Reaching the Mising through Radio

  A Friend through the Airwaves

"I am so glad you are listening," Praval Taleng says into the microphone as he begins one of his broadcasts to his people, the Mising. His voice is transmitted over the airwaves and into remote villages across the tribal region—areas that otherwise would have been hard to reach with the Good News due to transportation challenges and frequent flooding.

When Dayal Thomas, Gospel for Asia's leader for Mising outreach, first contacted Praval about starting a broadcast for the Mising people, he was thrilled and eager to help. Dayal and Praval worked together, and through God's provision the first Mising-language broadcast was aired in October 2003.

With a potential listening audience of two million—and no transportation barriers—Praval recognized the privilege God was giving him to reach vast multitudes with the Gospel message. And for Praval, his role of representing Christ to his fellow Mising is not one he takes lightly.

"When I go to the studio, I pray, 'Lord, please speak to my people,'" he says.

During the first few weeks of his broadcast, Praval worked especially hard to improve his diction and ensure that each broadcast was good quality. Soon he saw fruit from his labors and prayers as letters began to arrive, testifying to how God was touching hearts through the broadcasts.

Praval works with Gospel for Asia pastors throughout the Mising area to provide follow-up with as many of the letter writer's as possible. He has even had the privilege to meet some of them himself.

The response fills Praval's heart with joy. "I think people are happy that this radio broadcast is airing in their language," he says.

As he records in the broadcast studio day after day, Praval feels encouraged that his labor in the Lord is not in vain: Countless lives in the Mising tribe are being forever changed as they hear about the hope that Christ offers.

Did you know that several churches have been planted through Praval's radio broadcasts to the Mising people? Read the story of one such church.