Tour WMC-AP
V3N1, March 2006
Changing Tires, Tasks & Techniques!
by: Doug Flemming, Asia Pacific Regional Communications Coordinator and Director of WMC-AP
When is it time to change the tires on a car? Certainly before they fall off, right? I’m embarrassed to admit that we learned this lesson the hard way. Just the other day, while driving down the road, we heard a strange rattling noise under the car. Then suddenly, our right front tire flew completely off, bouncing down the busy street, while our car dragged to a screeching halt on the pavement! Thank God no one was injured and we just happened to be right across the street from a large auto repair center. So a mechanic was able to change the tire and replace a few other parts. Now our car is running as good as new on all four wheels.
This hard lesson about car maintenance is also a good reminder about missions. When is it time to change mission strategy or technique? Hopefully before the wheels fall off of the organization – before the ministry encounters a crisis. Certainly crisis is often the precursor to change – as they say, “necessity is the mother of invention.” But it’s generally more positive and productive when we anticipate the need for change and strategically implement the appropriate adjustments. As the popular ‘80s song suggests it’s much better to have a “cool change” than a chaotic change. And that’s what this issue of WaveLink is featuring -- the cool changes and innovations taking place around our region.
In the past year we have welcomed new regional, field and district leadership, including Jeff Myers, our new Field Communications Coordinator in Melanesia and Geneva Silvernail, our new Regional Literature Coordinator. Jay Mijares takes over the editorial role for WaveLink; and Daniel & Melissa Pape have joined our team to help with web design and layout.
In addition, we are seeing a variety of open doors for the Gospel. Many districts are moving toward self-sufficiency and more effective indigenous church growth. Our fields are venturing into new creative access ministries. New broadcast and literature projects are springing up in response to these opportunities. And God continues to raise up a new generation of national leaders and missionaries to carry out His Great Commission.
One leader’s statement sums up the outlook for the Asia-Pacific Region: “We are poised for explosive growth” in the decades to come. So as you read through this issue of WaveLink be inspired by the transformation that’s taking place and be motivated to check your own tires (tasks, techniques, team members) to see if anything needs to be changed to make your ministry machine run more efficient and effective.
On Air
stories from World Mission Broadcast
Women’s Radio Program is Even Good for Men
Dear Wantok Radio Light,
I’m a young man living in Menyama. I’m trying to tune in a station and by accident tuned in Wantok Radio Light where I heard a women’s program “Krai Bilong Ol Meri”. I heard a very nice message the two sisters were sharing. I open my ears attentively to listen to what they will say. The program was talking about Mothers looking after their children well and I heard John 3:16 read during the program. This particular program made me happy because I was going through some kind of problem. In my community, people mocked me, people make enemies with me and I didn’t see any future for myself. Therefore this program made me very happy and it really blessed my heart. As I was still listening to the program my heart was really moved. Therefore I said to myself that I have to plant a Nazarene Church in my area. Now my radio dial is on Wantok Radio Light. I am very eager to listen to the programs brought by the Nazarene Radio Ministries.
Bilen Yutikas - Program Listener
by Lisa Lehman
Hope in This Life, a WMB radio program in Northern Thailand, is leading AIDS sufferers to new life in Christ. Pastor Natachai of the Fang Church of the Nazarene reports that as the program celebrates its first anniversary on the air, four people suffering with AIDS have been reached with the gospel message. All four are now regular attenders of the Fang Church.
In November 2005, Thai broadcaster Pachara Saengwichai, along with Lisa Lehman, Field Communications Coordinator, joined Pastor Natachai in visiting three of these new Christians. Pastor Natachai is burdened for Hope in This Life’s widening audience which includes laborers, household helpers, teachers, government workers and families of AIDS victims. Please pray with the Pastor and the congregation of the Fang Church of the Nazarene as they accept the challenge to provide a portion of the program’s funding so Christ’s message of hope can be further extended to all who will hear.
The Gates will not Prevail!
by: Dave Hane, Regional Jesus Film Coordinator
Sixty-three years ago some of the most intense fighting of WWII occurred on a beautiful tropical island called Guadalcanal in the Solomon Island chain of the South Pacific. But today, there is an even greater battle being waged in the Solomon Islands as our JESUS Film teams enter areas that for centuries have been under the dominion of witchcraft and spirit worship.
Often, when they enter an area, our teams are met with violent opposition. While traveling through the village of Mage, the team was stopped at gunpoint by a gang of rascals. After some tense moments, the team was able to pass and continue on to their film showing location.
After their scheduled showing, the team was burdened to return to Mage to share the Gospel with these gang members. In spite of their fear, the team sought permission to show the JESUS Film in Mage. As a result, the gang leader and several of his gang members were won to the Lord. We now have a strong work in Mage and this church has become the growing parent church for the area.
The JESUS Film continues to be a powerful evangelistic tool in many parts of the Asia-Pacific region as evidenced by the statistics for 2005:
- Number of teams: 27
- New Mission Churches Planted: 75
- Number of showings: 3,665
- Number of people attended: 74,289
- Number of conversions: 24,838
- Number of people followed up: 25,726
The Final Cut
by: Ervz Tia, Video Production; WMC-AP
Shooting on LocationMany of us, especially as amateur videographers, do most of our shooting outside the controlled environment of a studio. Shooting on location has a very unique set of challenges and yet it also can provide great results when the conditions are anticipated and prepared for. The following tips should help as you prepare for your next location session.
