Radio is a powerful medium in Africa. There
are only a handful of high power broadcasters reaching the rural
communities of Africa. (Rural communities make up 61% of the population
in Africa.) When those in rural areas are able to hear the Gospel
and biblical teaching, especially in their heart language, it can
be very impactful.
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Trans World Radio (TWR) is an international Christian
broadcaster with the goal of aiding the church to make disciples
by sharing the Gospel and teaching the Bible via Radio. TWR operates
a 100,000-watt AM transmitter outside of Parakou, Benin. This transmitter
covers a large portion of West Africa (Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana,
Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger and Togo).
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There is a potential audience of 194.5 million people
in range of the Benin transmitter. Of these 194.5 million, 45.5
million are unreached. An unreached people group is where there
is no indigenous community of believing Christians with adequate
numbers and resources to evangelize this people group without requiring
outside (cross-cultural) assistance. Currently TWR is broadcasting
in 19 different languages from Benin and is working toward adding
more languages.
The chart below summarizes the languages that are
currently being broadcast from Benin.
LANGUAGE |
SUMMARY |
Baoule |
The largest ethnic group in Côte d’Ivoire, a mixture
of traditional religion, Christianity and Islam |
Bariba |
A people group in central Benin that has a mixture of traditional
religion, Christianity and Islam |
Dendi |
The most unreached Islamic people group
in Benin located in northern Benin and southwest Niger |
Ditamari |
A small ethnic group on the Benin-Togo border—the primary
religion is Islam. |
English |
English is the official language of Nigeria (the most populous
country in Africa) and of Ghana. |
Ewe |
An ethnic group that has speakers in seven countries across
West Africa with a mixture of traditional religion and Christianity |
Fon |
Fon speakers are mostly located in the southern part of Benin
with a mixture of Voodoo and Christianity. |
French |
French is the official language across most of West Africa.
The two major exceptions are Nigeria and Ghana. |
Fulfulde |
A large Islamic people group throughout West Africa |
Hausa |
The largest unreached Islamic people group in West Africa—most
Hausa speakers are located in Nigeria. |
Igbo |
A Christian and traditional religion people group in Nigeria |
Ife |
The Ife are located throughout Benin, Togo and Ghana and consist
of traditional religion, Christianity and Islam. |
Kanuri |
An Islamic people group in Nigeria |
Lokpa |
A small people group located in Benin and Togo that has traditional
religion and Christianity |
Moore |
A large people group in Burkina Faso made up of Christianity,
Islam and traditional religion |
Pulaar |
An Islamic people group in Senegal |
Songhaï |
A small Islamic people group located in Burkina Faso and Mali |
Twi |
A people group of Togo holding to traditional religion and
Christianity |
Yoruba |
A large people group in Nigeria with a worldwide diaspora
consisting of traditional religion, Christianity and Islam |
Note: Precision in people groups
and language can be a difficult task, especially in Africa. For
example: Ibo is commonly used in Benin rather than Igbo. Another
example, the language Fulfulde is spoken by the people group Fulani.
This difficulty is further complicated by different dialects and
cultures amongst one language. For example, there are seven different
dialects of Fulfulde. While one dialect may understand the dialect
there can be very significant culture differences and tensions between
these different dialects.
Main Sources:
http://www.joshuaproject.net/languages.php, http://www.ethnologue.com
and personal research by Roland Paul Cox.
Other Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org
Paul
is the director and engineer of the TWR Benin transmitting
station. In addition to all the technical responsibilities
of ensuring that broadcasts are aired without problems, Paul
also works on developing the Benin staff to increase their
effectiveness and to develop them for future leadership. Donna
helps with TWR hostessing for Benin and works with Parakou
Christian School, a small home schooling co-op that the Cox
children attend. |
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Mission
Statement:
The purpose of Trans World Radio is to assist the church to
fulfill the command of Jesus Christ to make disciples of all
peoples, and to do so by using and making available mass media
to:
•
proclaim the gospel of salvation to as many people as possible.
• instruct believers in
biblical doctrine and daily Christlike living.
• model our message through
our corporate and cooperative relationships.
Vision
Statement:
To reach the world for Christ by mass media
so that lasting fruit is produced.
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