Celebrations Abound

The end of every year brings a bit of a pause to many of our normal routines. It also brings a host of other activities that require our attention. Any one of them can distract us from the celebrations at hand. So it’s important to enjoy the moments that come our way. So far, the remaining weeks of 2019 have been special for our family in a variety of ways.

Nathan and Anna mingle sand of different colors to represent their lives coming together.

We were so blessed to be part of a very special family celebration earlier this month in Florida. Our son, Nathan and his lovely bride, Anna, pledged themselves to one another in marriage on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean on a sunny afternoon in early December. We are glad to welcome Anna into our family as another daughter in the mix. We are likewise thrilled with this blessing God has granted to both of them as they journey together with Him. Several members of our immediate and extended families joined us for the event, which made it even that much more special for us all.

Travel can have its own set of challenges, especially following three months of journeys that took me to Africa and South Asia. Somewhere along the way, I picked up a nasty little digestive bug that would regularly come around to disrupt my day. Most recently, while in California for Thanksgiving, it caught up with me again. This started a process of unfruitful visits to clinics and ERs but ultimately uncovered the culprit. I am now on the mend after completing the prescribed treatment on the proper medication.

So we are now fully into the Christmas holiday season, planning to celebrate in North Dakota for what promises to be a truly white Christmas. We’re adapting to the chill that we don’t experience in Indonesia, but the warmth of time with family should compensate. Following the holidays, we will begin our visits with supporters around the upper midwest. Right now, our schedule of Sunday church visits in early 2020 looks like this:

• December 21: Valley View Heights Christmas Concert – 2:00 PM in Bismarck ND
• January 05: Lutheran Parishes in Parshall ND
• January 12: First Baptist Church, Wishek ND
• January 19: Crossroads Church, Fergus Falls, MN
• January 26: Autumn Ridge Church, Rochester, MN
• February 02: Bethel Baptist Church, Mankato, MN
• February 16: Grace Community Church, Overbrook, KS

There could well be other visits that will be scheduled in the near future as well as visits with individual friends along the way.

Discovering Christmas from the perspectives of the main characters

The celebrations of the season focus on more than just family and friends. It is also a time to reflect on the goodness we enjoy because of the coming of the Savior. Enjoy this holiday season. Click the photo on the right to access the playlist that introduces you to perspectives on the Christmas story.

A First Visit

The end of October ushered in a visit to a country in South Asia, a region of the world I had not visited until now. At the invitation from a member of the FEBC International family, I spent nearly two weeks working with media teams in one of our more challenging parts of the world. The planning for this visit started last February with several hours spent on arranging permissions and travel for such a visit.

I was invited to lead a Content in Context workshop for teams who prepare content in a wide range of formats, including audio, video, and even print, in the language of the people in their region. The workshop explored what the teams know about their audiences with the opportunity to discover how that knowledge can make it easier for their messages to deliver value. By the end of the three-day workshop, each team had developed plans for future productions. Even in these difficult places, today’s media platforms are available to deliver content to audiences in their immediate area. The choices are growing and at times present some unexpected challenges.

One of the content teams working on their plans for future productions.

Language was a challenge during the workshop. To help improve the understanding of the large group sessions, my presentations were also translated into the local language. Some teams conducted their discussions in both that language and English. Other teams worked together exclusively in their local language. Our local director and I moved around among the teams to assist them as needed. The team discussions were so enthusiastic, it was sometimes difficult to break away.

Our mornings started out with traditional songs from the Psalms.

My hosts also made arrangements to visit some of the nearby points of interest in the city and surrounding countryside. These visits were valuable to learn something of the history of the area. It also gave me the opportunity to experience some of the local music that makes up a strong element of the culture. These experiences helped me appreciate just how diverse the people are in this part of the world, something I hadn’t anticipated before I arrived.

I’m now back in Indonesia while those teams are pursuing their new projects and plans. I’m in contact with several as questions arise and initial steps are taken. They so warmly offered their thanks that I was willing to join them for this visit. Some new friendships were made along the way.

Please uphold these teams as they take their next steps to more impactful content for their audiences. Pray that these new initiatives will invite and engage listeners to follow Jesus. One teacher, after listening to FEBC and joining a seekers’ conference had this to say:

“I am a teacher in a local religious school and I teach the Law of Moses to youth,” describes one attendee. “This four-day Bible study has really turned me upside down. Now, I have a complete picture of the law and grace in my mind. I feel comfort and joy in my spirit and would love to share this experience with my students.”

