THE BIRTH OF A STATION
- ABU Opens Its Third Radio Station
October 25, Jack and I were in Uganda on the campus of the NEW African Bible College waiting at the NEW radio station—one of the finest equipped stations in all of Africa—for the Inspector from the Broadcasting Council of Uganda to arrive. With us were two Ugandan graduates of ABC Malawi, Linda Owar and Rachael Ainebyoni, who were going to be the station operators; Rob Branch and his assistant, Curtis Young; Kenny Mackenzie (our Scottish building supervisor); Palmer Robertson, Director of the new College in Uganda; Mr. and Mrs. Mpissy, our Ugandan Board member and friend, as well as Macleod Munthali, assistant station manger from the radio station in Malawi.
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| Nell Chinchen, and Linda Owar at the new control panel in the station room at ABC RADIO UGANDA. |
Rob Branch, the engineer from the States, and I had spent hours preparing all the documents necessary to apply for the radio license, and the day before had carefully gone over all the requirements to make certain we were ready for the inspection. Rob had even purchased a “filter” at the last minute before he left Virginia because it was on the list of stipulated equipment. Not only was this filter expensive but it was so huge (48 in. high) and so formidable looking that he was afraid it would arouse suspicion at the airport. I suggested he buy a golf bag to put it in, but when he went to the sports store, he found a double-gun case that was just perfect! It was even "airport approved," so he was able to check it in without difficulty.
At 10 o’clock sharp —the appointed time for the inspection —the Broadcasting Council van with all the electronic testing equipment arrived at the ABC gate. The guard at the gate ran before the van to take it directly to the studio.
But when I saw there were only TWO men inside, my heart fell. We had expected a much larger delegation of important officials! I had even asked Palmer’s wife, Joanna, to have tea for them after the inspection was over. What a disappointment!
Nevertheless, the technical engineer jumped out of the van and like Santa, “went straight to his work.” He and Rob Branch immediately had their own established “language” of the electronic engineers, and as the inspector went from place to place—testing this, examining that—we all followed . Finally, when he reached the 210 ft. tower and was checking his GPS sightings, I said, “Is everything all right?” When the response was positive, I was encouraged to ask the next question: “CAN WE GO ON THE AIR?”
His answer was, “Usually we have to test for three weeks.” “But,” I quickly responded, “Mr. Bantuluki said that if everything was all right, we could go on the air tomorrow. And,” I said confidently, “EVERYTHING IS PERFECT!”
He ran back to his van, turned on our station, and it was clear as a bell. “Your modulation is 2% off,” he said. Rob quickly rushed into the studio and made the adjustment and the inspector was satisfied.
Radio ABC 99.3 FM was on the air. As he climbed into the van, he nodded his head and said matter of factly, “YOU MAY STAY ON THE AIR!”
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| All clear with the Inspection Team! |
It had all happened so quickly that we stood there, stunned. He didn’t even stay for tea! I said to Jack later, "I think he was an angel!" Rob Branch said he had never worked with such an efficient and cooperative inspector.
But was it really that easy? How did it happen that African Bible Colleges now has THREE RADIO STATIONS OPERATING IN AFRICA?
It all began when Ed Ingels (W5GOU) encouraged me to become a Ham operator. He promised to buy the radio and the tower and all the equipment needed if I would work to get a Ham Radio license. That seemed impossible. To send and receive the Morse Code at 15 words per minute? To learn multitudes of algebraic formulas? To learn the lingo of electrical engineering? But I was motivated. At the time Jack and I were in Liberia, but the twins were in college at Biola University; Marion was in boarding school in Ivory Coast; Lisa was in California getting serious with some young man we didn’t even know. So, I became a Ham operator—EL8J in Liberia and later, 7Q7NC in Malawi.
But even before that, Bart Bliss had left his position with ELWA (the SIM Mission radio station in Monrovia) to come with African Bible College in Yekepa, Liberia, to instigate a Communication program. The training was so successful that ELWA was happy to receive our graduates on their radio staff.
It was this success and the recognition of the tremendous need for trained broadcasters in Africa that inspired me to say to Jack on the airplane as we flew to the states with the vision for the second Bible College in Malawi, "Honey, wouldn’t it be great if we had our own radio station at the college?"
