LAKE FOREST, CA (ANS) -- Compassion Radio, a much-honored ministry with a 66 year history which uniquely combines broadcasting and compassion outreaches to 31 of the toughest countries on earth, is facing a difficult financial challenge at the end of a long, hot summer.

Norm and Cher Nelson pictured during a televison interview with ANS founder, Dan Wooding

“We need an immediate upsurge in giving if we are going to sustain our full schedule of stations and continue to reach out to hurting people in difficult places,” says Dr. Norm Nelson, President and on-air host of Compassion Radio. The program is currently heard via more than 1,000 outlets across the United States and is streamed worldwide on the internet.

Nelson points to a “serious drop-off in contributions during the summer months” as a major element in the ministry’s challenging situation. But the challenge may go deeper than that. “Our ministry includes outreach to Muslims in Islamic countries as a major component of its God-given mission,” he says. “We travel to, and broadcast about, places in the Islamic world that many American Christians regard as enemy territory.

“We seek to communicate the love of God through expressions of the compassion of the living Christ. But in a post-9/11 world, it’s not easy to get large numbers of Christians to invest in such efforts. If we were hammering Islam and Muslim people with verbal assaults and playing the ‘fear card’ to induce an alarmist response, we could rake in the cash. But we see Muslims with the eyes of Jesus, and refuse to do that. Sadly, love is a tougher sell!”
 

Norm Nelson with former President of Sudan, Jaafar al Numeiri

Norm and his wife, Cher, have built relationships with Muslims in such places as Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Syria and the north of Sudan. Together, they even taught English at Balkh University in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan. Through a contact developed in the airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Norm became a friend of the late former President of Sudan, Jaafar al Numeiri, visiting him in his home in Omdurman on many occasions.

Their ministry has helped restore villages after natural catastrophes, and fed, clothed, sheltered and provided medical aid to the victims of disasters in Muslim countries. Norm recalls, “After one post-earthquake reconstruction project in Iran, the Minister of Humanitarian Relief in the affected province said to us, ‘Our governments do not get along, but you came 10,000 miles to help us. We are grateful.’ When we heard those words, we knew that Christ was pleased and that a spiritual bridge had been built.”
 

Norm Nelson with Afghan bodyguard

Compassion Radio has also reached out to persecuted Christians in repressive places. Much of their work must be carried out without any public acknowledgement in order to protect the identities of at-risk believers. Norm Nelson acknowledges, “It's not easy to raise needed funds when you can’t be specific about the people, places and project details involved. But that’s the way it has to be when you care more about people’s safety than about advertising what you're accomplishing to enhance a financial appeal.”

So, I asked, how serious is the financial challenge facing Compassion Radio? Nelson replied, “It's serious in that we’re looking at a September 30 deadline as far as being able to retain all our broadcast affiliates and continue our project commitments at present levels. But if God's people are moved to invest at least $350,000 in this special outreach of word and deed, we’ll be back on track. We knew when we launched this unique approach, it wouldn't be easy. The payoff is knowing that we’re being faithful to our calling. We'll wait and see what God does!”

To help Compassion Radio during this crisis time you can call in your gift in at 1.800.868.2478.

You can also donate directly through our secure website at: www.CompassionRadio.com, or mail your check to Compassion Radio, P.O. Box 2770, Orange, CA 92859

“Your financial support and prayers for Compassion Radio are deeply appreciated,” concluded Norm Nelson.

Dan Wooding, 69, is an award winning British journalist now living in Southern California with his wife Norma, to whom he has been married for 46 years. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS). He was, for ten years, a commentator, on the UPI Radio Network in Washington, DC., and now hosts the weekly “Front Page Radio” show on KWVE in Southern California and which is also carried on the Calvary Radio Network throughout the United States. The program is also aired in Great Britain on Calvary Chapel Radio UK. Wooding is also a regular contributor to The Weekend Stand on the Crawford Broadcasting Network, and a host for His Channel Live, which is carried via the Internet to some 192 countries. He is the author of some 44 books. Two of the latest include his autobiography, “From Tabloid to Truth”, which is published by Theatron Books. To order a copy, press this link. Wooding, who was born in Nigeria of British missionary parents, has also recently released his first novel “Red Dagger” which is available here