Christian Media Networking the Nations
On March 4, the City & Town Council Elections were held throughout the country of Belize and Lighthouse Christian Radio was one of the four Christian Radio stations to join in with Plus TV, the nation's first and only Christian Television Station, to broadcast the live election results for all Districts. This simulcast was the first of its kind with streaming on the internet for up to the minute results from correspondents in each district. Dennis and Simon were broadcasting from the studio while I was at the Polling Area giving current results and interviewing the candidates for the various seats. Many were surprised to hear that the Christian Media was doing a nationwide coverage of the election and many comments were made later that it was the most professional and unbiased coverage heard. The re-elected Mayoress of San Pedro Town went out of her way to let me know that she heard the election results on Lighthouse Christian Radio and that is when she realized that she had won another term. We thank the Lord for allowing us to be apart of this history making event and most importantly that the Christian Media are working together and being an effective witness and example. Please pray for one of my heart's desires for many years now is to see a Fellowship of Christians in media develop in the country of Belize. I've shared that vision with many at last months NRB Convention and will continue to pray that it would be a reality someday soon.Galcom Fixed-tuned Radios:
As many of you know, we have received another shipment of donated solar powered, fixed tuned (fixed only to our frequency) radios from Galcom International, Ontario, Canada. We have distributed several hundreds of these radios to those who do not have a radio or couldn't afford one. One of our main target has been Night Watchmen and Security Guards who are have to be awake during the late nights and early morning hours. I would like to get one of these radios in the hands of every security guard and watchman on the island so that they can hear the Word and receive the ministry of comfort and encouragement during those lonely hours. We have been so blessed to hear reports from many on how much the radios have blessed their lives. Please pray that God would continue to use this tool to further His work in the hearts of those who need to hear the gospel and get strengthen in their walk.
Hearing the Word in their Language:
The official language of Belize is English yet many from various Central American countries and many Belizeans of Spanish origins cannot speak English or are bi-lingual. I've learn the importance of people hearing God's Word in their heart's language and have been concerned over the years of not adequately meeting the needs of our Spanish speaking brothers and sisters in San Pedro Town and other parts of the country of Belize. After much praying about this challenge and having many Spanish and Bi-lingual listeners constantly asking for more Spanish music and teaching programs so we decided to make some changes. At the same time a brother and good friend from a nearby Spanish Church approached me about this need and wanted to be available to help us, so he has been coming in and learning the operations of the radio station. Once trained, he will be announcer for our Spanish Segment which will be 4 hours Spanish music and teaching programs which includes translated teaching programs of Dr David Jeremiah, Pastor Skip Heitzig, Pastor Jamie Semen and Pastor Chuck Smith. We are currently airing the Spanish teaching programs of Pastor Carlos Bautista, El Salvador along with Focus on the Family, Guidelines and Unshackled in Spanish. It is my prayer that one day we will be able to get another radio station which would be all Spanish programs as God has truly given me a heart for my Spanish speaking brethren. Please pray for the Spanish Segment of broadcasting on Lighthouse Christian Radio and for Julio who will be co-laboring with us in this area!
We also have a weekend teaching program in the Garifuna language as there's many Garifunas living on the island. The program is from Honduras and we have received reports from listeners who are enjoying hearing the Word in their language. We are also in the process of training a sister in the Lord who is Garifuna and will be volunteering and work alongside of us to another people group in our listening audience. We are so grateful for the answer to prayers in bringing these volunteers to us!
Impacting, Inspiring and Educating Students in San Pedro Town:
Baron Batch, linebacker for Texas Tech and Brandon Watson, Student Ministry pastor from Lubbock, Texas spent a few days visiting students in the Roman Catholic Primary School and San Pedro High School sharing on ‘Choices' and gave his testimony about how Christ changed his life and gave him strength to make life's choices. The team that came with them held an evening in Central Park of face painting and making balloon- animals as they shared God's love with the many children who flocked to park It gave us a great opportunity to distribute the Galcom Fixed-tuned Radios to many families and shared about Lighthouse Christian Radio Ministry. I was surprised by the amount of people who still were not aware that we were only a few blocks away from the Park, I think it's time we get a sign for the Radio Station.
We have hosted 2 students from St. Peter's Jr. College for 2 weeks of internship and community service. Both students learned about the ministry and assisted us in a lot of daily duties around the station. They participated in our Morning Devotion and it is hope and prayers that we would inspire them in their walk with the Lord and provide an opportunity for them to learn and consider Christian Media. One of the students was already a regular listener and always wanted to learn how we operated so he was so blessed by the time he spent with us and is planning to volunteer in the future. We will be receiving 2 more Academic students from the San Pedro High School over the Easter vacation. Please pray that God would touch their lives as they work with us and that Simon and Dennis would be a witness of Christ to them as they learn about our operations.
Completed Projects around the Lighthouse:
With the increase of crime on the island, we joined the Landlord of the building in securing the third floor where the radio station ministry is located by framing and enclosing the security doors and installing a door bell. Since we host many in our Guest Apartment as well as our Staff Apartments we felt is necessary to better secure all that God has blessed us with. We have also installed a clothesline on the roof of the building as the old one was falling apart. Yes, we line dry our clothes which doesn't take very long on a sunny day on Ambergris Caye. Our next project is to install our Generator so we will be able to continue broadcasting when there are ‘black-outs'. We will literally, as our motto states, ‘shining the Light in darkness'. We thank the Lord for providing the funds for all of the needed projects around The Lighthouse and also very grateful for those of you who has donated toward these and other projects. Thank you very much!