Chapter 28
We Started
“Hour of Discovery” Radio Ministry Again. February 1988
My
involvement in radio ministry doing spiritual
upliftment, social, economic and
political advocacy broadcasts
was built on simple faith.
If God
wants me to do a certain kind of
work, He will provide the way and means
so that the work can be started. He will
guide and provided the need until it was
finished. These were my simple
experiences in life and
in my ministry.
The
Lord helped me with the Radio Program, “People to People’s Program” aired over
Radio DYRI-Iloilo in 1968. It was a
daily socio-political commentary, aired at 12:30-1:00 PM. every day, Monday to Saturday. We were on the
air for more than a year and a half.
Then,
in 1974, we started “Hour of Discovery”
, a religious radio broadcast, aired every Wednesday morning at 5:00-5:30 AM
every Wedneday over DYVS in Bacolod City. After 6 months, we transferred to DYHB. We
considered the power of the station and it’s popularity among the general public. I think, I got some experiences that will
helped in a new radio ministry.
On
February 1988, after
prayers, seeking the Lord;s guidance, we started
“Hour of Discovery” at Station
DYRP, in Iloilo City.
Rev.
Penuelito Sacapano, was
Officer-in-Charge of the Office of
General Secretary. Mrs. Angelica Padernilla was CPBC President. I have been out of the
Convention works for more than a year.
When
we started “Hour of Discovery”, we have money enough to pay 3
months broadcast time. We were given
4:30 -5:00 PM every Wednesday. My
wife, Hesther and my friend, Frank Carilimdiliman, who’s
ecumenical perspectives was strong, were with me facing each other in
the radio station, on
our maiden broadcast.
I
told Hesther and Frank. “We’re venturing into a
broadcast ministry. This is a hard task. It is a venture of faith.
If God opens the way, ‘Hour of
Discovery ‘ will continue for a year and more.
If it’s not His will, we must be ready to stop in 3 months time.”
Then, I gave my message.
It was my first message “On the
Air “ nearly 6 years after I
left Maao Central Evangelical Church, where “Hour of Discovery” was started.
It
was a a simple message. It carried our
dreams. It was sustained by a strong
faith. A belief, that with
God’s leading, our
dreams, faith and hope will never
fail. “ Hour of Discovery” was
launched on the air that Wednesday afternoon. And it went On the Air for nearly 25 years,
moving to DYFM Bombo Radio when DYRP decided to close their broadcast business.
When
I ventured in ministry at
CPBC’s Urban Industrial Mission, I learned one skills that helped me in
my in the ministry, It’s the knowledge
and skills on writing “Project Proposals” and “Feasibility Studies”. Rev. Edwin Lopez, brought us to NCCP, with 5 CPBC staff to
participate in Project Proposal Writing seminar held by NCCP.
It was attended by some 40 participants
from different NCCP members churches. Writing Project Proposals and Feasibility
Studies were hard jobs. It’s only me,
who learned the skills and art, from among us 5 Baptists who participated in that seminar.
Project
Proposals and Feasibility Studies, has
the power to reach local, national and
international agencies, entrepreneurs and businessmen for possible linkages, partnership and joint ventures. Important projects that cannot be
done alone, can be made together
– whether in evangelizations, education, development works, cooperatives, broadcasting, organic
farming, printing and publishing and
even in the revolutionary
struggles. Knowledge and skills of Project Proposals and Feasibility
Studies will be needed.
Organizations
and Associations with at least 3 years
registration and legal personalities, potential
Board of Directors, credibility, good program and good Tract Records can access for technical, management and financial
resources, within and outside
the country. Many national and international organizations had technical resources and money in their hands.
They were continuously looking for possible partners in depressed communities for a joint venture.
The communit organizations will provide leadership, the process for implementations, the persons leading the project, the target groups and management capability. The
Funding partners will provide the funds.
Before we started “Hour of Discovery” broadcast, we tried
to develop a wide group of possible
listeners. We wrote letters to churches and pastors of the Convention Baptists
who were our friends. We wrote simple letters, telling them of our broadcast
dates and time. We shared with them our dream for a broadcast ministry.
We wrote letters
to members of PANELFU, a labor union we knew with 350 chapters in villages and towns in Panay. We told them of our broadcast dates and time. It was a direct advertizing and
promotion work we made. Militant students, we knew and have relations,
were asked to tell their friends of our
broadcast date and time.
The first 6 months
of our broadcast ministry were supported
by friends, local church leaders and other partners in local communities. We succeeded to go on broadcasting not only 3
months but now on our 6th month. God was with us!
