Radio Wimbi Meets the Community

Community radio provides a unique opportunity to engage and bring together different segments of a community around a common purpose. However, in order for that to occur, the community must become actively involved in the station, even at a project’s earliest stages. The Radio Wimbi project team is working hard with the distinct groups of the community of Pemba to ensure that this happens. It’s not an easy process since it’s the community that decides whether or not to participate, not the project!

Local residents draw a map of their community and highlight locations important to them.

The Radio Wimbi project team, led by project coordinator Narciso Zandamela and Raymundo Camaliere, the chairman of the Radio Wimbi local association, are using some simple but effective tools to strike up those conversations with community residents. The mapping tool helps residents identify important issues by drawing a map of their community on a blank piece of paper. They do it together as a group and highlight the elements of the community that are important to them. This generates a discussion about issues and concerns that matter most. These are applied to a second tool called the problem tree. One or more issues are placed on a separate sheet of paper so the residents can evaluate what’s causing the problem or issue. They also examine the consequences from this issue not being addressed. As they walk through this exercise, the community finds itself actively seeking solutions to its own problems.

The project team conducted its first session in the Paquete district, one of the more isolated communities within Pemba. After several meetings with community leaders, the team secured permission to conduct the exercises at the end of January 2012. In one of the community buildings adjacent to a medical clinic, several residents gathered to work through the exercises. Despite the rain outside, maps quickly covered the plastic tables as the residents started telling the team about their community. It didn’t take long for the conversations to start. Soon the issues rose to the surface. It became apparent there were some deep concerns about the relationship Paquete had with the rest of Pemba. One of the foundational concerns affecting the city is how isolated the different people groups feel from one another.

A drainage canal isolates the Paquete district from the rest of the city of Pemba

One problem that surfaced that morning was the lack of transportation for Paquete residents. Public transportation around Pemba is limited everywhere, but is non-existent in Paquete. The residents don’t have the financial capacity to pay for any taxi service. As a result drivers don’t come to the district so the residents have to walk, mostly uphill, to get to the town market. While several blamed city government for a lack of concern, some of the participants started to realize that residents themselves were also contributing to the problem with their own perceptions and attitudes. At the end of the session, one participant thanked the project team for facilitating the session. It was the first time anyone from outside Paquete had come to really listen to their problems and show their concern. This was a very positive step for Radio Wimbi.

Enthused by what they are learning, the project team is now working to conduct similar sessions in other sectors of the community. It’s not an easy process. Community leaders are understandably suspicious of a group coming around to ask questions. The team finds it difficult to secure permission to bring a group of residents together. Finding an appropriate time and date along with a venue where participants feel comfortable takes much time and effort. If Radio Wimbi is going to be effective at working within all the communities of Pemba, then these sessions are crucial before the station gets started.

Please pray for the project team as they work to conduct sessions in four other community districts in Pemba. Ask God to help them in their communications with local government officials to alleviate their fears and secure permission for the sessions. Several residents are asking about the station and when it will begin broadcasting. Yet, the project team knows that these conversations are crucial to helping the station start well in engaging the community. Pray that the team will be diligent and focused on completing these first sessions and then consolidating what they learn. This knowledge will be vital to the station’s programming strategy and efforts. The team has set an ambitious goal of completing the other four sessions by the end of February. Cooperation from the communities is vital in reaching that goal.

Renewing Wimbi Vision

The holiday season is behind us now. Nathan and Emily returned to the US so life picked up again in a hurry. My year started off with a quick visit to Feba in the UK to focus on the year ahead. Now it’s off to Pemba, Mozambique to encourage those working with the Radio Wimbi project.

Radio Wimbi local association will gather once again to help move the project forward

