When a Set-back
Gets Exciting
News from the South Pacific Islands
29 Dec 2014
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Something exciting happened recently in Tonga. On the face of a it, a set-back, but isn't this usually the way God breaks into the lives of His people?
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I'm excited because
I've caught a glimpse of the work the Lord has really been doing as we have struggled to stay faithful to the task in the face of inadequate finance and other resources, plus the need for a new studio building, etc.
Let me tell you briefly
Just two months ago Willy (Station Manager in Tonga) contacted told me we had received a bill from the government for $36,500 Pa'anga (local dollars, about USD $18,000). Totally unexpected. A huge amount for a non-commercial radio station that costs around $4,000 Pa'anga (USD $1,200) a month to operate.
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The Christian radio ministers daily
to all sorts of people.
A disabled listener tells her story.
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Radio listeners gather in their village
to hear one of our leaders (Loni)
teach the Bible
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Ten years ago the government introduced an annual license fee for radio stations. However we were never told and we were never invoiced.
This is a little hard to understand
if you live in a Western country.
In the islands there is no postal service and a lot of commercial inefficiency. Add that to a highly deferential culture where people can be too ashamed to pass on bad news, and . . .
Well, we have been given to understand the original invoices may been buried by a radio listener who knew we would not welcome the extra expense.
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Why would this be exciting?
We have no money to pay this huge bill?
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It's because of the way our 'home grown' local leader (in this case, Willy) has handled this. It reveals the hidden work God has been doing as we have waited patiently, holding fast to the vision while seeing only discouragement and impossibility.
In two months we have already raised $26,000 Pa'anga (USD $13,000) towards this bill. All of it raised by Willy as he sought the Lord and followed His instructions. Most of it raised in the Islands and from Island churches in NZ!
Raising the money is not the real story.
The leadership Willy is demonstrating is!
There's so much more to this story. I will write again soon and tell you. I'm confident you will be as excited as me at the special way God has been developing local His leaders. In His way and His time. ". . . to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ." (Ephesians 4:12) God has used this adversity to show us what he has really been doing!
Meanwhile would you prayerfully consider . . .
making a special, end of year gift to help the ministry move forward into 2015 without dragging this debt.
We still need $10,000 Pa'anga (USD $5.000; AUD and NZD $10,000).
The Tongan people have already raised most of it because they want the Gospel to be broadcast daily to their own people. Let us help them ". . . to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ." (Ephesians 4:12)
Web donation
via 'Network for Good' made
in US Dollars
Takes you to the 'Network for Good' donation page. Part way down the page is a 'Special Purpose' section where you can 'Select an Option' if you wish to designate your gift. Choose 'Christian Radio Tonga' for this appeal
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Internet banking, plus mailing addresses,for any currency
Takes you to the Pacific Partners donation page with instructions for internet banking or mailing in your donation. You can also use the 'US Donors - Network for Good' web link to donate in the equivalent US dollar value
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Thank you for your support. I will tell you more shortly. May God bless you in 2015.
Graham A Carter
Pacific Partners
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