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Brazil – January 13, 2010. The starting phase of any missionary project is the most difficult. Launching into the unknown is fraught with risk factors that make the success possibility of the new endeavor much like a Pandora box. Not even years of experience exempt long term missionaries from occasional failure.
But that does not inhibit a committed missionary from stepping into the troubled waters of trial and error. As frontline warriors, we know (more than anyone else) that time is short and that every moment of time must be maximized. Let’s go for it!
This brings us to a new effort set in motion by four young Brazilian Apostolics. Undaunted by the tremendous financial investment a regular radio program incurs, along with the obscure ratings game that could quench the dream at birth, they saw opportunity in another world: virtual internet radio.
Stepping past the established medium of AM/FM radio, they are successfully producing a regular apostolic podcast called “Panelajovem.blogspot.com” in the Portuguese language, focused toward a huge generation of unsaved youth (over 35% of Brazil is under the age of 18!).
Excitement fills the improvised studio as the four struggle with the learning curve of the (not so) new technology. Then, with creative insight, they mix hit gospel songs with “live” interviews of other exciting Jesus followers. Finally, the latest edition of the program is ready to be uploaded. “On the air”!
The PanelaJovem project takes on an extra aura of expanded challenge when considering the fact that the Brazilian government is aggressively installing free Wifi access in remote areas and distant states. Now couple that with another government program offering net-computers to junior high students at wholesale cost, you have the beginning of a successful blockbuster project.
And, to add more glitter to the idea, don’t forget that the Portuguese language is also spoken in parts of Europe and Africa. So, with the expanding reach of internet, the world becomes smaller and the challenge becomes greater.
All that is needed to ignite the world revival is a spark of anointed effort. Who knows, PanelaJovem may be that spark. Help us fan it!
John Bradley Lambeth
