As a fully-fledged media-type, I'm always banging on about the audience. Tedious eh? But where would we be without them? At HCJB Global we aim to plant seeds of the Gospel across the globe via the means of commercial radio. If I’m honest, it's a struggle at times where - let's face it - the audience is not really that bothered about all this God stuff…
The Apostle Paul often had to address unsympathetic audiences. On one famous occasion in Acts, chapter 22, he’s given permission by the Roman Commander to speak to a riotous crowd in Jerusalem. They think Paul is totally audacious, “Who does this guy think he is? How dare he try and change our beliefs!” So how does Paul manage to quieten the mob before he starts speaking? Well, it’s not rocket science - he talks to them in a language they understand. In Acts, chapter 22, verse 2, it says; “When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet.” Aaaaah, music to our ears - listeners who are actually listening!!
Essentially, people today who are looking for the truth about life, the universe and everything, actually hear about Jesus in their ‘heart language’. That’s why here at HCJB Global we put a lot of effort into our Radio Planting Ministry in Africa, Asia and South America. A radio station that grows organically out of a local community is far better equipped to bring the Good News about Christ into that community rather than us Westerners. They know the right words to use, the most appropriate stories and how to connect with their people around them. There's no point importing all of that stuff from somewhere else.
Paul’s challenge in 1 Corinthians to be “all things to all men”, means that we sometimes have to adjust the format of our story so that the listener gets the message. When we speak to our friends and family about the hope we have in Christ, obviously we’re speaking in the same actual language – English - but are we connecting with them? Are we telling our story using words that resonate with their culture? Have we considered their age, their background or even what they watched on the telly last night? Just because we’re speaking English, it doesn’t mean our message is actually getting through...
“Dear Lord,
Please make me an effective carrier of YOUR message to friends, enemies, family, colleagues, strangers and the nations. In your precious name, Amen.”
Colin Lowther, Chief Executive of HCJB Global