FEBC RM - Far East Broadcasting Company

The mission of FEBC Russian Ministries is to bring people into fellowship with God and Christ-centered churches. All of our programs are directed towards helping listeners establish a solid relationship with Jesus Christ and with believers who can encourage them.

Experts say that if an organization's mission is not aggressively promoted by management at least once a month, people lose sight of it and organizations tend to waver from their course. Fortunatelly, this is not a problem of FEBC Russian Ministries because our programmers are on fire to share the gospel with their countrymen. As one of them said, “This is not what I work for; this is what I live for, to see people come into the Kingdom and flourish.”

We know that flourishing occurs in churches where people help each other grow. One of our goals is to encourage listeners to attend a local church and to also help local churches grow. Our broadcasts are not meant to replace the important role that church plays in the lives of people. With that in mind, we are working closely with individual churches and entire denominations to help them utilize our resources and bring new listeners into their congregations. In this special issue of Update we’ll share with you stories of people who came to know the Lord through FEBC radio, because this is what we are all about: helping people meet the Lord.

Please read on and be encouraged…

Captive Audiences
By Victor Akhterov

helping people meet the Lord is the most important mission of FEBC Russian Ministries. We also strive to bring new believers into the Body of Christ to help them grow in their Christian walk. That’s why we encourage Christian listeners to reach out to their unbelieving friends and family, so that together we can touch millions. Our listeners eagerly respond, using every opportunity they can to encourage other people to listen to FEBC.

“I was taking a taxi to the airport,” said Sergey, a listener from Moscow, when he called our studio. “It was snowing, so it took us an hour-and-a-half to get to our destination. I asked the driver, Oleg, to tune in to FEBC radio. I explained that a particular program that I liked was on the air, and I wanted to hear the end of it. I said nothing as we listened, but I could see that Oleg, a man in his late forties, was listening intently.”

As Sergey shared this story with us, he could hardly contain his excitement. He continued: “As the program ended, I thanked the driver and told him that he could switch to another station. ‘Are you kidding me?’ he replied. ‘I never heard anything so powerful in my life. I am not changing the frequency!’” Sergey smiled as they continued to listen to the living gospel delivered via talk-radio. Then they talked about the importance of following Christ. Sergey left the driver his phone number and asked him to call if he had any questions about Christianity. “When I returned from my trip,” Sergey explained, “I received a call from Oleg, the taxi driver. ‘I am a Christian now, I am a Christian!’ he yelled into the receiver. ‘I kept listening to that FEBC station, and I accepted Christ into my life! Oh, my entire life has changed!’”

At FEBC we never forget that we are also working to build the Church, so we try our best to be a useful resource for Russian believers. We know that Oleg’s best chance of maturing is his faith is to attend a Christ-centered church.

Let’s travel now from metropolitan Moscow to the Ukrainian town of Nikolaevka. A while ago, Pastor Andrey, a good friend of mine, took a group from his church to visit the patients at the county hospital and to share the Good News with them. They took along several cassettes of FEBC programs to leave with the patients after they sang and shared Christ with those who wanted to listen. When they returned one week later for another visit, the patients quickly asked: “Did you bring more radio programs?” Patients, doctors, and nurses all became infatuated with FEBC’s effective presentation of the gospel. One nurse, Irina, said, “I learned more about God this past week than I had my entire life. Now I know that He loves me and cares for me. And I know this because I see how these programs are touching the hearts of my patients: sometimes I see them crying, sometimes they are lost in thought. I call those moments of reflection ‘God moments,’” said Irina.

Pastor Andrey had an idea and he turned to FEBC for help. He wanted to use the hospital intercom system to broadcast FEBC programs. At first, administrators were not supportive of his idea, but the patients were very vocal. As a result, FEBC installed additional equipment and programs are now being broadcast throughout the hospital. “Countless lives have been changed,” says Pastor Andrey. “Many accepted Jesus as their Savior.”

Friends, it is your sacrificial help that alows us to create such an environment where “God moments” happen, no matter where it is: at home, in a taxi, or in a hospital.

One of our FEBC listeners, Ludmila, lives in Irkutsk, a large city in Siberia. Geographically it is almost the center of Russia, but people living there often feel forgotten and distant from western Russia. People hospitalized in the Irkutsk regional center for the critically ill often are literally forgotten by everyone. Ludmila, a nurse, works with those people. “I see so much suffering, so much emotional pain and despair that my heart breaks,” wrote Ludmila. “Painkillers cannot heal their souls. That’s why I always bring my radio to work with me. My patients and I listen together to FEBC programs. It is a joy for me to see how they respond to the message of love. They are so ready for God’s touch! Of course, some of them do not want to deal with anything Christian, but most are incredibly hungry for spiritual truth…they are eager to accept Christ into their hearts.”

Dear partners, I can tell you story after story how people find a relationship with God and become active church members. This means that together we are fulfilling the purpose of FEBC Russian Ministries…and the great purpose of God.

