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.

NURTURING THEM

Addressing the plight of these children, RiverCross officially became a ministry of TWR (Trans World Radio) in January 2015. The relationship with TWR has given Rivercross access to 371 global staff, 230 languages, and 2000 broadcast outlets, to use audio drama to help train caregivers of sexually exploited children in Africa and beyond.

Cindy Finley, the Global Ministry Director for RiverCross, says the ministry builds bridges of hope for the world's vulnerable children, helping them to go from unwanted and alone to feeling treasured. “Our strategy to bring healing to traumatised, vulnerable children are a two-fold approach,” says Cindy. Holding Esther, an audio drama series, was developed as a pilot project to train orphan caregivers in Zambia on how to protect children from further abuse and facilitate their healing. Caregivers in these communities usualy are extended family, local church members, or even local women in the community; adults who often do not know how to help children cope with the trauma they endured. Holding Esther equips caregivers with biblical trauma healing.

For an effective production, RiverCross brought together a team of experts in child development, human trafficking, trauma care and related fields to guide the development of the drama and assure the validity and effectiveness of its message. “We already know of perpetrators arrested because of Holding Esther, and instances of healing in Zambian communities have taken place,” Cindy said.

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.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:16 that we are to let our light SHINE before others so that God can be glorified, and that is what SHINE Africa is all about – glorifying God!

Lauren Libby, President and CEO of TWR, will once again serve as one of the on-air presenters during the broadcast event. He will be joined for the live broadcasts by TWR Chief Content Officer, Jon Fuglar from the US, and TWR Africa’s well loved 100% Worship presenters Unathi Sithole, Thulani Mdletshe and Marinus Geyser.

While Mozambique was still reeling from the impact of Cyclone Idai, disaster struck again in the form of Cyclone Kenneth.The death toll in Mozambique is expected to rise as aid agencies try to reach more areas affected by cyclones.

DISASTER

Cholera cases have been confirmed in northern Mozambique following the floods that battered the country. Cyclone Kenneth made landfall in northern Cabo Delgado province packing winds up to 220 kilometres per hour - hitting a region that has not experienced a tropical cyclone in the modern era. “It killed at least 41 people, with some 226 000 affected, destroyed thousands of homes and wrecked water supply systems,” provincial authorities said.

BRINGING HOPE

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.