A key component of this next visit will be to review and consolidate the vision and direction for the radio station in Pemba with the local association. It’s been some time since some preliminary work was done. Much has changed since 2009 so we are planning a three-day workshop with the local association to review the vision and goals of the station in light of what we know today about the community. I’ll be working with Jan-|Erik Nyman of Ibra Media to help our partners learn about the tool of radio, how to use it effectively, and establish some parameters and goals for the design of the station. We’d appreciate your prayers in this process. Some exciting developments are unfolding with technical aspects of Radio Wimbi. The work to design the station, its transmission and studio systems is underway. One of the many challenges faced in community radio is the difficulty in securing broadcast equipment that works reliably in adverse conditions while still keeping the costs manageable. I’ve recently been in contact with Schweitzer Engineering Labs, a manufacturer of electric utility protection equipment in the US. They have agreed to donate an industrial grade computer system to Feba Radio. This system is rugged and reliable, designed to operate for ten years in many difficult conditions. We’ll be using this computer system as the primary broadcasting computer, playing out programs to air and also helping Feba technical personnel keep watch over the station remotely to address technical problems as they arise. The computer has now been ordered. Once it arrives, Graham Kimber, Feba’s development engineer in Africa, will be putting the entire system together. I will appreciate your prayers as I work with Narciso Zandamela, our project coordinator in Pemba. Progress has not been as far as we had hoped. We’ll be taking a closer look at our planning and identifying the important and critical tasks that Narciso needs to prioritize to keep the project on track. I should have more to report when I get back.

Resonate Releases 1st Recordings

Raurii Bray, Graham Salzwedal, Hilary Hammond & Bob Bartz form the acoustic band Resonate

While living in South Africa, I’ve had the opportunity to meet up with other musicians who also have a love for God and wish to express that through acoustic music. Through a variety of experiences and some encouragement, several of us joined together to start an acoustic band called Resonate. We’ve been playing together for a couple of years now, with a repertoire of worship music and compositions that I have written while living in Africa. The band focuses on naturally produced sounds and rhythms rather than relying heavily on electronic instruments.

Over the past few months, we’ve come together to record five of my compositions to share with our audience in South Africa as well as those I know in the US. Even though I’ve written the songs, the group itself made significant contributions to the arrangements. This initial release is a step toward a full album, depending on how well these songs are received.

While it’s taken some time, the EP collection is now available  on a variety of digital platforms. The collection can be downloaded digitally from distribution platforms such as iTunes or Amazon.com. Select any of the links in this post below to gain access to the album and samples of the songs.

The CD itself will also be available on CD Baby, a platform created for independent musicians. I’m waiting for the last of the artwork to arrive at the distribution center in Oregon. I’ll let you know when they become available. Select the same CD Baby link above to order the CD. If you have difficulty with any of these links or aren’t able to access what your looking to find, please drop me a note via e-mail or a comment on this blog posting. I’ll be happy to help you sort it out.

I am grateful for the support and encouragement I have received for my music ministry over the years as Barb and I have visited the US on home assignment. I trust these songs will help you build up your own relationship with God and draw you into a more intimate walk with Him.

Have a very enriching and joyful Christmas. May you welcome the new year with warmth and enthusiasm as you anticipate all God will do in the days ahead.

Feba Zimbabwe Struggles Continue

The pace of life is starting to slow here in southern Africa. It happens every year around this time as we approach December and enter the holiday season. For some, it is a welcome break from the business and pressures of life. For others, however, the slow-down can be a poignant reminder of a year that just has not met expectations. This has been the case for our ministry partners at Feba Zimbabwe. There were many hopes earlier this year that ministry activities would have picked up over the past few months, but developments have been painfully slow.

Feba Zimbabwe modified studio for music production

Feba Zimbabwe is struggling to maintain its financial solvency as it approaches the end of the year. While producing some devotional programs sponsored by a church group in South Africa and offering its studios for music production, the operation still finds it difficult to cover its expenses every month. There are several factors contributing to the struggle. Funds remain tight at Feba UK. As a result, the leadership in the UK decided to not grant any fund requests for the current fiscal year that started in October. Feba Zimbabwe submitted a proposal for starting a prison audio distribution project in the national prison network in the country, but this also failed to materialize. The rising costs of electricity and basic services, coupled with expenses from ongoing legal disputes have further drained their finances. The office in Harare was forced to give up their Internet access since they could no longer afford it. The water supply was cut off recently. I just received word this past week that the local utility disconnected the electricity to the offices due to lack of payment. There has not been money available to pay the lone employee, the national director, who has been working without pay since the new fiscal year started.

I travelled to Zimbabwe this past week to participate in the Feba Zimbabwe board meeting. I was one of four new members brought onto the board to help bolster the organization and bring fresh ideas of how we can keep the operation functioning as we look for new ministry opportunities. The board is looking for new sources of revenue from leasing various sections of the building including the main two story building as well as training rooms located at the back of the property. We’re attempting to bring some stability to the financial condition of the organization so that we can consider its future direction of ministry.

