another,” says Issaka. “We want to live a better life with them and have the opportunity to continue sharing the gospel of Jesus among them.” Three years after the riots, Issaka’s church, and many others throughout the country, have been rebuilt. “We made a plan,” he says. “We designed a new church that we expected to complete in twenty years. But by God’s grace, we now have a brand new building that is even bigger than we were expecting. It’s amazing. The Lord is great, and the Lord is faithful.” Today, Issaka and his family gather freely to worship in their new church, which is visible from a long ways away. We give thanks with Issaka, that total church membership throughout Niger is growing, and that the forgiveness made possible through Christ is continuing to change lives.
WAVELENGTH • Spring 2018 | 5
long served as a crossroads for people attempting to find transport to Europe.
CHURCH AT A
CROSSROADS In the country of Niger, Words of Hope partners with the Evangelical Church of Niger, or EERN, to carry out media ministry. The EERN is working to plant 52 new churches in Niger by the year 2020. The EERN sees Christian radio as the key to their church planting strategy. As the small indigenous Christian population of Niger seeks to expand its influence, radio is going where the church is not yet physically present. After Christian radio programs have been aired for some time in a city, an EERN pastor is sent to follow up with those who have listened to the programs. The pastors support new converts and lead them toward a path of discipleship. One particularly hard place to plant churches is in the city of Agadez, located in central Niger. Agadez is an ancient city, home to many different ethnic groups. It is listed as a World Heritage site, with buildings constructed out of red earth, and billowing Sahara sand outside its city limits. Agadez has
Many of the inhabitants of Agadez face poverty. It is a young city in terms of the population—the median age is below fifteen years of age. Education here is hard to come by; schools are few and far between; and the literacy rate falls well below the already low national average of 29%. In the midst of these challenging conditions, Words of Hope producer Rev. Sani Nomaou and his family are working to establish the very first EERN church plant in the city. In keeping with the larger strategy of the EERN, Sani plans to begin by sharing the gospel over radio. He is coordinating the production of broadcasts in three different languages that will air on multiple FM stations throughout the city. Sani explains that radio remains a very popular media tool in Niger, especially for the nomadic people who make their way through the city. People often carry radios with them as they travel. Sani also plans to address the education deficit in the city by setting up a schooling center in the new church where nomadic children can learn to read. “We need prayer,” says Sani. “Pray that God will open the eyes of the people of Niger to see the truth. May the Holy Spirit move mightily in Agadez in the days to come.”
TOP LEFT: Rev. Sani Nomaou, Words of Hope producer. BOTTOM LEFT: The plans for the first EERN church in the city of Agadez. ABOVE: Breaking ground for the new church building.
Writer, gardener, editor, missionary. Pastor, counselor, professor, friend. Paul Hostetter was many things during his lifetime, but in every adventure he remained a faithful servant to Jesus Christ. Paul came to Words of Hope in his “retirement years,” having already expended enough energies in kingdom service to justify more than a little relaxation. But Paul found working at Words of Hope “to be energizing, demanding, exciting, gratifying, and a wonderful alternative to the leisure of retirement.” He began at Words of Hope in 1995. Paul had spent much of his life doing missionary work in a variety of contexts, and was acutely aware of the importance of words and culture when it came to sharing the gospel message. With great care, Paul wrote “Producer Message Notes” to accompany the original English messages to be translated by Words of Hope producers overseas. Paul worked hard to distill the core meaning and values from each English message, then restate it in simpler words that were easier for non-native English speakers to translate and apply in their own contexts. Paul also edited the Words of Hope daily devotional, and wrote resources like the book, “Basic Messages of Hope,” which provided content for many radio programs. “Basic Messages of Hope” relayed core Christian beliefs written in a simple English narrative form. Paul not only gave years of his service to Words of Hope, he donated money and volunteered time to support the cause as well. An avid gardener, he tended a large pumpkin patch in his “God’s Acre,” Paul and Dorothy Hostetter donating the proceeds of the harvest to the spread of the gospel. Even in dying to this life, Paul expressed generosity, asking that donations be made to Words of Hope in his memory. While at Words of Hope, Paul wrote: “The goal of our ministry of words is to turn on spiritual lights in a darkening world. We work in the Word, the Bible, and with Jesus, the Light, to the end that people encounter God for themselves. God is the end; our words are not. But the words we use are the instruments God has chosen to let the world know of his love and transforming Spirit.” Paul is very much missed at Words of Hope, but the countless individuals who were introduced to Christ through Paul’s hard work and generosity bear testament to his legacy. We hold fast to the truth that for Paul, death is not his end, but through Christ is a glorious beginning.
WAVELENGTH • Spring 2018 | 7
Amplify Your Voice through Words of Hope Every day, your gifts are helping us to reach more people with the saving gospel of Jesus Christ. But what if there were a way for your gifts to the ministry to continue giving for years to come? What if you could be sure that future generations would receive the same chance to hear of God’s grace? The David M. Bast Mission Fund was established to provide an income source for future ministry efforts. The fund receives all bequest income from donor estates as well as specially designated David M. Bast Mission Fund gifts. Gifts deposited into this fund are prudently invested so as to provide security
and a fair rate of return. Each year, a portion of the current fund balance is used to further Words of Hope outreach into the hard places. This means that as your gifts increase in value over time, they provide stability and growth potential for the ministry. If you would like to learn more about including Words of Hope in your estate planning, please contact Development Director Todd Schuiling at todd.schuiling@woh.org. If you would like to make a one-time gift to the David M. Bast Mission Fund, either individually or in memory of a loved one, simply designate the fund on the memo line of your check or in an accompanying note.
In the past year, Words of Hope was blessed to receive memorial gifts and bequests in remembrance of: Peter Begeman Alesandro & Allettia Bellafronte Jessie Boersma Janice Bonomo-Lamont Irwin Brink Helen Brownson Jack Cooper Robert & June Courter John & Jane Damon Gerard DeLoof Marian Elenbaas Henry Elgersma Benjamin Fackler Gordon & Marjorie Gezon Diane Giese Lavina Hoekstra Paul & Dorothy Hostetter Lois Huizenga Ann Iverson Arloa Jansma
Walter & Edna Johnson Diane Kelly Preston Kemperman Wayne Kiel James Koesema Milton Koets George & Cornelia Kotman Alvin & Lillian Kraker Nellie Labotz Sybren Lautenbach Elsie Maas Sherilyn McDonald Edna McGill Will McLaurin Jr. Stephen Mitchell Naoma Morgan Louis Murray John Myaard Donald Pyle John Reitsema
Anne Root Harold Sankey Herbert Schuiling Clarence & Pearl Sissing Robert Termaat Ramona Thaler Lucille Toren Donald VanArk Harriet VanFarowe Raymond VanHeukelom Gordon & Mildred VanOostenburg Barbara VanderHart Phyllis VanderWeele Jack VanderWilt Robert Veldman Carol Verhagen Joan VerSteeg Edward & Anne Viening Arnold Visser Orval Winterboer
These generous gifts are helping to build the church in the hard places of the world.