The politics of immigration, the sound of cross-border radio, and talking about Jesus online. The work of the Christian mission Reach Beyond.

The autumn of 2024 is the time when the radio series Voice and Hands with Reach Beyond goes out. It’s a major project I’ve been working on in recent weeks.

So far, in the first episodes of this 13-part series, we’ve heard about the history of mission through helping Christians set up radio stations, of supporting teams to dig wells and lay water pipes in remote Andean villages, and how Jesus-like compassion for refugees on the southern borders of Europe can fly in the face of some political views.

I’m Martin Cooper, and together with Colin Lowther we’ve been tracing the history and heritage of Reach Beyond. https://reachbeyond.org.uk/ The health and community action has developed more recently; but the radio ministry began almost 100 years ago in a wooden shed in Ecuador.

It blossomed into a worldwide service via shortwave that provided programmes in 26 major languages – including Russian, Japanese, and Portuguese as well as 22 indigenous dialects of Latin America. Today they serve through FM radio, online, and in social media apps. That was the key topic in episode one of our radio series. You can listen again here: https://www.twr.org.uk/show/Voice-and-Hands/

We heard how community leaders in some parts of sub-Saharan Africa can often be reluctant to accept partnerships. But Reach Beyond is helping to support new radio stations in big cities and villages in the bush. Indeed, God is opening doors and straightening paths for radio to hear the truth of His word.

Listen to Alex Walker, Reach Beyond’s representative in the Sub-Saharan region:

You can hear more from Alex in episode two of our series Voice and Hands from Reach Beyond. And you can listen again here: https://www.twr.org.uk/show/Voice-and-Hands/

We’ve also addressed the controversial topic of immigration. Reach Beyond is serving with partners in Greece to help refugees and migrants negotiate what at times is a scary, threatening and lonely existence on the edge of Europe.

In episode three we hear from Martin Harrison, Reach Beyond’s International Mission Lead. He explains how working with local partners, in and around Athens, cuts through the politics and anger stirred up by phrases like “immigration” and “migrant refugees”, to offer God’s love and hope to strangers in need.

Listen to Martin Harrison:

You can listen again to episode three here: https://www.twr.org.uk/show/Voice-and-Hands/

And the series Voice and Hands from Reach Beyond also exclusively reveals how a huge demand for English lessons is fuelling the rapid growth of an online project in the Middle East and North Africa. Some estimates suggest there’s a billion-and-a-half people in the region who are eager to learn.

Listen to how the curiosity about Jesus also brings dangers for some:

And you can hear the full interview in episode four of the radio series. It’s available to listen again here: https://www.twr.org.uk/show/Voice-and-Hands/

Voice and Hands from Reach Beyond continues through to the end of December 2024. It’s live every Saturday evening at 8 o’clock, repeated on Sunday at 8 in the morning. You can hear it on TWR-UK on this link: https://www.twr.org.uk/show/Voice-and-Hands/

And there’s full details of the Christian missionary charity, Reach Beyond, here: https://reachbeyond.org.uk/