Mozambique Takes Two Punches

The start of 2019 has been a rough one for many across the country of Mozambique in southern Africa. With nearly 2,500 km (1,540 mi) of coastline along the Indian Ocean, the country has a history of natural disasters caused by tropical disturbances. In recent years there have been very few . . . until now.

In the past two months, Mozambique has been targeted by not just one, but two, cyclones. Known as hurricanes in the Atlantic or typhoons in the Pacific, cyclones form in the Indian Ocean. Madagascar usually reduces a storm’s intensity and limits wind related damage, but does little to slow down the rains when it reaches Mozambique.

A bridge washes out near Beira in Sofala Province

In March, the first cyclone (named Idai) made landfall near the city of Beira in the central part of Mozambique. Intense amounts of rainfall caused the bulk of the trouble with drastic flooding inland throughout Sofala province. Crops, roads and other infrastructure were hammered by the tropical downpours. The flooding drove people from their homes and caused disease to spread rapidly. During the weeks that followed, humanitarian organizations responded to the crisis. One of FEBC’s media partners, HCR out of the UK, stepped in with one of their partner radio stations in the province to offer emergency and disaster radio programming to assist those in need.

At the end of April, a second cyclone, this one named Kenneth, took aim at the northern part of Mozambique. Cabo Delgado province was directly affected. I visited here frequently when working with local radio stations in the cities of Pemba and Macomia. FEBC continues to support and assist these stations which were started during my days in the area. Once again rains were the major concern. The storm hit quickly and hard, dumping excessive amounts of rain that flooded many areas of the province. While many were losing their homes, both stations were taken off the air. The station in Pemba started its broadcasts again once power was restored.

The staff at Radio Nuru, even though they have suffered, are helping others

The station in Macomia suffered greater damage. Two staff lost their homes to the flooding that hit the area. The station lost the roof on its studio and needed help getting it all put back together. After a week, that station is also back on the air following temporary repairs. Please pray for the staff as they recover and offer assistance to others who have been impacted by the flooding.

English in Indonesia

English is one of a few languages that is spoken in many parts of the world. When it comes to international communications, particularly in business, English is often the de-facto choice. However, in most countries where we have lived, there are other languages that are preferred. Speaking in the local language still has great value.

With the onset of the Internet, just about every person in an urban setting has access to a wealth of information. The knowledge of English opens a much wider window to this vast world that wouldn’t normally be available in the local language. Sometimes Google Translate can help a local language speaker translate English for themselves, but as many of my Indonesian friends say, “It’s just not the same.”

Yaski English Language class celebrates Christmas

Even so, our local FEBC operation here in Indonesia wants to see their staff learn more English so they can interact with others across the FEBC world and beyond. As a result, Barb is facilitating a conversational English class intended for those staff that already speak some English. The weekly class creates an environment where they can practice. Barb assigns topics of discussion that give each participant the opportunity to share a personal story or experience. The class also covers English grammar principles that foreign speakers struggle to put into practice.

These exercises in discovering English have helped us learn more about the staff and their families. With each story they tell, we get to hear about what life is like for them, as well as insights into Indonesian culture. Our Christmas party last month doubled as a birthday celebration for Barb. So this has been another bridge to disciple, mentor, and encourage our co-workers in media ministry. Please be praying for our team here as they improve their English skills while focusing on their media ministry for Indonesia.

Christmas Reminders

The season is upon us. Once more we’ve come to that time of year to be reminded of the bigger things in life. We reflect. We look ahead. We remember what is perhaps the most important events the millennia have ever seen.

It just seems, when Christmas comes and takes over the routine, more people tend to reflect about the broader picture. Where can I find the source of peace and contentment? Sometimes those questions can get pushed out by the many appointments and lengthy to-do lists that creep into our schedules.

Wonderful to share our hearts for Christmas with this group of musicians.

This year, we’ve been taking a bit of a different approach to Christmas at our church in Indonesia. Rather than trying to focus our celebrations just on us, we’ve pushed out more into the community. One of the ways we have done this is sharing a musical experience of the Christmas story. I assembled a few musically inclined people from our congregation and offered a few concerts in smaller venues, such as homes and small restaurants. This gives our members neutral venues where they can invite their friends to an evening of exploring Christmas through music, drama, video and story. I was encouraged to learn that some came who were not familiar with the Christmas story. Another person commented following one concert, “Now it feels like Christmas.”

So we rejoice once more in the wonder of God revealing Himself by coming to us. This year, Barb and I are celebrating Christmas in Indonesia with friends. Our wish for you is a meaningful Christmas. May we all marvel at the story and what it means for us.

Signs Toward Progress

Barb and I just completed a trip around Southeast Asia with stops in the Philippines and Thailand. This included meetings with media practitioners about the value of the Content in Context workshop. These initial discussions, follow-up to conversations that took place last March, are important to give media organizations the chance to explore the concepts from their own unique perspectives before committing to participate.

