Christian radio popularity spreading in India amid persecution, says GFA

Christian radio programmes launched by the Gospel for Asia (GFA) have become hugely popular and is spreading mationwide, despite persecutions, a top GFA official has announced.

"We added 11 new languages, which represent more than six million people, going to 11 nations right now," said GFA founder–president, Dr. K.P. Yohannan, adding that initially GFA radio programme was broadcast in 92 languages.

According to Dr. Yohannan, there are more than 1,500 languages spoken in India and the need is great. The people who speak these languages are receiving intense training and are now sharing what they have learned, he said.

"Their voice is heard over the radio in their own language, for the first time that Jesus died for them and He's alive today and they can find forgiveness of sin and salvation through Christ," he added.

Christian radio is prohibited in India, so this kind of programming is popular. "They gravitate toward the radio – 30 or 40 people sit around one transistor listening to the radio in their own language now hearing the Gospel."

In spite of persecution – "It is a normal daily thing that our pastor and missionaries are beaten and abused, churches are burned down” – the outreach has not stopped, Dr. Yohannan said. "We are praying that the Lord will allow us to have 200 languages broadcast in the very near future, which means it takes a lot of money to set up studios and pay for the air time and follow up materials."

Last year Gospel for Asia received more than 1–million letters from people hearing their radio programs.