The outbreak of Coronavirus has led people, individually and collectively, into a common experience— we are losing control of our normal life. We are so used to pursuing progress and gaining control, not realizing our capabilities are simply not enough to sustain our lives. Even more importantly, as we focus on improving our ways of control, we are losing the simple and true common sense that the Creator God has been sustaining mankind and all other living beings on earth and the physical universe in which we live all the time. So, we are turning Coronavirus into a blessing—bringing our listeners back to God.
Our Efforts in the Coronavirus Pandemic
In January and February when Coronavirus outbreak besieged the Chinese, we aired daily encouragement with the word of God and prayers. We let the listeners know how people in America try to put ourselves in their shoes and understand their pain and struggles. We also report about churches here looking for and sending masks and gloves to hospitals in China. Every day we prayed for the health of our listeners and their families, for doctors, nurses, government leaders, health specialists, scientists, and patients, etc. In March when the pandemic spread globally and devastated the U.S., daily reports about Coronavirus in America are posted on our website, meeting the concern and interest of Chinese listeners who like to know how Americans are doing in the pandemic.
In addition to Coronavirus in America, we continues posting Bible verses on our website concerning faith, hope, love, Jesus’ healing, prayers, anxiety, trust in God, plagues, Jesus’ salvation, and God’s assurance. Coronavirus brought death, fear, anxiety to mankind, but it also shows the goodness of man and our need for God. We talked about Dr. Wenliang Li who issued early warnings about Coronavirus in protecting his fellow citizens. We also share the doctor’s comment in the Western world about their turning to God for strength as they care for Coronavirus patients. Dr. Li was once an atheist.
In March we aired a conversation about management of earth environment with Dr. Jianwei Li, professor of Tennessee State University. Dr. Li pointed out that taking care of earth environment is a God-given responsibility. Seeking solutions to environmental problem will have to take consideration of the problem of man. Therefore, without accepting Jesus’ salvation, there will be no sustainable solution in the environment issues confronting us. Please pray for us that we can effectively lead listeners to God in this pandemic through our daily programs and website articles.
Important Friend of our Ministry
One of the most significant programming material we have been airing is the syndicated programs (in Chinese) from Joni & Friends Organization (J&F). Mrs. Joni Eareckson Tada, a quadriplegic, founded the organization in 1979 to accelerate Christian ministry in the disability community world-wide. Her Chinese voice, Dr. Yaling Wang, appears in our programming daily since January 2020. Our common goal is to serve listeners, including the disabled, by sharing testimony of real people who have invited Jesus into their heart to help manage their lives and deal with various struggles. We were so thrilled to have Dr. Wang in our studio doing an interview about J&F when she attended the National Religious Broadcasters’ conference at Opryland in Nashville a few weeks ago. Dr. Wang was so happy to get together with Edward Short again who visited J&F in 2007 and facilitated the cooperation between the two organizations. At a time of global pandemic when so many people lose much freedom and control over their lives, Mrs. Eareckson’s services to so many around the world is timely and inspirational.
Other Important Issues
Studio remodeling is scheduled for April. We have been preparing for programming ahead of time in March to accommodate the remodeling work in April. Bible recording is near completion as we are now moving into the recording of Minor Prophets. We solicit your prayer for God guidance for this project.
Our Mission
An elderly Italian man was tested positive for Coronavirus and received respiratory treatment at the hospital. He cried when he was discharged. Doctors thought he could not afford to pay the bill and asked him not to worry about it. The old man said it’s not about the bill, I can pay. But, I am saddened that I breathed fresh air created by God for free for ninety-three years, but never thank Him for it. This Italian man reveals the fact that the spreading pandemic is bringing opportunity for people to come back to God. A Chinese listened to our word, became a Christian. She continued to listen, and grow in faith. This week she sent us a package of masks from China after learning from our report about the shortage of medical supplies in America. Yes, bad things come and go, but the Kingdom of God never stops growing. This is the mission of World Christian Broadcasting. We preach the word of God instantly, in season, out of season.