Please pray for the board members, especially those who live in Harare and are carrying some extra responsibilities to try to help the organization survive.:

• Pray for the relationship with the National Director as he is no longer receiving any salary for his services to the organization. A board sub-committee will be meeting this next week to draft an arrangement for him to continue with Feba.
• There are still some legal cases pending in which Feba Zimbabwe is involved, either as a plaintiff or defendant. Representation and court costs add a heavy burden to the financial stability. Pray that these cases, several of which have no basis, could be resolved quickly with minimal expense.
• Pray for new tenants to utilize some of the vacant offices on the property. As the lease contracts are negotiated, pray for sufficient income to cover the cost of services to the building and its ongoing maintenance.

I’m in close contact with the board leadership and providing counsel and advice as necessary. Please pray for wisdom and insight that stretches beyond the immediate problems and that I will be able to encourage the board as we struggle through this period of survival.

We remain thankful for all that God has provided. We’re grateful for the way God has supplied the needs of this ministry, and look to Him to guide us, particularly at this time of financial struggle in Zimbabwe.

 

Fresh Start for Radio Wimbi Project

I’ve often heard this African proverb quoted when discussing project work on the continent. While there are problems with both extremes, there is good reason to give heed to this principle:

If you want to travel fast, go alone
If you want to travel far, go together

Travelling together requires relationship. It takes time to position the right people in a project and nurture those relationships to develop so the project can go far. It’s taken us two years to find a suitable project coordinator, the point man on the ground, for the Radio Wimbi project in Pemba, Mozambique. It’s involved massive change for Radio Feba Mozambique, the Feba national association in the country to achieve this. Now that Narciso Zandamela has moved to Pemba, the project can start taking some new steps forward.

Now that Narciso has moved to Pemba in August, 2011, he faces the challenge of starting to build relationships with the local association formed to own the project and the station license. He also needs to build relationships within the community, not easily done when coming from the capital city, Maputo, at the opposite end of the country. So our first step was to give Narciso some tools he could use to engage and interact with the community.

New friends (Narciso in middle) explore community centered radio together

In September, Narciso and I travelled together to Indonesia where Feba and FEBC sponsored a workshop on how to develop community-centered radio stations. During the week-long seminar, Narciso learned the importance of involving and engaging the community in the radio station. Rather than making assumptions about what’s important in a community, a radio station gives the microphone away and let’s the community influence the conversation. To help open up the community, Narciso learned how to use the mapping exercise and the problem tree that would get the community talking and wrestling with their issues that impact them directly.

Upon returning to Pemba, Narciso started applying what he learned during the workshop. I visited him on site earlier this month. We met together with the local association who welcomed him as the project coordinator and agreed to work with him to start the radio station. Narciso went right to work, leading members of the association through the mapping exercise, where the members worked together to draw a map of Pemba, highlighting what was important to them. Narciso plans to conduct 10 more of these exercises with different community groups. Each mapping exercise will be followed up with a problem tree session. Pray for Narciso as he works to conduct these interactive sessions in Pemba over the next couple of months.

Graham Kimber & I introduce Narciso to Eric Dry (r.), another missionary in Mozambique

We also explored possible partnerships while in Pemba. Narciso is getting to know other ministries in Pemba and the surrounding region. One such missionary from another community in the province (shown on the left) is already producing local language programs for other community radio stations in the province. We’re looking forward to joining together with others like him to help reach the people in Pemba. Please pray for Narciso as he nurtures these relationships for mutual ministry.

Stay tuned for more developments. I’m in regular communication with Narciso about his progress and what he’s learning. Hopefully with the information he’s collecting, we’ll be able to gain a clearer understanding of the community of Pemba and how Radio Wimbi can best meet their needs.

Visiting Christ Bible Community in Manila Philippines

Sunday was one of praise and heartfelt encouragement for all that God has done through the years. I was so privileged to visit Christ Bible Community Church, a congregation that we helped start when we were living in the Philippines with FEBC. This church sprung up out of our first church in Manila, Metro Manila Bible Community, who wanted to see churches planted around the city. Since we were living on the north side at FEBC, we got involved with that ministry. Christ Bible Community got started in October 1991 and will be celebrating their 20th anniversary next month. Since I was passing through Manila during my Asian trip, the church invited me to share some music and God’s word during their morning worship service.

Bob meets with Pastors Jun, Michael, and Rudy

I was so encouraged to be met by many old friends who still fellowship at the church. They now have a more permanent facility where they have been for several years. It was exciting to see what God has been doing in all the lives of the core group that helped get the church started. I didn’t get an exact count but my guess there were more than 50 people at the service, many young people. Following the service, I had the opportunity to meet with three of the pastors to encourage them in their role of building up the believers. Not only is their youth ministry growing, but they have also started a daughter church in another part of the city with 25 members already.

