MISSION REPORT 2008: David and Giselle Russell, HCJB Global

Dear Friends,

Does this picture stir your imagination? What do you suppose was going through Doug Jones' mind as he watched this truckload of antenna tower parts and radio equipment inch its way through what might be one of the most isolated places in the world?

The Azande tribe, more than two million strong, resides in a remote corner of Africa where the Sudan, Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) meet. Mboligihe Ndalu, a member of the tribe, came to the U.S. to study at Wheaton College. He had a vision for bringing Christian radio to his tribe and contacted HCJB Global for help. Our Technology Center provided the transmitter and antenna for the project.

Meanwhile Doug Jones, an acoustical engineer and professor at Columbia College in Chicago, received an interesting call from his mother. Doug's parents had served as missionaries to the Azande tribe during Doug's youth. His mom had heard that a young man from the tribe was close by at Wheaton College and encouraged Doug to contact him. That young man was Mboligihe Ndalu.

Mboligihe shared with Jones his vision for Christian radio. Convinced that God's hand had brought them together, Jones volunteered to help. He knew that his training as an engineer and his familiarity with the Azande tribe and their language made him uniquely suited to do the installation.

On April 20, 2008, in the village of Dungu in the DRC, Radio RTK became the first Christian radio station to broadcast the gospel in the Azande language. Jones reported, "It was Mboligihe's vision and HCJB Global's partnership that made it possible. To see the look on the people's faces when they hear the radio speaking their language for the first time ever…I don't know how you top that!"

To further expand the reach of the gospel message as well as important health and community development information, Radio RTK is broadcasting in Lingala, the trade language and French, the government language and would like to acquire some of HCJB Global's fixed-tuned, solar-powered SonSet® radios for distribution in the tribe.

Last Friday at the Technology Center we had the great privilege of hearing Doug's story first-hand. I thought of all the folks, including you, who are part of the important behind-the-scenes team that makes thrilling events like this happen. Thank you for your faithfulness!

Samantha and Aaron had their last day of school yesterday. We have signed them up for tennis lessons and a summer school course in Spanish. Please pray that the Lord's peace and love will reign in our home this summer. Also pray as we gear up at church for Vacation Bible School, June 22-26. Giselle will help with food preparation. I will teach the Bible lesson for 4-7 year-olds.

May the Lord bless you richly. Don't forget that our

David Russell, for Giselle, Samantha, and Aaron too
Serving with

*Radio Station HCJB: The station’s call letters “HCJB” were chosen by the founders to reflect its ultimate purpose of “Heralding Christ Jesus’ Blessings”.