“It was an eye opener.”

Not a comment you would expect from a man living in Niger who has been blind for the past 17 years.  His insight? – “I came to realise that there was a spiritual blindness in me.”

This profound event happened on the 7th of June 2009 during a TWR broadcast. What were you doing on the 7th of June 2009? Perhaps it was an ordinary day for you. But not for our listener who finally got it and could gratefully say: “OH! Thank you….” Those were his words of joy as he experienced an event even more illuminating than receiving back his physical eyesight. This liberated listener had been under the false impression that he was indeed a Christian until he heard the true gospel being preached via his radio one day. So, though seeing, he did not see, until one day the scales dropped from his eyes.

What a significant testimony this is as we consider that 75.7% of the 15 million people among whom he lives remain in spiritual darkness, unreached with the good news which can “set at liberty those who are oppressed” (Luke 4:18). Into this spiritual void, the TWR radio transmitter in Benin works tirelessly to transmit programs for the sole purpose of reaching the masses of people in West Africa. A recent preaching trip to Niger shows that it is doing that.  A colleague from TWR partner, Radio ELWA, made the following comment based on the experience of over 1000 evangelists, “… they really testified to the noble role radio evangelism is playing in these countries.”

Not only do unbelievers need to be reached, but so do believers. In places like Niger, believers are often isolated and lack the leadership they so desperately need to foster spiritual growth. This has led to the unfortunate development of splinter and fringe groups with peculiar theological views, especially in the southern part of West Africa. Christian radio is countering this trend with sound biblical teaching. So not only are eyes being opened, but the seeing are being taught to discern. Another listener says it succinctly, “to the believers, they help to abide solidly in Christ Jesus.” 

What does the future hold for the transmitting station in Benin? Currently, having only one medium wave transmitter limits the reach into the deep western frontier. Pray that we will be able to expand the outreach from Benin so that many more like the blind man from Niger will be able to say, “It was an eye opener.”     

Published: 25 February 2010                       
(Sources: Joshua Project, Operation World)