1. Always keep your bag stocked with necessary cables, chargers, adapters, batteries, tapes, and a large plastic bag for protecting your equipment if the weather turns bad.
2. Have at least one spare battery and keep it charged.
3. For interviews have an external mic. Many low-cost lapel types are available.
4. Always use a tripod, especially for interviews and landscapes.
5. Keep your lens cap on when on standby.
6. Bring your silver car window shade. It is a handy reflector to lighting dark subjects and faces.
7. At the end of each shot always record 5-10 seconds of black before stopping your tape by putting the lens cap on while still recording. This will give you an easy start point for your next shot without breaking your timecode. This is called “blanking.
Printed Matter
stories from World Mission Literature
My Best Friend Jesus
Children in Thailand and Papua New Guinea are learning about Jesus through a beautiful colored booklet “My Best Friend Jesus”. It contains colorful pictures taken from the Jesus film for children. Nazarene translators in Bangkok and Northern Thailand translated the little booklet into the Thai and Lahu languages. In Papua New Guinea it was translated into Tok pisin. Children in USA and Canada gave generously to provide the funds in order to publish the booklets.
South East Asia Literature
Quality literature is very important in developing a strong growing church. In the last two years the South East Asia field has developed a wide range of literature in four different languages. In the Thai language they have produced NMI lessons, Sunday School lessons, and a variety of books for pastors and lay church leaders. In Lahu they have printed Bible studies for youth, women and general use. They have also created literacy primers to help new readers in the Lahu language.
In another creative access country, a lady pastor has written a series of twelve excellent adult Sunday school lessons. In that same language they have also updated the Manual and translated Bible study books.
In Myanmar our literature team has produced a book on the Christian family and translated another book on Leadership. This huge amount of work shows the results of a lot of very talented and committed people working together to help build a strong church.
Change in Leadership
In February 2006 Dr. Geneva Silvernail became the Regional Literature Coordinator. She replaces Dr. Neville Bartle who will continue as D.S. of New Zealand and also as an adjunct missions professor at NTC in Brisbane, Australia; and APNTS, Philippines. Dr. Bartle will continue to be involved in literature ministry through writing books and conducting writers’ workshops.
Dr. Silvernail comes to the region with many years of missionary experience in the Caribbean and in Africa. She is a gifted administrator and recently was the coordinator for the General NMI convention at Indianapolis.
Campus Connection
News from the Fairbanks School of Communications
A New Approach of Preparing Christian Ministers in the Media Ageby: Kwon, Dong Hwan “Bill”, Professor of Communications; APNTS
Media and technology are two of the driving forces in our world today. In order to effectively communicate the gospel in the 21st century, media education is an essential part of theological education. Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary (APNTS) is answering that challenge by bridging media and ministry.
In the early 90’s, Dr. Lebron Fairbanks, former President of APNTS, envisioned a media education and production center. His vision became a reality when the Fairbanks Media Center now known as WM Communications Asia–Pacific (WMC–AP) was established in 1994 and began offering the region’s only Master of Arts program in Christian Communication (MACC).
Building on the success of the MACC Program, the APNTS Board of Trustees has agreed to establish the Fairbanks School of Communications (FSC) honoring the foundation of media education laid by Dr. Fairbanks. The FSC will continue to provide the formal MACC program. In addition, informal training, seminars, workshops, and focus programs will be conducted to prepare ministers for effective ministry through media. Through WMC–AP, FSC and MACC students will learn to apply communication principles and skills through the actual production of radio, video, TV, Internet and print materials.
The FSC is headed by Professor Kwon, Dong Hwan as director. Working with Professor Kwon is an international team of instructors from the U.S., Japan, New Zealand, and the Philippines; offering a variety of academic, media and ministry experience.
We believe this unique blend of media and ministry education is the appropriate Christian response to our rapidly changing society. We believe that FSC will play a crucial role in bridging ministry and society. We pray for God’s great provision in the establishment of the Fairbanks School of Communication in June 2006.
Enroll Now for 2006 Summer MACC modules!
Communicating Christ in M ContextsMay 22 - June 2
(8am – 12 noon & 1:30pm – 3:30pm)
Dwells on principles and procedures on cross-cultural communication and contextualization of the gospel. Dr. Melvin Rigsby, Pastor, Adjunct Professor of APNTS
Traditional Media
June 5 – June 16
(8am – 12 noon & 1:30pm – 3:30pm)
Acquaints student with use of drama and applies the dynamics of performance medium to church setting. Dr. Dan Behr: Professor of Communication at MVNU, Adjunct Professor of APNTS.
For additional information please visit www.apnts.org or call (63-2) 284-3741 extension 101
The WAVELINK is the official newsletter of World Mission Communications Asia-Pacific (WMC-AP) and published by WMC-AP, an organization of the Church of the Nazarene. For much more content visit our website at www.wmc-ap.org
Executive Editor: Doug Flemming
Managing Editor: Jay Mijares
Graphics: Daniel Pape
Layout: Daniel Pape
