CAMENA Newsletter - September 2023

Using digital media to share the good news throughout Central Asia

Digital media opens doors for new possibilities, and we can reach people where they are. In mid-March, we had the opportunity to meet as a team with other Christian leaders from the Central Asia region, for a conference in the region. Together we examined the situation in the Central Asian countries under a microscope. 

The ministry director for Central Asia shared, “I am always overwhelmed with joy when I observe that the leaders of our media work do not lose their passion.”

We are currently experiencing considerable growth on social media platforms. At the end of March, an animated clip on TikTok received almost 500,000 clicks. Therefore, our followers on TikTok doubled within a single day. In the meantime, the user numbers have almost tripled. YouTube saw an increase of 1,000 followers. Our followers are from countries like Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, the U.S., Türkiye and even South Korea.

Our digital platforms include YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Telegram, TikTok, the webpage ca-most.ru, and the CA Most app, which is available in seven languages and can be downloaded from Central Asian countries and territories of Russia and China.

Kyrgyzstan is the most open country of the Stans. Radio programs are played via local broadcasts in dentist offices and children's camps. On Telegram the team maintains seven channels and they are ever searching for new platforms like Switch, Spotify or others. They are constantly trying out new things and keep on learning. They are so eager to reach people that they even plan to “subtitle” 60-65 clips with sign language! The sign language is the same for all the Russian-speaking countries with quite a large population of deaf people. Recently they celebrated the 10,000th subscriber on their channel. Considering that only an estimated number of 5,000 believers are around, this figure is quite amazing!

Listener Stories:

A young Kyrgyz woman working in Moscow came across our YouTube posts and became a believer. She contacted the team to get in touch with other Christians. Fortunately, the team knew a Kyrgyz pastor who regularly visits the churches of migrant workers in Russia. The young woman and the pastor met together in Moscow. In the meantime, she is also attending church services. It’s important to note that our reach extends far beyond Central Asia, to Russian-speaking people.

Breaking the chains of shame

TWR Women of Hope educates, encourages, and equips women to fulfill God’s purposes for them. The namesake program, Women of Hope, began 25 years ago and has grown to include 73-plus languages.

Precious and Beloved is the newest project from TWR Women of Hope. Designed for women from a Muslim background, the audio series will include 52 episodes to help women break the shackles of shame so they can live as beloved daughters of the King. Topics include loss, beauty and outward appearance, distrust, motherhood, jealousy, womanhood, worry and anxiety, and friendship.

As women are freed from the shame and guilt imposed on them by society or religion, they can live out their true identities in Christ — loved unconditionally, precious, accepted and empowered to walk victoriously.

In Jesus’ time, women weren’t allowed to converse with men in the streets. Think of how the disciples reacted when they saw Jesus interacting with the woman at the well (John 4:27). They were surprised to find him talking with the woman, but Jesus operated based on kingdom values rather than on worldly principles, treating both sexes with dignity.

“When you share how Jesus related to women in the Bible, it gives Iranian women so much hope because they don’t have any rights or identity in Islam,” said TWR’s Farsi ministry director.

Through the Precious and Beloved audio series, listeners address their inner struggles until they are set free with the realization of who they truly are. To see themselves the way God sees them. The program’s writer explains, “I’m a precious and beloved daughter of the King, which makes me a princess and royalty, regardless of where I come from, who my family is, my social status, my religious background or what I do in life. I have great value and I was bought with a high price — the blood of Jesus.” 

Kabyle believers share the names of Jesus with their own people

The newly produced program Names of Jesus introduces Kabyle listeners to the person and work of Christ, through the many names and titles of Jesus as revealed in the Scriptures. Throughout the Bible, there are more than one hundred names and titles for Jesus Christ, and the team has chosen in the Names of Jesus series to focus on 50 of the more commonly referenced names that introduce the listener to Jesus.

What makes Names of Jesus unique is that it is written and produced by a local team and includes locally produced Kabyle worship music and several voice talents, and it engages the communication style of the Kabyle. All 50 episodes are in production, being broadcast through MW radio since late October 2021, and several are already available on the Radio Kabyle website.

Kabyle people listening to TWR’s program on the radio station from France write us asking many questions about Jesus, they are very thirsty for more knowledge, even though they often struggle under hard circumstances like lack of water and other necessities, unemployment, medical needs, and more.

Listener Stories:

“I am so grateful for your programs, and it is great that I can find them back on the internet as well! I really love the Bible studies and teachings. My wife is not a Christian and my family lives very far away, so sometimes I feel lonely, but because of you I don’t feel all that lonely.” 

“I am really happy and grateful for all you do for me and others. It is a joy to be able to have discussions, share, and pray/receive prayer. Thank you for giving us different options on how to connect with you, including Facebook.”