ST. CLOUD, MN (ANS) -- A radio ministry in the Upper Midwest of the United States has helped send hundreds of 'radio missionaries' -- in the form of fixed-tuned, solar-powered radios -- to Central America.

Minnesota Christian Broadcasters, Inc. (MCBI), a listener-supported radio ministry reaching an area northwest of Minneapolis, Minnesota, recently partnered with HCJB Global to send hundreds of SonSet® radios to Guatemala, according to Harold Goerzen, Senior Editor at the Ministry Service Center of HCJB Global in Colorado Springs, CO. 

During the ministry’s sharathon this summer, listeners to three FM radio stations in St. Cloud and Pequot Lakes, located outside Minneapolis, pledged enough funds to not only cover the ministry’s operational expenses, but to send more than 405 of the fixed-tuned, solar-powered radios to the Central American country. The special sets are tuned to pick up only the local Christian radio station.

“I am overwhelmed with this year’s response,” said MCBI General Manager Mike Heuberger. “It was the most successful sharathon that we’ve had in three years.”

While the ministry had not been involved with HCJB Global before the sharathon (aside from airing the mission’s daily radio program, “Beyond the Call,” with Ron Cline), Heuberger had known the organization’s president, Wayne Pederson, for many years and knew about the organization.

After searching and praying for a missions project to support during MCBI’s sharathon, a partnership with HCJB Global seemed to be a natural fit.

“We would not only be raising money for our radio outreach in central Minnesota, but also giving a portion of that raised to help reach people in another part of the world with the gospel through radio,” Heuberger explained.

During the first stage of the sharathon, Pederson joined with local broadcasters and went on the air, explaining how the SonSet® radios worked and sharing different stories about the impact of the radios around the world.

Heuberger attributes the success of the event to both Pederson’s involvement and to the Lord. “I truly believe that one of the reasons God blessed our sharathon this year was that we not only raised money for our own operating needs, but also getting involved in a worthwhile mission project,” he said. “The listeners also got very excited about giving to SonSet® radios.”

While this was the first time the radio ministry had presented a foreign missions project during its sharathon, Heuberger emphasized he would like to participate again. “God blessed us for sharing with someone else,” he said. “Next year we will certainly consider another missions project.”

“This is a great example of a U.S. radio station with a global vision,” added Pederson. “The people in Guatemala will benefit for many years from these 405 ‘radio missionaries’ tuned in to the good news of Jesus Christ.”

** Michael Ireland, Chief Correspondent of ANS, is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London (United Kingdom) newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station. Michael has traveled to Albania,Yugoslavia, Holland, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Israel, and Canada. He has reported for ANS from Jordan, China, Russia, Jamaica, Mexico, and Nicaragua. Michael's volunteer involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department -- Michael Ireland Media Missionary (MIMM) -- of A.C.T. International of P.O.Box 1649, Brentwood, TN 37024-1649,at: Artists in Christian Testimony (A.C.T.) International where you can donate online to support his stated mission of 'Truth Through Christian Journalism.'