Tag Archives: radio

Travel update

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airplaneJust a note about where I’ve been the last few weeks:

  • Cuba — Feels funny to say that I went to a women’s conference. Actually, I wasn’t at the women’s sessions much, but did get to speak to a group of preachers that gathered at the same time. I also translated for some of the group from the Beltline Church of Christ in Decatur, Alabama, as they addressed the men. Beltline sponsors the women’s conference. Most of the time, however, was spent with Tony Fernández, visiting radio listeners and studying a part of the province where he hopes to begin new mission churches soon. (Tony’s congregation has planted more than 40 churches over the last 10 years)
  • Kansas — I got to go to Lawrence, Kansas, doing my Christ and Culture seminar for the Southside Church of Christ there; that’s part of what I do for Hope for Life / Herald of Truth Great people, and they felt like the content I shared was very timely for their group.
  • Nicaragua — This is part of Herald of Truth’s Central American Project. Steve Ridgell and I travelled to Managua, meeting with radio listeners and preaching an evangelistic campaign. We also met with a brother who works in the area south of Managua, making plans to expand our work to that area in 2016.
  • Silver Spring, Maryland — I was invited to do a men’s conference at the Silver Spring Church of Christ, as well as speaking for their whole Hispanic group on Sunday morning and for an areawide event Sunday night. Another great group. It’s always encouraging to see what God is doing around the world.

What have you been up to?

Radio follow-up in Cuba

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Tony Fernández, Herald of Truth representative in Cuba

One important part of my work at Herald of Truth is the preparation of the radio program Lea La Biblia (Read the Bible). When recording a program, I don’t get to see any of the listeners; I just have to imagine them in my mind’s eye. One of the great things about traveling to other countries is that I get to meet some of those God has touched through the work I get to do.

One of the first people I met at the men’s conference was Vladimir Sedeño Díaz, from Camagüey, in the eastern part of the main island of Cuba. Vladimir was trained in telecommunications at the University of Kiev, then sent directly to the front in Angola. He fought in Zaire, the Congo, Namibia and South Africa, being wounded in battle more than once. He came home with lasting injuries, both physical and psychological. He gradually turned away from political ideology and sought Christ.

Vladimir heard the Herald of Truth Lea La Biblia radio program and called the Herald of Truth office in Matanzas. Tony Fernández, our representative there, contacted the preacher in Camagüey, who visited Vladimir, studied with him, and eventually baptized him.

Vladimir became a fervent promoter of the radio programs provided by the churches of Christ, including those by Herald of Truth and another produced by Christian Productions International out of Florida. Through Vladimir’s efforts, ten more people have been converted, and several new house churches have begun. God is doing great things!


Last June, when I made a quick trip to Cuba, I was able to speak briefly by phone with a brother from Punta de Maisí, the easternmost tip of the island of Cuba. At the conference last week, I finally got to meet this brother face to face.

In 2011, when we began broadcasting Lea La Biblia via Trans World Radio, this preacher began hosting a “listening club” for other Christians and their neighbors. Not everyone in his remote town has a radio, so they gather together to listen and discuss the program. When the churches of Christ began other programs months later, the club met at those times as well.

It was great for me to be able to connect a face with the voice on the phone.

Friday of last week, I was privileged to go with Tony Fernández to the post office to see the letters coming in to the Herald of Truth office. Tony hadn’t been able to go that week, so he thought there might be a lot. He was right!

In our ministry, we put a lot of emphasis on local follow-up. What’s the use of broadcasting somewhere if no one can follow up with the people that respond? Tony is one of the hardest working people I know, and he applies that hard work to following up on radio contacts. He was concerned that some of these people might have had to wait over a week for a response; his goal is to allows respond within seven days.

We’re currently getting over 100 letters per month, many of those requesting Bibles and Bible studies. As I said the other day, I dare not take any credit for any of this. If God has been able to use anything that I do, the glory is his. Herald of Truth has been around for 60 years, seeking to be a tool for God’s Kingdom.

“Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!”
(Psalms 115:1)

Good news from a distant land

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“Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.” (Proverbs 25:25)

I do a 15-minute radio program in Spanish, 5 days a week. I enjoy it, but I have to admit that there are times when I almost groan when it’s time to record.

Then you get one of “those” letters. Like the e-mail message from a preacher in Cuba:

Of course, here in my province there is a woman who frequently listened to the radio program where you preached. (Tim’s note: That radio station ceased broadcasting, so I’m not currently on the air in her area). Tony gave me her address and I visited her. After hearing the Gospel, she was baptized, and, to God’s glory, this past week we started a new congregation in her house… In this way, the words are fulfilled that some sow, others water and God gives the growth.

After reading that message, it was much easier to go to the studio yesterday.

Cuba trip

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Last Friday I got to make my third trip to Cuba for Herald of Truth. Admittedly, Cuba is my favorite place to go among the trips we make, especially now that I’m doing a radio program that is heard there Monday through Friday. I especially enjoy meeting people like the ones in the photo who say, “We listen to you regularly.” It can be tough to keep that in mind when sitting in front of a microphone; visits like this help me keep in mind what is really going on.

Steve Ridgell and I traveled from Abilene to Dallas, Dallas to Cancun, Cancun to Cuba. Everyone says, “Ooh, Cancun…,” forgetting that Cuba is a Caribbean island. I won’t hide it; we stay in hotels overlooking the ocean, with breathtaking views. Cancun isn’t exciting to me when I’m headed for Cuba (although I’m told the resorts in Cancun are beautiful; hotels in Cuba are nice enough, but far from fancy). We arrived in Havana at about midnight, spent time clearing immigration and got away from the airport about 1 a.m. By the time we stopped by a church building in Havana to pick up some materials, visited Tony Fernandez’ house in Matanzas and drove to Varadero it was close to 4 when we got to the hotel. Poor Tony was too sleepy to drive back home and ended up pulling over and sleeping in his truck on the way home. (Cubans can’t stay in hotels, so he couldn’t stay with us)

Over the next few posts on this blog, I want to share with you some of our experiences. The church is growing by leaps and bounds in Cuba and God is doing great things there. I’ve got exciting things to tell!