I was reminded this morning just how faithful God has been in our ministry. Ate Edna, one of the church elders reminded me that we left the church in 1992 in order to help our children grow in their own relationships with God. Not only has He been faithful in our family, but He also honoured that decision by helping the church to continue to grow and develop. Today it has a vibrant ministry among several families in the northern part of the city. Please pray for pastors Rudy, Jun, and Michael as they engage with the members. Only Michael is employed at the church while Rudy and Jun have other jobs. Rudy even shared how God is leading him to start a Bible study at his workplace. The stories of God’s faithfulness moved me deeply throughout the morning. Once more, I’ve been shown how God grows His church, in His way and timing. Please share in my joy over what God continues to do in Manila, even in our absence!

Pulled in Different Directions

No matter how hard I’ve tried in the past, it is impossible to be in two places at once. This is an immutable fact no matter how much you might wish it were different. It’s times like these when I must learn to make priority decisions and choose what is best for the ministry at that particular time.

Such is the case with my travels in September. I’ve chosen, for the purpose of developing community radio in Southern Africa, to participate in a community radio workshop in Indonesia during the first two weeks of September. I’ll be joined at this conference by two colleagues from Africa who are becoming involved in community radio projects with Feba. The two gentlemen, Narciso Zandamela from Mozambique and Amos Phiri from Malawi, will be travelling with me from South Africa to Bali, Indonesia to meet with a number of other participants from around the Feba and FEBC world. Please pray for this workshop, sponsored by a partner organization Health Communication Radio (HCR) and for the time that I can spend with Narciso and Amos, developing our working relationships together during this time.

While this workshop is happening, the Africa by Radio network is sponsoring its biennial convention in Accra, Ghana. I was appointed to the planning committee for this convention earlier this year, but have pulled back considerably due to my change in plans. My heart’s desire is this convention will also be a success. Please pray for the rest of the steering committee who are leading the convention. Ask the Lord to make this a success for the many participants we hope will be able to participate. I would also appreciate your prayer for Dave Casement who will be chairing the technical track during the convention in my absence.

I would appreciate you keeping both of these events in your prayers over the next several weeks. I’ll be passing on further updates next month.

Project Coordinator Appointed for Radio Wimbi

One of our strategic radio projects in southern Africa is the development of a community FM radio station in the port city of Pemba in northern Mozambique. Radio Wimbi was conceived back in 2008 and yet progress so far has been slow. Pemba is a strategic city in the region, a gateway to development,with three different people groups living and working together.

Narciso Zandamela accepts Project Coordinator role for Radio Wimbi

One of the struggles slowing progress was finding the right person to lead this project in Pemba. It is critical to the success of the project that the project coordinator live in the community and is regarded as a local person. After much searching and struggles within Radio Feba Mozambique (Feba’s local partner in the country), a project coordinator has now been appointed. Narciso Zandamela, formerly the program director for Feba in Maputo, has agreed to relocate to Pemba and take on this important role.

Please pray for Narciso as he has a number of immediate challenges to assume this new role. He and his wife, Olga, are now in the process of moving to Pemba. They are now finalizing their affairs in Maputo. Narciso will move to Pemba on August 8 with Olga to follow about 3 months later. Narciso’s first task will be to get settled in Pemba, get acquainted with members of the local association, and start to interact and engage with the local community. I am planning to travel to Pemba later in October to work with Narciso on the detailed planning for developing the station.

In September, both Narciso and I will be visiting Indonesia to participate in a community radio workshop organized in part by Feba Radio. The purpose of the workshop is to introduce project managers like Narciso to the fundamental elements and issues in a community radio environment that are critical to a station’s success and acceptance in the community. Please pray this will be a valuable experience for both Narciso and me so we are better able to work together to shape Radio Wimbi into the station that will meet the needs of the people in Pemba.

Reflections from IMT 2011

Reflecting and connecting with God is a primary focus every morning at the Feba Radio IMT gathering

One of the many challenges of international radio is the sense of isolation I sometimes experience in the day-to-day life of ministry. While a part of Feba Radio’s International Ministry Team (IMT), I don’t have much interaction with the rest of the team. Most team members are based out of the Feba office in the UK, but I’m based in South Africa, the furthest point away. We are called to work together, although it’s not always easy to do. Practical teamwork requires a foundation of mutual encouragement and trust that can only develop when we relate to and engage with one another.

