But first, imagine being a doctor. You use your hands, all your senses in fact, to examine a patient and to treat them, perhaps by surgery or medicine. Hopefully, you get to see the patient become well again. From start to finish. Sickness. You give treatment. It helps them get well. You see them well with your own eyes. You know the difference you've made.
Now, picture yourself in front of a microphone in studio 6 at Radio 4VEH. Speaking out to an unknown number of unknown people in unknown places and unknown circumstances. Seeking to bring healing - spiritual, emotional, relational, and even physical - in the name of Jesus.
Add faith
And now inject faith into the picture. Faith that God will use what you say to bring hope and healing to someone who is listening.
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| Charlotte's speaking in faith to young people during the summer youth programs |
Faith that when you speak God's Word, His truth, it will have an effect, just like He said to the people through the Old Testament prophet Isaiah in this beautiful picture (chapter 55, v 10-11):
The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth.
They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry.
It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
Making a difference, really?
But do you really know if you're really making a difference in the lives of people who are listening every day? In the non-profit world, you'd ask "Are the intended beneficiaries really benefiting?"
The best time of year to answer that question is in June, at the Radio 4VEH Anniversary. A time to celebrate the ministry, its impact and, above all, God's faithfulness to it, since the first broadcast on 2 June, 1950. A time when listeners visit the station, wanting to meet and greet the people behind the voices that are part of their daily lives.
It's a time to rub shoulders, shake hands, give and receive hugs with listeners, all the while trying to grasp the fact that the person standing in front of you is saying "thank you 4VEH", "I love you 4VEH", "I thank God every day for you", "chak jou, mwen branche" - every day, I'm listening. And then "I'm praying for all the staff" and they'll go on to name, one by one, the presenters they listen to...Pastor Jeremy, Pastor Witny, brother Elima, Pastor William, ....and many times, they'll add "and their family". "I'm praying for Pastor Storly and his family."
That's us. My husband and me, our children. Listeners praying for US. Mind-blowing-ly, humbling-ly lovely.
[Incidentally, we talked on the phone to Medson and Pastor Hérode today, and they gave us a quick report back from their trip last weekend to St. Louis du Nord to train pastors and laypeople in evangelism and giving out the solar radios. As Pastor Hérode finished his report, he said, "Oh, by the way, Pastor Storly, in the church where I preached last Sunday, people were giving me lots and lots of greetings for 4VEH, and for you and your family." Awesome to be greeted like that!]
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| Gertha called for me to come and meet Gusly. |
Meet Gusly
This photo's going on the front of the next Radio 4VEH Transmitter newsletter, which I'm finishing up writing and design of this month. But you get to hear Gusly's story first.
He's 17. He told me, "My mother warned me not to go to the witch doctor, even though that's what everyone else around me is doing. I've been listening to your programs, so I asked for help. I was thrilled when brother Elima (one of 4VEH's presenters) led me to the Lord."
I thought he'd be glad to meet Pastor Jeremy, who was in the live studio doing the afternoon music request show. Pastor Jeremy, known as JB, likes getting visits in the studio too. So I introduced Gusly to JB, and their conversation began. Gusly's story. Where he lives. His family. Songs he likes listening to. A sweet connection from listener to presenter and back again. Now, JB will greet Gusly on his afternoon show, extending that encouraging hand along the journey of faith that this teenager has just begun.
OK, time for more photos.
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Just as our group was climbing into the back of the truck after the Anniversary church service, Storly called me back down to take this photo. This man had come from Ouanaminthe (a couple of hours away in a tap-tap minibus) for the sole purpose of being part of 4VEH's Anniversary service. (By the way, not smiling is the proper Haitian way of having your picture taken. Storly's smile is just too big to hide).
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And in the village of Kayemit, as we talked with people about Jesus, and gave out solar radios, we met this family who asked for prayer. So we went inside their home, (and they covered their heads), and we prayed for them and for their 5-year-old daughter/grand-daughter Dieulinda who is sick (problems with her eyes that the doctors haven't been able to find an answer for). I made sure to make notes, and passed it on to Gertha and Dadie at the station, the ladies who present the noon-time prayer program, lifting up to the Lord needs like this one from listeners all over.
Rubbing shoulders with listeners. Hearing their stories. Their needs. Their joys. Hearing their words of encouragement to us. Hearing that they're praying for us.
And taking them by the hand and connecting them with another person who is part of the body of Christ, the church. Someone else who will encourage them and build them up.
It's a Best Bit.
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