Positive response from listeners secures continuation of Kiswahili Radio Bible project

David Angango, Program Manager from Trans World Radio, helping Eunice Kala, Continuity Presenter/Producer for the Kiswahili Radio Bible, with a response to a letter from a listener. The picture was taken in the studios at Trans World Radio Kenya in Nairobi. The Kiswahili Radio Bible project involves broadcasting 15-minute programmes containing a dramatised Scripture reading and a talk. Listeners in several different countries have responded very positively. Photo: UBS SAFRSC/ Francois Sieberhagen (KEN04DJ-1.JPG)

NAIROBI, Kenya — As they gathered in December to discuss the future of the Kiswahili Radio Bible, the members of the project’s working group devoted some time to reading just a few of the letters which have been received from listeners since broadcasts began in 2001. It did not take long for these letters to convince them that Kiswahili Radio Bible broadcasts should continue for a third year and that steps should also be taken to make the programmes available on audio cassette.

“The response from listeners is incredible,” stated Bernice Gatere, Director of Trans World Radio Kenya, which developed the project in collaboration with Hosanna and the Bible Societies of Kenya and Tanzania. “All of these letters testify to the impact the programmes have made on their lives.”

Kiswahili is widely spoken, being used by around five million people as their first language and as many as 30 million as their second language. The founders of the Kiswahili Radio Bible, which consists of 15-minute radio programmes presenting a dramatised Scripture reading and a talk, knew right from the beginning that it would not be possible to reach all speakers of this geographically dispersed language. However, broadcasts from short-wave transmitters in Swaziland and on FM stations in Kenya and Tanzania have reached speakers in several different countries, as reflected in the letters from listeners.

“I have just completed my Bible training and now I am involved in ministry,” wrote a listener from Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. “Having listened to your programmes, I want to thank you for the teachings you are offering your listeners. I wish to work with you in telling the Good News by making these programmes available to my congregation. Please tell me how I can receive the programmes on cassette.”

A listener from Tanzania wrote, “Thank you for your Bible teachings through drama. I would like to receive the entire teaching of the Gospel on cassette.”

Another letter came from Kenya. “I have been tuning in to the Kiswahili Radio Bible for some time now,” the writer explained. “I would like to let you know that I have been helped tremendously in my study of the Scriptures through these programmes.”

The Rev Henry Kathii, General Secretary of the Bible Society of Kenya and Chairman of the working group, summed up the group’s response to these and other letters. “We cannot deny our people the privilege of listening to the Word and interacting with it,” he said. “It is clear that these programmes are having an impact on people’s lives, people we don’t know. We have to carry on supporting this effort: it is a real blessing!”
(WR 390/37 - 02.05)

At the time of writing, the Bible Society of Tanzania is seeking funding of US$7,720 to extend the reach and content of Kiswahili Radio Bible programmes.