We suddenly have a financial emergency at the radio. We had some natural medicine healers advertising on our radio, but unfortunately in June, the Minister of Health decided to shut them all down. She actually had no authority to do so, but that is just how things are done here. One day everything is fine; the next day stores are padlocked.
However, their advertising made up about 60% of our operating budget—over $2,000 per month was lost. We are praying that we can get some back or that they will be allowed to operate again. But right now, we will have to cut half of our staff and cut our already tight budget even more. I have already laid off some workers, and more will be laid off soon. We are cutting severely, but I still owe workers for what they have already worked. Please consider the following:
1. We need churches to pray for us right now. This is obviously an attack of the Devil to hurt the preaching of the Gospel in Rwanda.
2. We really need some special offerings to help us get through this transition time until we can get some other sponsors or make all the permanent cuts needed.
3. Finally, if your church would consider taking us on for support or raising our support a bit, it would help.
Just to let you know, we truly love Amazing Grace Christian Radio; it is a great tool to spread the Gospel in Rwanda. We also regularly sacrifice much to keep it running. Every tax return we have received for the past many years has gone to keeping the radio running—usually to pay the yearly license of $4,000 per year.
And the radio is reaching people! More than 2,500 people have come to Christ over the years . . . that we know of. We have 10 students in Bible college in Uganda, and I also hear through the grapevine how Christians all across Rwanda are asking their pastors why they are not teaching the Gospel like they hear on our radio.
Thank you all so much for your prayers and support. These 2 months we saw 78 people trust Christ out soul winning, 20 professions, and 76 saved through the radio.
In His service,
Gregg, Angela, Caleb, Hannah, Timothy, Virginia, Micah, and Zachery Schoof