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| Nell and Paul with the Chairman of the
Broadcasting Commission of Uganda |
And, in God’s providence, it was only a short time later that Jim Lawhon (HCJB) called us while we were at a Missions Conference in Macon, GA, with the words, “How would you like your own radio station in Malawi?”
As a result, Radio ABC 88.3 FM was the first radio station to be established in the country of Malawi other than the government operated station. We have been on the air now for ten years and have trained hundreds of young people in broadcasting. Many now have key positions in radio and television throughout Malawi. One is even an announcer for the BBC in London.
The station in Uganda has the same amazing story. On December 12, 2001 Paul was with us in Uganda as we were seeking permission to open a new radio station in Kampala. I can remember he stayed up all night finishing up the correspondence with the Broadcasting Commission. He even wrote Mr. Bantuluki requesting that he reserve the frequency 87.5 FM for Radio ABC. We had completed all the application forms and felt that all the bases had been covered. But in 2005, when we were actually ready to ship over all the equipment, we were told that we now needed to complete a 50 page book, 35 bound copies to be submitted to the Broadcasting Council. Shortly after that Paul called from Uganda and reported that the President had issued an ultimatum: “NO MORE RADIO STATIONS could be established in Uganda.”
But we were NOT NEW! As I talked to the Chairman of the Broadcasting Commission on the telephone from Malawi, I reminded him that our initial application was made on July 29, 1999! In God’s providence, he was (as he himself put it) a “born again” Christian and gave us permission to install the radio equipment and 210 ft. tower.
The Christian Mission HCJB sent the two tower builders —a husband and wife team, Jean and Ed Muehlfelt. Jean came from a family of tower builders, and so was up and down that tower as much as her husband. The last thing to be done was to put on the red and white paint. The day of the inspection the paint was still not dry—but they made it!
Rob Branch, the engineer who came from the states to install the equipment, is the son of Carolyn and Bob Branch. Many of you remember them as taking our place at ENI Mission in Liberia. Rob was there with his parents—even then tinkering with all the radios. Rob has a consultancy office in the United States and also works with Calvary Chapel, setting up radio stations all over the States, but he donates his time and expertise to missions.
After our station in Uganda, on the African Bible College Campus was approved, and Radio ABC 99.3 FM was officially on the air, we had one last
Radio ABC Uganda tower going up adjacent
to the Gordy Communications Building
Tower builders Jean and Ed Muehlfelt
concern. The two graduates, Linda and Rachael, were overwhelmed with the responsibility of a 17–hour day of broadcasting . A phone call was made to Dennis Agabus, who graduated from ABC in Malawi seven years ago. Even though he lived over eight hours away, he agreed to make the trip to Kampala. As we finished our prayer meeting that night at Palmer and Joanna’s house, there was a knock on the door. Just like when Peter came unexpectedly to that prayer meeting, we could hardly believe that Dennis was standing there! I said, “Why did you come?” He answered, “My heart brought me!” Again, in God’s providence, his contract as Director of Compassion International expired in just three days! Dennis expressed his desire to work with Radio ABC and is even now helping to keep that new station running smoothly.
Now, the question is—How do you KEEP three Radio Stations (Lilongwe, Mzuzu, Kampala) on the air? As non-profit, Christian stations, broadcasting the Good News every day, using the training and gifts of nine of our graduates and our students as interns, we do indeed need “PENNIES FROM HEAVEN!”
BUT does not God’s Word say, “He that has begun a good workhttp://africanbiblecolleges.net/.will continue to perform ithttp://africanbiblecolleges.net/.”
Surely, only God Himself could have orchestrated such amazing Providences to bring these stations into being. And even though we know that Satan is the “prince of the power of the air,” we are penetrating his territory with the sharp and powerful two-edged sword of the Word of God.
Do join us with your prayers and your pennies as we seek to promote His Kingdom through the air waves in Africa!
Remembering the BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOR, who made possible the BIRTH OF A STATION to proclaim that Good News which shall be to all people—even in Africa.
Nell Chinchen, Director
ABC Radio Ministries
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© 2008 African Bible Colleges | Phone: 601 922-1962
P.O. Box 103 Clinton, MS 39060 |
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