The future of Christian radio in New Zealand is 'at stake'

The future of Christian radio in New Zealand is 'at stake'

By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries

AUKLAND, NEW ZEALAND (ANS) -- The Rhema Broadcasting Group (RBG) has a once in a generation opportunity to secure the right to broadcast Christian radio in New Zealand for the next 20 years. But to secure this right requires a significant investment.

John Fabrin
According to a news release from RBG, they must pay the New Zealand Government by October 1st of this year the equivalent of US$4.7 million to renew the majority of its commercial radio frequency licenses for the next 20 years.

"This is mission critical; the future of Christian radio broadcasting in New Zealand hangs in the balance," said the release sent to the ASSIST News Service.

The only options are to invest in the frequency licenses and stay on air across the nation says RBG's CEO, John Fabrin.

"Don't invest, or only partially invest, and lose important frequencies," said Fabrin. "This means towns, cities and whole regions potentially with no Christian radio broadcast coverage."
 

2030 Vision logo
RGB has begun a major campaign called 2030 Vision to raise the funds needed to keep Christian radio on air throughout New Zealand. John Fabrin says, "It is vital that this capital is secured as RBG is the only multimedia organisation that exists to care for the emotional, psychological and spiritual health of all New Zealanders."

RBG's network of radio stations, New Zealand's Rhema, Life fm and Southern Star, reaches right across New Zealand, upholding and communicating values that help to maintain and build a cohesive, healthy society.

"Every day, many thousands of listeners are positively impacted by RBG programming," said Mr. Fabrin.
 

Veteran broadcaster, Andrew Urquhart, at the microphone at Rhema Broadcasting Group in New Zealand

As a shining example of RBG's importance in New Zealand society, Life fm strongly and positively impacts its target audience, the young people of New Zealand. A nationwide Colmar Brunton online survey* of Life fm listeners found that 95% had been positively impacted by Life fm, in many ways, including the following^:

16,000 listeners impacted to stop or decrease the amount of crime they commit
11,000 listeners impacted to stop self-harming behaviors (e.g., cutting themselves)
19,000 listeners impacted to overcome, or cope with addictions.
5,000 listeners impacted to reduce or stop using illegal drugs.
56,000 listeners impacted to help out with a charitable organization
59,000 listeners impacted to pray more regularly
58,000 listeners impacted to share their faith with others
69,000 listeners impacted to apply biblical principles to their life

"As we look to the future, RBG says it is committed to continuing its Christian radio coverage across the nation," said the news release.

John Fabrin says, "For RBG to positively impact the lives of the next generation, it is vital that the frequency licenses are secured this year."

RBG invites people to play a part in creating a positive future for New Zealand by helping to secure the frequency licenses for Rhema Broadcasting Group.

For more information or to donate to the 2030 Vision campaign visit: www.2030vision.co.nz

*"Social Capital, Assessing Life fm's social impact in NZ" Colmar Brunton (Jan - Feb 2010) Based on the percentage of monthly listeners in the n=500 respondent survey agreeing to being impacted on each statement and given the representativeness of the survey, the results of the survey can be extrapolated onto the total monthly listener base (80,800 monthly listeners). Therefore the figures shown potentially represent the number of monthly listeners who would agree to being impacted by Life fm in each of the areas listed.

For further information contact:
John Fabrin, CEO
Rhema Broadcasting Group
E-mail: jfabrin@rhema.co.nz

Dan Wooding, 69, is an award winning British journalist now living in Southern California with his wife Norma, to whom he has been married for 46 years. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS). He was, for ten years, a commentator, on the UPI Radio Network in Washington, DC., and now hosts the weekly "Front Page Radio" show on KWVE in Southern California and which is also carried on the Calvary Radio Network throughout the United States. The program is also aired in Great Britain on Calvary Chapel Radio UK. Wooding is also a regular contributor to The Weekend Stand on the Crawford Broadcasting Network, and a host for His Channel Live, which is carried via the Internet to some 192 countries. He is the author of some 44 books. Two of the latest include his autobiography, "From Tabloid to Truth", which is published by Theatron Books. To order a copy, press this link. Wooding, who was born in Nigeria of British missionary parents, has also recently released his first novel "Red Dagger" which is available here

Related Articles • More Articles

Earlier this week I spoke at a leadership conference for a group of pastors in El Salvador. These pastors face a lot of spiritual challenges in their culture: Drug addiction among youth, alcoholism, idolatry, and rampant witchcraft. But I had to tell these pastors that the biggest challenge to their churches is not something outside—it is something inside the church. One of the biggest enemies of revival is the spirit of religion. It could be the reason your spiritual life is stagnant. It could also be the reason your church isn't growing.
There is a Third party in the Room. Yes, it is so sad to hear of all the testimonies of things going on. And now that there is controversy, everyone is trying to "manage it." But from a believing prophetic view, there is another message. The prayer stream got polluted and God started resisting hearing those prayers. I am not here to point fingers. I have been through my own traumas. And we can go looking for the "right person or persons" when in fact, there is no human who is. But there is another Person in the Room!
We are continuing a section on tithing. And particularly THE ISSUE of "TITHING-UP." We have already talked about how it should not embarrass us or anger us to talk about proper giving. Jesus talked more about giving and stewardship than any other topic. As a matter of fact, Jesus talked more about giving money than He did about the Kingdom of Heaven. While tithing is not emphasized (or taught) in the New Testament, it was assumed. The early church were Jewish believers who practiced Jewish customs (Acts 2:5, 21:20). In other words, the Jews tithed! They didn't need to be reminded!