Meeting many of our FEBC colleagues was one of the highlights of our visit

We were privileged to return to the Philippines during the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the first FEBC broadcast in Asia. We participated in a number of events during the week prior to the anniversary. It included times with staff, listeners, and other media practitioners in the country. One of the highlights for us was a staff reunion of more than 300 current and former FEBCers who have served since the 1950’s.

FEBC Philippines are pioneers of innovation in reaching out to their changing audiences. Their content strategies for their stations are reviewed and adjusted regularly. While they may not need a full “workshop”, they are considering adapting and including some of the tools from Content in Context in future training events. I’ll continue working with them in preparation for their next regional station content training scheduled for September this year. 

Following our visit to the Philippines, our next stop was Thailand. At the invitation of the Thailand Media Network (TMN), I joined their regular monthly meeting to offer further details about a proposed workshop. The organizers gave me the entire morning to introduce the workshop to their members. Their response was encouraging. The network will meet again in July to decide whether they will sponsor the workshop and endorse it to media teams in the region. One of its members expressed interest in hosting the workshop at their office in Chiang Mai.

 

We will keep following these developments in both Manila and Chiang Mai. Please pray for the coordination needed to host successful events in these locations when the opportunity arises.

Ready, Set, . . . but, First!

Over the past few months, I’ve been following up on the interest shown in the “Content in Context” workshop. Several presentations in March resulted in ongoing conversations over the past couple of months. I’m working with several media organizations, including FEBC, to host a workshop in the near future.

Introducing the Content in Context workshop to several media organizations last March

These negotiations will determine the schedule for workshops in Thailand, and Indonesia this year. There is also interest at FEBC-Philippines to include the workshop in their content planning efforts. So over the next month, Barb and I will be visiting the Philippines and Thailand to continue those conversations. We are particularly looking forward to returning to Manila, where we ministered for 17 years, and visit many of our colleagues and friends.

But. . .  before these workshops take place, there are some personal matters we need to address. The first is with Barb’s health. Over the past several months, she has been struggling with one of her hip joints causing increasing pain. When we were home last year, x-rays revealed that osteoarthritis had worn away the cartilage. While we thought the pain could be managed with medication when we returned to Indonesia, the pain has become increasingly intolerable. As a result, Barb and I will be making a return visit to the US later this summer for her hip surgery. Barb is now in the process of making arrangements with a doctor and medical facility where the procedure can be done. We’ll know more details in the coming weeks

This visit to the US will also permit me to visit my family in North Dakota.

I will also be tending to some other FEBC related business while in the US. Both of us, as time allows, will continue to participate in our ministry activities in the midst of the medical process. I’m expecting to follow up on details regarding future workshops and help those who will host them in their preparations. Please be praying that we can work around these schedule adjustments and return to Asia in a timely fashion to proceed with the workshops.

 

Signs of Progress

Having the opportunity to interact with so many across the FEBC family is a privilege. The past couple of months were filled with several fruitful discussions in Thailand and Hong Kong. These conversations are laying the foundation for content developments across several FEBC ministries in the months to come.

The IST (back) enjoyed our time with the Russia and Ukraine team

FEBC was well represented at a major Christian media conference that included representatives from more than 140 organizations. There were 16 delegates from six FEBC ministries who joined specific training workshops held prior to the conference itself. This included technical and information technology staff, researchers, content creators, and leaders responsible for content strategy in their specific countries. During our one-day meeting with just the FEBC participants, I was so encouraged to learn of the plans to implement what they had learned. I’m pleased to report that several of our teams are becoming more focused on learning about their audiences so they can be more effective.

During the conference, I had the opportunity to introduce the “Content in Context” workshop. The workshop itself offers media teams the space and tools to consider how their content is impacting their audiences. The two separate presentations generated interest from several media organizations, including FEBC. The conversations that followed resulted in new opportunities:

• I am currently working with a media network in Northern Thailand to conduct the workshop in that region later this year. I’ll be meeting with the leaders of this network in June to negotiate the details. Pray that we will find an organization during this visit to host the workshop sometime later this year.
• FEBC-Philippines expressed interest in learning more about the workshop. They are one of our leading innovators in content production on multiple platforms. They are keen on developing strategies with their audiences in focus. There will be further conversations in June as we mutually explore the possibilities.
• Here at “home”, FEBC-Indonesia is embarking on a project for equipping potential partners to produce inspiring content for their local Heartline station. A key part of their strategy is the workshop. I’ll be working with the team here to roll out a locally delivered series of workshops later this year.