Then,
on our 7th month, we decided to transfer ”Hour of
Discovery” to DYFM-Bombo Radio. By that
time, Bombo Radio was the Number One radio station in Iloilo City in terms of listener. According to
surveys, Bombo Radio has 37% listeners preference in Iloilo City, with some 7 radio
stations, both AM and FM stations.
DYFM-Bombo
Radio gave us a 15-minute radio time, on
Sundays at 2:00 PM. We continued to work and
build relationship and partnership. We
partnered with Rev. Greg Tingson, an Internationally known
Evangelists, residing in Manila and
Kabankalan, Negros Occidental for a
joint broadcast venture. We managed the project and promotions together.
I
asked him to pay the monthly broadcast time. He will speak
on the 3nd and 4th
Sundays. I will speak on the 1st, 3rd Sundays, and on the
5th Sundays. Rev. Greg Tingson, sent a Check
for every month’s broadcast. This arrangement continued for more than a
year.
We proposed a
joint venture with the National Council
Churches in the Philippines (NCCP).
And Mrs. Prima Formelleza responded and
assisted us several months. Rev.
Lolita Daiz, spoke once a month,
for several months with Hour of
Discovery. Some groups came in for a joint broadcast ministry.
Some churches in Panay also sent some amount
for “Hour of Discovery”. Some friends in
the churches, the labor union and farmers
association also assisted. We were able,
little by little to strengthen our
broadcast ministry.
When Rev. Olof
Lindstrom visited us in Iloilo, I invited him to speak at “Hour of Discovery” program. He asked me to write a simple Project
Proposal to Farsta Centrum Kyrkan. He carried the Project Proposal when he returned to Sweden.
He gave it to Farsta Central Church.
In about 3 months, Farsta Centrum
Kyrkan, sent me a letter, saying, they will support our
broadcast ministry for 3 years. We decided to broadcast in three radio stations –
DYFM-Bombo and DYRI, in Iloilo City and DYVR in Roxas City.
After three years
of broadcast ministry, Farsta Central
Church, renewed their support for another 3 years. With right management, we
were able to broadcast for 4 years. We
were On the Air, with Farsta Central Church for 7 years.
We expanded our broadcast ministry to Bukidnon and General Santos City.
We also started broadcast with GMA Iloilo
City at
4:30 on Sunday mornings.
Former Governor and Senator Rafael Palmares, was leading the Catholic
broadcast with reflections and prayer at 4:00 AM on Sundays. I arrived early, and listened to his
broadcast. We sometimes have conversations and sharing. He
often stay with us at the station and listened also to our broadcast.
It was great
to have some little time with a former
Governor of Iloilo and Senator of the Philippines. Rafael Palmares, now a preacher in radio, who in his time, played a big role in the political life of
our country. Now, he played
another important role in the church
life, by leading reflections and prayers
for Catholics every Sunday at 4:00 AM.
Some of
our topics where for strengthening of the faith of our people, regardless of the church membership.
Most deals with social, ethical and political issues. It deals on
needs for opening the minds of our people, seeing clearly the issues on
Human Dignity and Human Rights.
We were
able to write some of these reflections in a pamphlets, for pastors and leaders of churches. Some of the
reflections we shared were:
1.The
Apple Tree and the Spade - a Reflection
by Rev. Birgit Karlson, General
Secretary, Baptist Union of Sweden.
2. Human
Rights: Dialogue Between the Farmers and
Military held at the Provincial Hall of Iloilo – By Pastor Rudy Bernal
3. Celebacy
and the Married Priests – By Pastor Rudy
Bernal
4. Selling
Women’s Flesh: Last Way Some Women do to Live -By Ms. Lucy Francisco, Officer
of Gabriela Women’s Party, Iloilo
5. Sisterhood
is Powerful! – By Rev. Liza Lamis, Coordinator, Women’s Program of
the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP).
6. The Love
Road –By Rev. Olof Lindstrom, Secretary for Information & International
Relations of the Baptist Union of Sweden.
7. The Baptist
Youth & the Politics of Change
- By Pastor Rudy Bernal
8. A God who
Cries! – Rev. Gunnel Andreasson, Swedish Baptist Union, Secretary for Asia and
Eastern Europe.
9. Never Remain
In the Temple –Pastor Leo Claridad, Faculty Member, North Negros Baptist
Bible College.
10. The Storm of Galilee – Rev. La Verne Mercado,
General Secretary, NCCP, Manila.
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