Media Ministry Serves Middle East

For the th anniversary of theSept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, CRC News has prepared a series of stories about how the Christian Reformed Church and its members have responded – and what we have learned – in the last 10 years.

Located in the Middle East is a Reformed media ministry dedicated to reaching people in that region of the world through radio and social media.

Called the Middle East Reformed Fellowship (MERF), the ministry is an indigenous, holistic outreach that works in four areas: evangelism, biblical training, church leadership and diaconal aid.

MERF also serves as an outlet for the Arabic media ministries of Back to God Ministries International, the multi-media ministry of the Christian Reformed Church in North America, and Words of Hope, the media ministry of the Reformed Church in America.

These ministries beam or text or mail words of salvation to people who would otherwise likely not hear or read them. People can listen to the radio or view text messages on their phones in the privacy of their homes. They can reflect on the things they are learning about Christianity without drawing attention to themselves.

MERF's website says turmoil over the last 20 years in the Middle East "forced the reexamination of MERF's strategy." On the one hand, doors were closed for traditional missionary endeavors in the region. On the other hand, radio and media outreach has become especially effective.

Back to God Ministries International has been working in the Middle East for some 50 years.

"We need to realize that Christ is king," said the leader of BTGMI’s Arabic ministry. He grew up as a Christian in the Middle East, but asks that his name not be used for security reasons.

"Radio and television programs are the first step to build up an accurate understanding of Christianity. It's very powerful to reach people who live in very remote areas," said Rev. Utung Ongkowidjaya, director of BTGMI’s ministry in another part of the world.

Rev. Paul Mpindi, director of BTGMI’s French-language ministry, said listeners, including Muslims, have no problem talking about God the Father.

"We need to love Muslims, but don’t be shy about the facts when the time comes to discuss Jesus as the only way."

Mpindi, whose radio programs and discipleship ministry reach thousands of French-speaking people in Africa and elsewhere, notes that media-based ministry is effective in several ways.

"Our ministry has a way of reaching out to people without endangering them," he says. "Through radio and our Bible study correspondence course, people do become Christians . . . They write to tell us and ask that we continue to teach them. The Internet is also a good tool."

Non-Christians in many countries seem to be increasingly interested in knowing about Jesus and especially about his message of forgiveness and love. They particularly appreciate the Sermon on the Mount and they appreciate the way Jesus treated women and how he spoke about peace.

"We can thank God for modern technology. The Lord has used the radio and the Internet and other ways to reach people," said the Arabic team leader.

BTGMI's Arabic team uses a variety of approaches to bring biblical truth to issues that engage the minds and hearts of listeners.

"Our approach is that we try to be friendly, respectful, and to speak in terms that people understand," notes the Arabic ministry leader.