Commercial & Government Radio Stations Air New Pidgin Children's Program

In it’s first month, Krais I Laikim Olgeta Pikinini (KILOP) is now airing on six different radio stations across the country.  They are FM Morobe and FM Central Sepik, both commercial stations that have offered us free air time.  FM Morobe, located in PNG’s second largest city, broadcasts to more than six hundred thousand people!  Two others Christian stations, Catholic FM and Laif FM, also carry KILOP.  The remaining carriers are government owned radio stations.  

In English, the title translates to "Christ Loves All Kids." Rev. Ekka rejoices in the fact that "None of the radio station is charging us money. Praise the Lord.  God is making everything possible for us! We may be just one month old, but we are praying and believing that the Lord will work through the KILOP program to touch and transform the lives of many kids in Papua New Guinea!"

After months of prayer and planning, Melanesian Nazarenes began airing KILOP this month, their first World Mission Broadcast program just for kids.  From the beginning this program development truly has been a labor of love on behalf of the children of Papua New Guinea.  According to the program producer, Rev. Daniel Ekka, their broadcast team came up with the program idea because they were so burdened by the plight of children in PNG.  Rev. Ekka reports that, 'in nearly every town and city and village in Papua New Guinea we have kids with no parents, we have kids who are unable to go to a school to be educated...many have become street kids.  These poor kids, who call themselves "town taxes," wait at the market places to unload people’s garden foods to help themselves for survival.'  But Pastor Daniel echoes the sentiments of National Children’s Director, Rev. Asiak Wai when he declares, “No matter what, Jesus loves these kids!  And our desire is to see that at an early age the Word of God is imparted in the kids’ lives so that they will become a God fearing man and woman of Papua New Guinea in the many years to come.” 

Through KILOP Christ’s love is being expressed in practical ways.  The contents of this 10-minute program consists of Bible stories told in a dramatized form, narration of short village stories, indigenous kid’s praise music, interviews with children, and an applied Biblical truth to wrap up the program.

 

The local involvement in this program is a story in itself.  In preparation for the broadcast, the Melanesia team hosted a broadcast workshop in Kudjip, attended by over 100 Children’s Ministry Teachers.  These teachers were trained by Rev. Ekka on how to write radio scripts that would be relevant for kids.  "All these teachers were pumped up and excited," says Ekka. “After the workshop we collected one hundred and eight scripts! One hundred and eight Children’s Ministry Teachers are behind their KILOP Program Director Rev. Asiak Wai to write and produce the program and help him to pray for the program!"

Participation in this program has not been limited to Melanesians alone.   At least two districts in the US (North Florida and Joplin) learned about this program concept early on and decided to adopt it as their own.  They have rallied their district children’s ministries to pray and raise funds for this program in creative ways.  Their investment is already paying off.
  

this post was filed under Around The Region on Sep 23, 2008