COLORADO SPRINGS, CO (ANS) — After centuries of being a Hindu kingdom and decades of political unrest, the Himalayan country of Nepal became a democracy in 2008.

One of the results was that the government released applications for local FM community radio stations, writes Beth Patton of HCJB Global.

In her report, Patton says a group of local believers was granted two licenses, and in 2009 HCJB Global supplied equipment, installation and training to put the first two partner stations in this country on the air.

Patton says an HCJB Global radio planter recently spent 10 days in a village of central Nepal with a local partner who heads a community outreach. His father was the first person in the village to commit his life to Christ back in the days when it was illegal to become a Christian in Nepal, leading to the family’s persecution.

But things are changing in Nepal, Patton says.

“Today the church in Nepal is growing, but there are still many areas where there are few Christians and even fewer churches,” said HCJB Global’s radio planter for the country. “Our newest partner station is planted in one of these areas.”

Patton reports that HCJB Global staff members and Nepalese believers gathered in June for a celebration to mark the beginning of the radio ministry, culminating months of efforts with local citizens to build the studio, connect the electricity and finish the groundwork for the station. To view the radio station launch and dedication, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4ssNG948iU.

Patton states that HCJB Global’s radio planter also provided on-air announcer training for 11 eager volunteers who watched as the antenna and studio equipment were installed and listened excitedly as the first broadcasts went out. The signal, reaching the city and all the communities in the valley, is within hearing range of more than 200,000 people.

The local partner has a vision to plant churches among the 200,000 people who live in his city and the surrounding villages. He recognizes the impact radio can have in these un-reached communities, so when he formed the partnership with HCJB Global, he was thrilled when the government approved the license for an FM community radio station.

HCJB Global’s radio planter recalls the following encounter during his visit: “A village lady came down the trail and poked her head into the doorway to greet us. I don’t know much Nepali, but I do know the greeting that Christians use, and she addressed us with this greeting. Through our translator, she shared that she was one of the few believers in the village and that she has to travel an hour to reach her place of worship.”

Patton stated that HCJB Global is working with yet another local partner to plant a fourth FM community station in Nepal. It is scheduled for installation in September.

“We in the Asia Pacific Region are thrilled about the doors that have opened for radio planting in Nepal,” remarked HCJB Global’s radio planter. “We are praying that as God allows greater penetration of this country with His gospel, we and our partners will witness a huge harvest for the kingdom of Jesus Christ.”

Michael Ireland, Chief Correspondent of ANS, is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station. While in the UK, Michael traveled to Canada and the United States, Albania,Yugoslavia, Holland, Germany,and Czechoslovakia. He has reported for ANS from Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Israel, Jordan, China,and Russia. Michael’s volunteer involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department of Artists in Christian Testimony (A.C.T.) International, where you can donate online to support his stated mission of “Truth Through Christian Journalism”. If you have a news or feature story idea for Michael, please contact him at ANS Chief Reporter.