Adventist World Radio- Listeners Re-union November 15 & 16, 2010.

Radio ministry is a very effective medium for reaching to the people far and wide. The Himalayan kingdom of Nepal is a mountainous country. With her high terrain and geographical diversity, to reach to the people living on the mountains and inner basin has been very hard. The only effective medium, the Radio waves is reaching in every corner of the country, and recently local FM Radio broadcasts have become very popular in this country.

Adventist World Radio has been giving the message of Hope in Nepali Language for last 12 years and has been able to gain a very positive responses and well wishes from the listeners. There are many different kinds of people with different faith and practices who have shared the experiences of changed lives after they have listened to Adventist massages from AWR. Over the years many listeners have approached to AWR with the humble wishes to know more about the True God, AWR, Worldwide Adventist Church and its beliefs. So, a long waited  two days Reunion program with AWR listeners was organized by AWR Nepal to meet the listeners and discuss about the possibilities of the expansion of the AWR listeners far and wide.

There were 30 Radio Listener from Eastern Nepal to Western Nepal, 2 from each FM broad cast areas, who have been listening to AWR FM or SW programs regularly. Among them 2/3 were men, about half were Christian other were Hindu and Budhists

AWR Nepal Direcor Naseeb Basnet

The meeting started on time with lively song services followed by the devotional by Pr. Naseeb Basnet, the producer of AWR Nepali Programs. After a short introduction with each other, the objectives of the meeting were presented.

Pastor A M Puri from Scheer Memorial Hospital (SMH) presented a brief  reports about the SDA Churches in Nepal and also the noble activities going on here in the country from different department of SDA Church.

Mrs. Sonya Cardona from SMH presented a short history on SDA Church and the importance of serving the true God.

Elder Chow, the President of AWR, had a very special massages for all. How SDA Church is formed from the community level to the Head Quarter, and the proper flow of authority with various ministries was presented, which was very important area of the reunion program.

Elder J. Wagiran presented a brief report on how Radio ministry has become popular and has become a great ministry in Indonesia.

Another important subject of meeting was ‘Listening to the Listeners’, which was one of

contents and the presentation of AWR Nepali programs. Some of them had concerns regarding the time matter; they wanted more air-time. Some them who are only listening  the SW, had few concern about  the celerity of the programs, as the time schedule changes.

All of them had a special story, the experiences of changed life, to share with us. But because of the time constrain, we were not able to take them all.

Pastor A M Pur , Dowell  Chow & Jonathan Wagiran

Chhabi Gautam is our regular AWR listener from SW for last 10 years. Despite of his busy schedule he was here for the meeting. He was born Hindu, but he had a very inspiring witness on, how he found true God. He is working for God now, and AWR massages has been able to change his way of thinking and thus his whole life has been changed. He goes to different places for his ministry purpose, but he is sure to listen AWR SW and FM every evening.

One very interesting wetness was presented by an ex-Maoist, Prakash Rai, from Eastern Nepal, who used be the Maoist commander of that area, where he used kill people mercilessly. He used to threat the people in the villages and loot their property. This used to be his daily duties. One day when he went to loot the offering in a church nearby, he saw there the pastor was not afraid of his threats but he invited Praksha to come and believe God and  attend church. Prakash did not care, but he shared that that same night he had a wonderful presence of Jesus, in his room, where he was sleeping with his other Maoist friends, Prakash said, it was like Saul’s experience, and after that, he has been listening to our program very regularly, he sharing his wonderful experience with others. He is no more Maoist, his life is totally changed.

Lalmati  came from Gorkha: she is listening to our program for last one year. After listening every massage from Gorkha FM every evening she phones and says that she has been blessed by the massage and it was just like eating, ‘A Very good  meal’ ( in her language-‘rice and meat.’)  

Listener : Prakash Rai from Eastern Nepal

Hom Lal Gurung also comes from Gorkha. He is a radio speaker for Christian programs in Gurung language. The materials that we had sent him through our contacts for last few years have been the great source of inspiration for him and his people, so, he is translating them into his Language and is giving away the massages to his people in their own mother tongue.

Hem Raj  Khatiwada, comes from Eastern Nepal. He is listening to our program very regularly for last one year and 6 months. He is Hindu, but is very positive about the True God we worship. He had many questions, which were discussed in inspiring manner. 

Rama Basnet & Dowell Chow

Nishal, from Bhaktapur, shared his conversion story in a very touching manner. He used to be a  heavy drug user, a drunkard, used to go in gang fights, left his study at 14yrs. and was totally left alone in despair. Some of his friends invited him to go to the Church, but that did not appeal him. After some time, when all seemed hopeless, he prayed to God to make him free from his addiction, and God answered him. He found our Radio massages in his room, he started attending the Church and now, God has totally taken away all his bad habits, and now he says, ‘I am born again.’

Likewise there were others who shared their stories, their hard times now made good because they chose to follow Jesus.

In the evening of the first night, Sundar Thapa from SMH presented a special massage on God’s concern on our Health and our wellbeing. He presented how our bad habits can affect our whole being. The bad effects of Cigarette smoking, tobacco, alcohol were presented on slides, in an effective way. Everybody appreciated this presentation and were benefited by this greatly.

The last presentation for the first day was, ‘The Prophecy of Daniel and Revelation.’

Shantu Kham presented a well prepared lesson on this. The truth about the beginning, the situation of the World at present time and its upcoming events and the hope of the future was presented in a very simple way. All of the listeners and other Church members appreciated his presentation very much

AWR President Dowell Chow & Asia Pacific Region Direcotor Jonathan Wagiran

The initiation of AWR Listener’s club in each broadcast area for proper monitoring and follow up of the Adventist World Radio Ministry by expanding the number of AWR Radio listeners was another objective of the meeting, which was discussed in depth in the morning, the following day. Many listeners present in the meeting, have shown a keen  interest and desire to be a special part of AWR Nepal.

Bibles and plenty other material for Christian growth were given away at the end of the session. Giving away of the Certificates on participation of the 2 days meeting was followed.

As planned there was a Baptism Program after the lunch. Altogether 11 persons were Baptised.

It was a successful reunion program for AWR Nepal  production team with the listeners.

Mrs. Rama Basnet

Speaker

AWR Nepal

Rajesh Hada, Dowell Chow, Naseeb Basnet, Rama Basnet, Nilu Hada, Yash Hada & Jonathan Wagiran