TWR Reaches Milestone in India

Celebrations for TWR India's milestone 150 languages brought listeners and supporters together from all over the nation and the world.

With a population of 1.4 billion, India has been called the largest internet market in the world and the second-largest smartphone market. Wouldn’t it be great if every time they picked up their phones, they heard the gospel? To that end, TWR India reached a milestone late last year: 150 languages. Since 1977, TWR India has sought to “speak life, peace, love and hope to the nation.”

Beginnings

In April 1978 TWR India began broadcasting in Delhi with five languages on a 400,000-watt AM station. The programs were recorded in the first TWR audio studio built in Delhi. Back then, listener responses came in as handwritten letters – and boy, did they ever come in! Amazingly, in the first three weeks, listeners sent in 75,000 letters.

TWR has been blessed with missionaries who contribute to the work in India. In fact, the longest-serving TWR missionary, Bill Mial, has traveled to India 47 times!

“As I think back on TWR India, from its very inception, I worked with a group of people who had the word ‘YES’ written across their faces,” Mial said. “It was a can-do spirit, and because of that, God has used them to do wonderful things in a relatively short period of time. One hundred and fifty languages in 50 years is a great achievement. Praise the Lord.”

Mial shared in his book “Great Things He Has Done” that the literacy rate in India at the time was less than 50%. The following letter was written by one man hired by 50 illiterate men in his village. They signed this letter with their thumbprints stating:

“We are very happy; what other preacher could we expect to come to us, sit with us every day, and take us through the whole Bible like this, verse by verse? How can we repay you for the wonderful ministry you do for us? We go to church once in a while, but what is there for us? We cannot read; we are laborers. You really help us.”

Great Things He Has Done

Seven years after the programming began, God miraculously provided TWR India with headquarters space in Delhi through a generous gift. The same year, TWR’s audience-relations division was established, handling interaction with listeners and analyzing the resulting data. Now, TWR India has more than 200 workers and over 50 churches and organizations partnering to impact millions of lives.

Modern Day

Today, just 44 years after that first production, TWR India celebrates 150 languages of broadcasting where shortwave broadcasts and media players were used in the radio homes making it possible to reach India. The consistent growth led to this milestone. 

In 2005, TWR India began to go beyond radio by joining the internet, making its programming available to the online world. This led to radio home groups similar to home churches or church small groups in the western world with their gatherings centered on radio broadcasts. TWR supported these groups by making Bible quizzes available to encourage studying God’s Word. God even led TWR India to produce a TV program. Uncharted waters marked the growth of this ministry.

As God revealed each next step to grow the TWR India audience through outlets including radio, television, YouTube, social media, web apps, WhatsApp, media players and print to speak hope to India through mass media. We rejoice in the reach of radio and modern technology.

Celebration

The celebration of crossing the 150-language threshold is taking place Jan. 24-26, 2023. The 150th language is Nagamese, which is spoken in northeastern India.

Nikita Paul, TWR India’s marketing and communications director, shared the ministry’s celebration plans:

“From the 24th to the 26th of January, we bring together close to 1,200 people who have all, in some capacity, contributed to TWR India reaching this significant milestone. This includes international partners; local partners, including key church leaders who have ensured that our efforts in production reach the masses; local donors; and prayer partners. Over 150 co-laborers from TWR India across the nation [will join to celebrate].

“We come together to recall the goodness of God and celebrate his faithfulness in making this possible and praise him for the thousands of souls that have come to the knowledge of him through this ministry.”

Future

Paul shares the ministry’s goals:

“TWR India envisions developing an actively engaged audience that will continue to use our resources to develop in their own spiritual lives [and in] their communities … working with the local church to disciple believers by providing sound teaching in their heart languages.

“One of the greatest blessings for us through this time has been the chance to witness the Lord's faithfulness in transforming lives in this nation. Even as [the] pandemic hit, debilitating much of our ministry, the Lord sustained us and used the work that was done even more powerfully at a time when churches were forced shut. There really isn't a greater reward than to hear the many stories of those without hope … [having their lives] restored from the brink of death or depravity.”

God is faithful and has made a way through many who serve and dedicate their lives to this ministry. We rejoice with TWR India as they thank the Lord for his provision and moving in the lives of the people of India. It has changed lives, continuing to motivate the work.

Celebrate TWR India with us. Here is an example of a changed life, from a listener response:

“Before … I was in pain, sorrow and I was literally fed up [with] my life … I started listening [to] the Thru the Bible Marathi program on TWR India. Slowly, I came to know that the root cause for my problems is my sin, and I must repent for it. Through the program I came to know that Jesus loves me. He is the one who gives salvation. To give me life he was crucified on the cross and died. But [he rose] on the third day. …  [The] Lord has given me joy in my life. I give all glory to God alone.”

You can make an impact on India. Would you like to get involved? Pray, volunteer, support or join us.

Images: (top banner) Celebrations for the TWR India 150 language milestone brought listeners and supporters together from all over the nation and the world, (top, right) TWR India, 1980. In the first three weeks of TWR India, listeners sent in 75,000 letters, (middle, left) TWR listeners gather around a radio to hear their programs, 2007.