The Amazing Success Story of Radio in India
P.R. Swamy was converted from Hinduism 35 years ago. He is 100% evangelist and lives to work! “But for these programs, we would not have reached the unsaved who live in mountains, jungles and remote villages and hamlets.”
When Radio Sri lanka opened its India-beamed transmissions for religious broadcasting, we were thrilled …. stunned … challenged … and scared. To choose that fork in our road meant some major considerations, major long-term commitments.
But we had to try! We just couldn’t say ‘no’ to such an opportunity to reach out across the sub-continent in a way that had never been possible in this age.
Swamy baptizing people
who have responded to
the radio programs.
What a sweet harvest of souls it has been! Recently we were in Bangalore with brother P.R. Swamy, the speaker on six Tamil transmissions each week. He has been on the air since 1975 and has seen the work spread from Bangalore city throughout the entire state, with hundreds of congregations being established. Every week he is on the road, worshipping with a new congregation on its first Sunday, or meeting personally with some radio contact for further studies, or having gospel meetings or seminars or Leadership Training Programs, or taking part in some of the social-help programs in which the church is involved.
Meeting Preachers Who Are Products of Years of Radio Harvests
The Sunday we were there, Swamy surprised us by inviting to Bangalore about twenty radio converts who have, with the passing years, become effective gospel preachers throughout the state. After the morning service, he stood before the congregation in a special ceremony, briefly reviewed the twenty-eight years of radio work — in effect, more than half of our mission life — telling the stories of each man’s conversion and of how they gradually grew into devoting their lives to preaching the gospel. Then each man was given opportunity to tell of the churches he is working with and of the spread of the gospel in his area.
It was an exciting experience, to see the changes that have taken place through these years of combined efforts on the part of many: on the part of supporting congregations and individuals in the US, of Swamy and the preachers in India, of Don Norwood helping with follow-up, and of us keeping the funds coming in for radio and literature.
Swamy ended his report with the statement that, according to his records, 21,500 souls have been won as direct contacts through the radio — and they have won many thousands more! We praise God for that! ✞