BIBLE STUDY BECOMES COMMUNITY EVENT
Much of the world knows the acclaimed Thru the Bible program created by the late Dr. J. Vernon McGee as a half hour of rock-solid Bible teaching that airs over the radio. In the West African country of Ghana, however, the daily Thru the Bible broadcast has been transformed into a three-hour community event. And it’s a community event that takes place before most people even crawl out of bed – from 3 to 6 a.m.! This theological, social, and even fun and slightly competitive phenomenon is largely due to the efforts of Collins Boadi, a radio pastor at the Oyerapa FM station in Kumasi.
Boadi built the daily production around the Twi-language version of Dr. McGee’s comprehensive series of Bible studies. Over a 43-year partnership with the Thru the Bible ministry, TWR has translated, broadcast and distributed the popular program to local stations in more than 100 languages. The program is also widely and affectionately known as TTB. The radio pastor said he fell in love with the TWR ministry and became involved with airing Bible Mu Nante, which is Twi for Bible Walk, in 2014.
“One of the greatest influences in my life is the TTB program,” said Boadi, who has been involved in the radio industry for the past decade. In addition to the quality of TTB itself, Boadi’s passion directly accounts for the success of the broadcast in this part of Ghana. He doesn’t simply air TTB; he transformed his unique program that wraps around TTB into a Bibleschool series followed by a time of fellowship. The overall program is called Ehan Bi Apue, or The Light Has Shone.
The Oyerepa FM Facebook page streams the live program, including the subsequent Bible quiz and interactive session. The love for the program is evident in that thousands of Twi speakers in Kumasi are awake every day from 3 to 6 a.m., following the live streaming on Facebook. It has created an inspiring sense of
Photos contributed by TWR Africa community event Bible studybecomes community among the listeners, who phone in from all over the city and post their comments on Facebook and WhatsApp.
Boadi serves as head pastor of the Ghana branch of Kingdom Temple International in Kumasi. He is married to Gladis Boadi, and they have five children.
The 43-year-old evangelist said he accepted Christ at age 7 and has served the Lord Jesus ever since.
“I started to preach in schools at the age of 9 with a friend and brother, Godfred Adomako. When I was 15 years old, we started to preach at market centers. We continued preaching in schools and markets until I traveled outside Ghana at the age of 27. When I returned two years later, we continued.”
In our society today, many children are facing physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. They simply grow up, not being raised as they deserve, such, that even if they are taken in by loving caregivers, their hearts need healing.
TWR’s SHINE Africa event, combining on-air conversation, prayer, testimonials and fundraising will again be on air LIVE next week Tuesday through Thursday, 11-13 June 2019. Last year’s inaugural event wrapped up in celebration mode, with people responding generously. This annual event represents a media-platform bonanza, with radio feeds going out over FM, shortwave, satellite and digital outlets. Listeners will get an opportunity to call and tell their stories, express their appreciation for gospel broadcasting and, in many cases, pledge financial support for the ministry. It will be a great time of on-air sharing and praying and listeners are invited to participate generously in the ministry opportunities that TWR Africa is involved in.
Donations of blankets, non-perishable foods, money and other items were collected by TWR Women of Hope during a Speaking Hope to Women event hosted at the TWR Africa Support Services offices in Croydon, South Africa. At this event, Dimpho Molomo spoke on ‘Recognizing the voice of God’ while Gospel singer, Bonnie Jean Masson shared her testimony and led in worship. “Continue praying for those affected and that the TWR programmes will touch many lives and give people encouragement and hope as they tune in,” said TWR Women of Hope National Coordinator - South Africa, Lyn Burnett, while thanking everyone for the donations received at the event “You have shown us your giving hearts! A big thank you for all the donations of clothes, blankets and food for Mozambique,” she added.