Listeners Write

“It never occurred to me that I should actually read the Bible. It was a mysterious ‘old book’ that I bought a few years ago to place on a shelf; it looked good. Then I became an FEBC listener and realized that ‘the old Book’ talks about me my own life. I began reading the Scriptures and one day I decided to pray. It was an amazing experience, talking to the invisible God. I felt like He knows me very well. It was similar to having a conversation with an old friend who accepts you the way you are. As I continued to listen to FEBC, I began understanding who Christ is and how I need to live my life. I am a Christian today, because of your ministry. And I am also growing in my faith because of you. Your programs stimulate my thinking and my spiritual growth, and all of this is reflected in my new life; all my friends testify to that. Thank you. Please accept my donation.”
- Natalia from Moscow

“I am your regular listener, and your programs are equipping me for service. We now have an opportunity to do evangelistic work in Azerbaijan. We go there with a small group of believers, bring cassettes with your programs, and we tell Azeri people to listen to FEBC. I know that many Muslims in Azerbaijan do listen to you.”
- Vladislav from Astrakhan

“I listen to FEBC all the time. I also talk about the programs to my friends in school. None of them attend church. I tell them to listen to FEBC, and they do. Pray that many of them will accept Jesus.”
- Katya, 9 from Slavyansk, Ukraine

“I am not a Christian, but I listen to your station every day. I don’t know what it is that attracts me, but I continue to listen. Your programs make me think; they make me feel things that I never felt before. I am grateful for your service.”
- Vladimir from St. Petersburg

“I was born in a culturally Muslim family, but never went to a mosque or a church. I know that I have a soul, and it needs God. I recently became your listener, and I feel that I now have a new hope; I found something precious. You always say that we need to belong to a congregation of believers. Please let me know if there is a church in my city that you would recommend. I love all of you. Pray for me, please; I believe in the power of prayer.”
- Regina from Ekaterinburg

“I was saved through your radio ministry. It was a gradual process. First, I came to believe that there is a God. Then I understood that He loves me, that my life means something to Him. And then I was ready to take a step of faith and entrust my life to Jesus. All of that happened because someone cared enough to bring the Good News to me. When I think about that, I marvel at the faith of other Christians and I want to be like them. Please accept my small donation for your ministry.”
- Andrey from Chernovtsy, Ukraine

“I live in a Moscow suburb and love your ministry. A couple times a week I invite my neighbors to listen to FEBC, and we always have a wonderful time. As always, I answer many questions about the Christian faith, and we read the Bible together. My neighbors enjoy these sessions; for many of them it’s like stepping into a different world, where men can talk without drinking, where we actually care about each other. I see how their lives are changing. I wouldn’t have been able to create such an environment without your station. Thank you for being there.”
- Victor from Moscow

“I am a former drug addict, healed by God. Several times I was close to dying, but God protected me. Now, the major part of staying healthy is maintaining my emotional well-being, and FEBC radio provides wonderful support for me in this area. I listen to you when I am depressed, and my depression leaves me. I listen to you when I am discouraged, and I receive encouragement. Your programs are very practical: they help me resolve my problems. Thank you, friends, for helping me live a healthy, productive, and God-honoring life.”
- Andrey from Astrakhan

“I am so glad to know that God loves me. I never even knew that He existed, and then I began listening to your programs. Thanks! I do not understand some things, but I know that Jesus loves me and He died for my sins. This is very important, right? Oh, and I love Jesus too.”
- Kolya, 7, from Kharkov

“I live in a small town called Novo-Vodolaga in Eastern Ukraine. I have many friends who do not know Christ, and we often listen to your stations together. It has become a tradition to gather in my house and listen to FEBC. It is so exciting to see how God is changing their hearts through your programs. Please pray for my friends.”
- Nickolai

“There was a period in my life when I did not want to live. Troubles were unfolding one after another. I live alone and did not have anyone to help me. At that time I began listening to FEBC radio and I discovered that I am loved by my Heavenly Father. New hope was born in my life. God gave me a new spirit and I now know that my existence matters to Him. A year-and-a-half later I know that there is nothing that can separate me from God. I also know that Jesus is always by my side. Thank you for your ministry; it literarily saved my life. I am your biggest fan; I always listen to your programs and I “advertise” your station to all my friends. Please continue to bring life to people throughout the former Soviet Union.”
- Svetlana from Pinsk, Byelarus

Projects That Need Your Support

SUPPORT FEBC-RUSSIA’S PROGRAMMERS
The average salary in Moscow is now $800. This is an increase of 30% from a year ago. We also had to increase the level of support for FEBC broadcasters across the board to help them survive. An additional $700 per month is needed to cover this increase in personal support of our programmers.

MOSCOW’S SATELLITE BROADCASTING
We urgently need to purchase an audio encoder for our satellite broadcasting in Moscow. At this time we are using rented equipment. The cost of this DAC 700 encoder is $8,000. It is needed in Moscow as soon as possible.

AIR-TIME EXPENSES
One of FEBC Russian Ministries’ largest expenses is monthly payments for the electrical costs of our transmitter. Our expenses increased because it was necessary to switch to more powerful transmitters in Moscow and St. Petersburg. At this time, we need an additional $1,500 monthly to continue broadcasting.

Ongoing Projects:

Russian broadcasts: You can sponsor a 15-minute program aired on one of the Russian stations for just $15.

Russian Staff: You can sponsor a Russian staff member for $250 a month. You will be able to receive information about the staff member upon request.

Ethnic programming: The Russian Federation includes 32 ethnic republics and districts. FEBC RM develops programs for several of these groups in their own languages. FEBC RM also broadcasts the gospel to other C.I.S. countries, such as Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.

Please make checks payable to: FEBC Russian Ministries #680. Thanks!

GIVE ONLINE TODAY: https://ssl.charityweb.net/febc/russia/

FEBC Russian Ministries Update is a quarterly
newsletter published by FEBC Russian Ministries,
Box 1, La Mirada, CA 90637
Tel. (562) 947-4651, Fax. (562) 943-0160
E-mail: russia@febc.org
Web: www.febc.org/russia

In Canada: FEBCanada, 6859 Antrim Ave., Burnaby, B.C. V5J 4M4

In Australia: FEBC, P. O. Box 183, Caringbah NSW 1495

In New Zealand: Voice of Friendship, P. O. Box 620, Masterton, NZ 5915

Far East Broadcasting Co. is a non-profit ministry and a member of Evangelical Council of Financial Accountability