Lesotho is a rare country in its own right. It is not only one of the few mono-ethnic countries in Africa but also one of the few independent nation-state enclaves in the world. Furthermore, it claims the highest lowest point of any country on earth existing entirely above 1,000m (3,281ft), holding the nickname “The Kingdom in the Sky”. The name Lesotho roughly translates to "the land of the people who speak Sesotho”. This tiny kingdom, spanning just over 30,000 square kilometres, is home to around 2 million people, of which most are from the Basotho people group.

With a quarter of the population of Lesotho being HIV-positive, the country has the second-highest HIV prevalence rate in the world, after Eswatini. HIV has become one of the biggest barriers to development in the country.

TWR’s 2TWR’s 200,000-Watt Transmitter Brings Gospel to Nigeria and Surrounding Areas00,000-Watt Transmitter Brings Gospel to Nigeria and Surrounding Areas

CARY, N.C. (Jan. 30, 2020) – Think of this Saturday’s official launch of TWR’s Oasis broadcasts as an answer to the prayers of a Yoruba-speaking man who lives in turbulent northern Nigeria.

A couple of years ago, the man emailed TWR (also known as Trans World Radio) after listening to the world-renown Thru the Bible programme: “I really appreciate your programme, sir. The Lord will strengthen the ministry. Continue to pray for us in the north. We are facing terrible persecution here.”

TWR supporters and response ministries have been praying for people like this listener. And now expanded gospel programming that brings messages of encouragement, discipleship, reconciliation and hope will be able to reach all of this country known as the “giant of Africa.”

“It is our strong belief that Oasis, a wellspring of living waters given freely to all who thirst, will be a place of restoration to the languishing souls of this great nation,” said Abdoulaye Sangho, TWR’s international director for West Africa. “Through its transmission of the pure Word of God, not only will millions have the opportunity to hear God speak in their own heart languages, but also the disillusioned pilgrim will find hope again.”

For many years TWR has broadcast into Nigeria, which is ideologically divided into a largely Muslim north and largely Christian south. With its official start date of Feb. 1, 2020, the 200,000-watt Oasis transmitter newly installed at TWR’s West Africa Transmitting Station (WATS) will soon cover the entire country and several surrounding areas, with a strong, clear AM signal.

Forty-five years to this day, on 1 November 1974,  the first 25,000-watt short wave transmitter was switched on in the secluded location just outside of Manzini, Swaziland, now Eswatini. The joy and excitement brought about by this milestone was overwhelming as TWR launched its fourth international transmitting site. The biggest blank spot on the missionary radio map was covered at last!

Programmes went out in English, Afrikaans, German, Zulu, and Portuguese throughout sub-Saharan Africa. The Gospel reached ears that had never heard its sweetness before. Four letters were received from people who had heard the first broadcast and had decided to follow Christ as their Saviour. God was already at work in this small, humble beginning.

One of the key assets placed into the hands of TWR is our broadcast platforms. With these platforms like radio, satellite and digital online outlets we are able to provide a comprehensive reach to even the hard-to-reach areas of the African continent.

Over the last twenty years, the media landscape in South Africa as a comparatively affluent country in Africa has experienced tremendous growth in the diversity and number of mass media distribution platforms. Listeners in urban areas now have a wealth of choices: medium wave and FM radio are popular with our South African listeners as well as online and satellite-delivered services such as our DSTV audio channel. People are still accessing powerful Gospel programs on TWR but in South Africa, mostly using platforms other than shortwave.