From the accounts in the Gospels we can see the desperation of the people at the time of Jesus' birth. They were under the rule of Rome, and the control of foreign king Herod who had became ruler by force. Many people were looking for a coming Messiah. They wanted hope, salvation and deliverance.

World events, closed countries, and persecution are abounding in our headlines today. How similar to the time of Jesus' birth. People today (in many locations) are looking for hope, deliverance… salvation. And in these areas some people have found that the Messiah truly has come into the world.

It is a real delight to send Christmas programming out over the airwaves in 28 languages to the many lands around us.

Students from Micronesia who attend the Harvest Baptist Bible Institute (a ministry of our church) recently had a tour of the KTWR site.

One listener from Vietnam writes: "I have been a Christian for 9 years and I have listened to the TWR in the past years. In early days the station had programs for 15 minutes each. I remember that time the transmission was not clear and there were a lot of interferences and the sound was poor. But I thank God for blessing the station and today the transmission was great and the programs contain useful material for disciple's faith and evangelism for unbelievers. We always ask God for providing you wisdom to improve the programs. We thank God for allowing pastor of (Through The Bible) to share the words of God in a simple way.

We thank God for keeping us up in listening to TWR and our faith to grow. In the same token our knowledge about God has helped us in our testimony for the salvation. Our family makes our living by selling Chinese buns as hawkers and God has given us the courage to talk about Him and distribute the Gospel flier. Apart from that I introduce to people the details of the station and we thank God that some of them have followed up with the listening. I thank God that He has guided me in His love more and more in accordance of Galatians 2:20

I have been bringing 150 people to Christ and help them converted. This number is only a humble one and I always long for more service to the Lord to bring more and more people to Christ. Dear radio station, this is my sincere words without boasting in fact without God's blessings and strength I can do nothing. Please pray for my health due to the contraction of the Hepatitis B. I ask God for His mighty healing so that I can go onto testify and introduce the station to many."

New Frequency Period

When you set your clocks back on October 28, our new frequency period began. We had some changes in some of our programs and their times. Since this time George has been working on our spring season change.

One very important thing that affects which shortwave frequencies we use is the status of the sun's activity. The sun has an 11 year cycle. The middle of the sunspot cycle is when the sun has the most activity, with potentially hundreds of sunspots producing optimum conditions to our ionosphere. We are at the end of sunspot cycle 23. The new cycle 24 should begin during this frequency period. Some adjustments and changes are necessary to reach our target audiences with an optimum broadcast.

Prayer needs for furlough:
  [1] Vehicle for travel
  [2] A fine-tuned schedule that allows us
            to see everyone that we possibly can.

Just before we started this letter George took a spill in our yard. That is, he fell. The problem was that he tripped on our concrete walkway and landed on his elbow. He ended up with a break at the elbow and, as we write, is waiting for surgery. Please pray for smooth surgery and a quick recovery.

Please pray for Kathy as she assists George more directly as his right arm (literally) in ministry.

Thank you for your faithful part of this ministry. You have been a blessing to us in the support, whether prayer or financial. Without you we would not be able to continue serving the Lord here. The need is great and the workers are few. You have made sacrifices and we are grateful.

As you know from our last letter we are returning for furlough next year. It will be busy as we want to see as many of you as possible and try to have some family time.

We will be welcoming into our family this next spring and summer 3 new grandchildren so it will make our furlough extra special.

One listener from Cambodia writes:

I am 38 years old. I live in Svay Rieng Province. I have two children; a son, and a daughter. I am a group leader in my church. Since I accepted Christ as my Savior 5 years so far, I decided to serve the Lord but, I have no opportunity to study at any Bible training beside study with my pastor. Therefore, my Biblical knowledge is limited. I taught to my church members of what I learned from my pastor.

Sometime, it was very hard for me because the Sunday was coming but I still did not know what lesson to teach to my church member. And sometimes, I do not understand what was said in the Bible itself.

But now, I give thank to the Lord for the program of Thru The Bible. I am really happy to listen to the Word of God through the program. It is very good for me to increase my knowledge about the Bible. You know! When I listen to the word of God through radio, I keep note in my book and then I took it to teach my church members. Now, I gain a lot from the programs of Trans World Radio. I felt confident when I taught the Word of God to my church members. Praise to the Lord and thanks Trans World Radio."