by Neil Sim, Benin
1 August 2006
We had been driving most of the day. The road was dusty, and so was the town. We got out of the 4x4, relieved to have arrived at our destination. The UEEB (Union des Eglises Evangéliques du Bénin) church leaders greeted us, and after a meal of boiled yams, followed by pate (a congealed smooth porridge) and sauce, we headed off together to meet the local radio station's director.

A Surprising Endorsement

Sitting outside under an acacia tree, the hot sticky day came to an end. We were here to renew the six-month contract that enabled the local pastors to air messages over the radio. Following the small talk, the Muslim radio director made a startling comment: "The people here need to be evangelized." We were all surprised to hear this, especially since this area of Benin is 85% Muslim!

What he was saying was that the messages of the Christian pastors are practical for life. He went on to tell us that the imams actually use the pastors' radio messages to form their own Friday messages at the mosques! Here was proof that these vernacular language radio broadcasts reach even into the closed communities of Benin.

Greater Openness

During our return to Parakou, we met with other UEEB pastors in another strongly Muslim area. They told us about a marked change in the way people responded to their messages. People no longer turn off their radios as soon as the Christian programs come on! It is clear that these radio messages are "softening the ground" so that the message of Christ can take root.

They also told us of a man who heard a Christian radio program which spoke against putting fetishes (objects believed to have spiritual power) in the walls of new homes. He then spoke with a local pastor and told him that he was going to burn all his fetish objects. He even invited the pastor to come and pray in his house when it was finished!

The Need for Partnership

God is opening hearts to Him through these broadcasts, but presently the Radio Benin project is running short of funding. Please pray that God will provide for the USD $42,764 needed to finish 2006.

The average cost to produce, air, and follow up one 15-minute broadcast is USD $22.50. Would you partner with this ministry so that the life-giving radio programs can continue? Please contact your SIM Office today and reference project # BJ 80710.