Once a year, we assemble together to build relationships and lay that foundation to help us work better together. In a quiet, refreshing setting of St. Cuthman’s in the UK, we met in May this year to listen together to God and work on Feba’s ministry strategy for its three regions (Africa, Asia, and the Middle East). The 7 – day conference consisted of regular times with God. We also worked on understanding how each of us can contribute our strengths to the team . We reviewed the overall strategy of Feba Radio and then met in break-out groups by region to draft ministry strategies unique to each, yet still aligned with the overall ministry direction of the organization. There was quite a bit of variety (see Feba UK update on IMT2011) which made for an engaging and helpful week together.

After I returned home, I started the process of budget preparation for the next fiscal year. I am now working with our national associations and project leaders in my region of southern Africa to prepare their requests for funding of ministry in the coming financial year that begins in October. This work is more than just numbers tallied in a spreadsheet. I need to gain clarity on the nature and fruitfulness of ministry, illustrating how the requested funding will help each project reach its goals and objectives. For several associations who have experienced extensive cutbacks last year, it won’t be an easy process. Please pray for:

• Feba Zimbabwe: With only the national director on staff, the board faces a challenging year of developing strategies and projects to reach out in Zimbabwe.
• Feba Mozambique: Ministry efforts are focusing on the northern part of the country. This is resulting in a major shift in resources, making the budgeting process more intense since so much has changed.
• Feba Malawi (Yao Project): With the ministry on the verge of applying for a community FM station license amidst increasing responses to its short-wave and FM programs, there are new requirements in each of these areas that need specific funding.

I’ll be working closely with each association over the next few days to submit the fund requests to Feba UK by the end of June. I’m travelling to Zimbabwe later this week to meet with the director and board to better understand their funding requirements.

Feba Zimbabwe Begins Recovery

Feba’s ministry in Zimbabwe has been experiencing years of difficult times. Under significant hardship and limited opportunities in media, the ministry struggles to provide a relevant and engaging content that impacts people living in the country. The economic conditions have led to a significant exodus of people from the country, leaving behind the disadvantaged to struggle and the committed who seek to make a difference.

In recent months, Feba Zimbabwe has had to face some difficult financial challenges. With 25% of the population considered Christian and 50% practising a mixture of Christianity and indigenous beliefs, the ministry was focused primarily on broadcasts to those who would call themselves Christian. The only avenue available was through the national broadcaster, who insisted on raising air-time rates so high that continuing to use their service was no longer viable. Cutbacks in funding in 2010 resulted in laying off all staff except the national director. Feba Zimbabwe found itself on the verge of closing its doors, but the leadership remains committed to re-focusing its ministry.

Kurai Mazonga, Feba Zimbabwe's national director, is seeking creative ways to share Christ with the people of Zimbabwe

Since the beginning of 2011, amid a variety of administrative challenges, Kurai Madzonga, the national director and only remaining employee, took some initial steps to continue ministry to the people inside and outside of Zimbabwe. With the help of another funding partner and Harare area pastors, Feba Zimbabwe launched a 5 minute devotional program on the national network at a reduced cost. The programs are prepared at Feba House, the studio facility in Harare. There are also other interested parties using the recording facility for special projects, providing some additional income. With the help of a local web developer, Feba Zimbabwe is also posting content on a new website  and its own Facebook page. A number of people, both in Zimbabwe and in other countries, have found this site and are accessing content locally produced at Feba Zimbabwe.

There is still much work to be done. The ministry is still trying to identify its primary audiences in the country, searching for those people groups who have not yet heard or been impacted by the gospel. Together with the local board, Kurai is also drafting a more comprehensive and focused strategy for renewing Feba Zimbabwe’s ministry in partnership with other churches and ministries active in the country.

There is even greater pressure on the ministry in the coming weeks as it is once again time to prepare budgets for the next fiscal year of operation. Not only must Feba Zimbabwe provide information regarding their expected expenses, but also a backdrop and context illustrating how these funds will help shape and equip the ministry to more effectively reach the more isolated and disadvantaged who have not yet responded to Jesus. Please pray for Kurai and the board as they work through this process in the coming weeks. The deadline for submission of these budget requests is June 30. Also pray that God will give me wisdom and discernment as I work with them through this process.