The faithfulness of God is evident from generation to generation. As we were thinking about this, pondering it over and over, and seeing in our own families, this story came to mind. The culture in South Sudan is oral and depends on one generation passing down their history to the following generations through stories.
“You are not going to see mass movements toward
the gospel unless the masses have access to the gospel,” observes Andrew
Brown of Every Village,
an evangelical ministry in South Sudan. So how do you get the gospel to
the masses in a country where the literacy rate is around 20% and even
those who can read prefer to learn by oral means? The answer—radio!
In this environment, “radio makes so much sense in getting the gospel
out,” Brown explains. “The people of South Sudan pass down their
history from one generation to another through stories. We use
chronological Bible storying, preaching, and church music combined with
health and community development training in our radio programs.”
SonSet Solutions has helped provide equipment and technical support
for three stations in strategic locations in South Sudan and a fourth is
in process. “Radio is the only media outlet the people have so it is
tremendously popular,” Brown reports.
The first station, established in 2008 in the most populous region,
broadcasts to the Dinka, South Sudan’s largest tribe. The signal covers
an area inhabited by 1.8 million people. A recent survey reports that
33% of the people listen daily, an astounding fact in a country where
90% of the people still live in mud huts!
One Christian listener reports that a relative was antagonistic to
the church but would listen with him to Christian radio. Eventually the
relative became a believer and an active member of the church. Christian
radio softens people’s hearts toward the gospel, and has contributed to
a dramatic increase in church plants in the region.
The second and third stations target two other major language groups.
When the fourth station goes on the air this year, 29% of the
population will have the gospel available to them in their heart
language.
Every Village is working for “holistic transformation” throughout
South Sudan through community development, radio, and church planting
efforts. SonSet Solutions is privileged to assist them in fulfilling
that goal.
This story is taken from our website: http://sonsetsolutions.org/reaching-the-masses-in-south-sudan/