FEBC International has also just concluded its members’ conference in April. This conference brings together key leaders from many FEBC operations around the world and some of their key ministry partners. In addition to learning about media ministry in various locations across the FEBC world, there were many important conversations about how the Association can work better together. Several of us in our team, including Barb’s administration group, provided support during the four days of meetings. Several participants commented how this had been one of the best conferences they had attended in FEBC.

So now we’re working not only on keeping the conversations going, but developing the action plans that will transform these ideas into reality. Our teams need the support to turn their innovation into inspiration as their audiences encounter the gospel. Barb and I are working on the detailed planning and guidance necessary to help the workshops take place.

The Gathering

One of the challenges of working among teams ministering in 100 languages is getting these teams together. It is difficult to find a common language, usually English, that everyone can use to communicate about the very basic topics of life. Combine that with the time pressures that come with producing content on a tight schedule, very few ever have the time to think outside their own environments. Opportunities to interact with others who have the same heart and focus for reaching people through media are rare.

Meeting FEBC colleagues is always a privilege

There are many benefits from bringing members of different teams together. With the upcoming training opportunities at the EMDC conference later this month in Thailand, a few delegates from FEBC will be able to meet other colleagues.  Sixteen staff from six different FEBC countries are registered for the four-day training event prior to the conference itself. They will be joined by three of us from the FEBC International Service Team (IST). Our role is to help the delegates get the most out of their experience during the week together.

Each delegate will be assigned to a FEBC mentor. The purpose of these daily conversations is to help the delegate identify key points of learning and begin thinking about how they will apply them when they get back home. It’s not always easy to incorporate new skills and concepts into what is often a very busy and routine approach to developing their content. So we discuss not only what each delegate needs to do when they get home but also consider what support they might need. What obstacles might they encounter when they get home that could hinder them from applying their new skills? This sets up ongoing conversations with them over the coming months following the training.

There is also a one-day meeting for all the delegates before they return home. We call this the FEBC Gathering. We bring all the delegates together for a day of sharing plans and new ideas. They have the opportunity to meet other staff from FEBC who are doing the same kind of work, or learning similar skills. This is a golden opportunity to see how others are ministering and take home another  new idea or two. For some, this is the very first time to meet another person from FEBC outside their own country. One delegate told me recently that for him, this gathering was the most valuable part of his experience back in 2016. He’s looking forward to joining us again this year to pick up from where he left off.

Please be in prayer for these participants and for the three of us from the IST as we prepare to meet together. Pray for our preparations for the training, our mentoring and the one day gathering. Pray especially for easy communication in a different and sometimes difficult language, English. Those of us from the English world have to work hard to keep our conversations simple, slower, and easier to understand. Pray for wise application of what is learned and the persistence to carry through on putting skills and ideas into practice.

The Return

Just a few weeks ago, we were making our final preparations. It was time to head out from the frozen plains of the upper Midwest to return to the humid tropics of Southeast Asia. Our Christmas and New Year’s celebrations with family were now memories to take with us. We were busy taking care of last minute personal details, packing up our winter clothes in storage for the next trip back to the USA while ensuring what remained would make the trip to Asia. After one final cold snap and a dusting of snow we boarded our flight from Minnesota. Roughly 24 hours later we stepped into the humidity of Jakarta where a midnight shower ushered us back home.

We are grateful for the past 4 months back in the US. We were able to connect with several of our friends and partners. We welcomed new opportunities (some unplanned) to share stories from our work in media across Asia. We met new friends even though we weren’t able to schedule times with everyone on our list. Through the faithfulness of many, we are able to return to Asia with the resources we need to continue what’s been started.

Good to be back into our roles with our Indonesian and international colleagues

Now we are back in our office in Jakarta, renewing our relationships with colleagues in ministry. While there have been a couple unexpected surprises upon our return, it’s been mostly uneventful. We are grateful for the warm welcome back.

We needed to get right into our work activities. One of my immediate responsibilities includes coordinating FEBC participation in media training as part of a conference in Thailand. There will be 16 FEBC staff coming to join in training workshops offered prior to the conference. I’ll also be introducing the “Content in Context” workshop concept to delegates at the conference as well as giving a more detailed overview to the steering committee of Asia by Media, who are promoting its use. Please continue to pray that these opportunities will raise interest among media ministries to participate in the workshop. The response to these sessions will give us a good indication of interest and opportunities to schedule the workshop for other media teams.

Barb and I will value your prayers over the next few weeks as I prepare for this conference. Shortly after that, both of us will be on our way to Hong Kong to help with  the FEBC International annual meeting.