A lonely journey; overcome through TWR broadcasts
Have you found language barriers can make people seem unfriendly and distant? “Making friends beyond acquaintances was hard for me,”says South Africa born Ivan Bam, looking back at his time in Germany in the mid 1980s. “In those days there was no social media to make connections back home or with friends when it seemed like life there had moved on without me.” Bam felt his biggest barrier to integration was the German language and learning it was a process. “It was really difficult at first. I was trying to fix my loneliness by looking back to my home country. The feeling is often magnified by struggles to learn a language, form deep connections, and generally integrate into a culture. The loneliness that expats experience comes generally with a sense of alienation.”
MY RADIO, MY FRIEND
“I could not speak any German when I first arrived in Germany. I felt incredibly lonely. So, during that time I tuned to the programmes of TWR in English on my radio. This carried me through a difficult period,” Ivan recalls. Tuning his radio to listen to TWR programmes in English helped him to overcome loneliness. Radio listening developed a beautiful habit of connecting with God while hearing voices that brought messages of hope and relief. Ivan calls this part of his story, ‘What a friend we have in Jesus’.
Ivan has since returned to his home country, South Africa, and currently works for the ‘Back to the Bible’ ministry located in Pretoria where he now resides. He clearly shares his passion that people should receive salvation and turn back to God.
ABOUT TWR
What is the purpose of TWR? Simple, yet profound: Jesus. Our global media outreach engages millions, like Ivan Bam, speaking more than 230 languages to reach people in more than 160 countries with biblical truth. For more than 65 years, God has enabled TWR to lead people from doubt to decision to discipleship. Whether through high-powered radio, emerging digital platforms or face-to-face interactions, TWR leaves a lasting spiritual footprint!
Join the many listeners who have downloaded the TWR Africa App. Or listen live to programmes on the TWR Africa website at www.twrafrica.org. Another option is TWR Africa on DStv audio channel 855. TWR strives to reach listeners with the most practical and relevant forms of media available.
My hubby suffered a heart attack 4yrs ago & went through a massive depression after. Through TWR programmes, God started ministering to him and he is now free from depression. We have since listened to the radio station daily for devotions and discussions and this has helped us to grow spiritually. Thank you for doing God’s work and changing many lives.
For close to three decades, Trans World Radio Kenya has been taking listeners for a walk through the bible through a radio series called 'Neno Litaendelea' (The Word will Continue). The programme is a partnership adoption of Dr. John Vernon McGee’s Through The Bible series (TTB) that has been translated in more than 100 languages and dialects, according to their website, ttb.org.
TWR Country Focus: Uganda
"Dear TWR,