They're Coming... Are You?

They're coming! Some are old... others are young... some are merely children. They're coming from all walks of life... from all socio-economic classes. Some will travel for several hours. Some will be there via internet. Some will listen on their radios. Some 6,000 will physically walk through our gates during the 3-day event. Why are they coming? What do they seek? They want to be part of the Mision Compartida 2011 (the Shared Mission) celebration.

Activities for Children Give Something for Everyone

Each year we open our doors, our phones and our hearts to give our listeners the opportunity to share how God has used radio HCJB in their lives. Many come to meet one of our radio producers whom God used to say "just the right thing, at just the right time". Others come to see the station they have only heard about on their radio. Others come personally to leave their donation with us because it means more to them if they give it in person. Others call in with their pledge and tell us how the station has helped them grow through the previous year.

Live Christian Music on Stage and on the Radio

For 3 days, HCJB hosts this big celebration. Christian musical groups perform live on stage. Tents go up on the grounds, offering  activities for children, opportunities to meet local missionaries, games, etc. The live studio audience is a hallmark of the event. But the story behind the story are the encounters our producers have with their listeners. It's the story of how God is working in individual lives. It is seeing the child that we prayed for on the air. This is the most important "touch" we have with our audience all year.

People Come to the Station to Give Their Donation

It is also impressive to see how people open their pocketbooks and how God pours out His blessing upon us financially. Last year we raised a quarter of a million dollars from our listeners, and the blessing grows every year. Even in these tough economic times we have seen consistent 20% growth in our donations year-over-year. We have a saying in the USA... "Put your money where your mouth is". Well the people of Ecuador certainly seem to be taking that to heart. It is humbling to see so many of our donors come. Some give as little as dollar, but they come anyway. They want to be part of the Shared Mission. That mission is to reach Latin America and the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. They have seen God work in their own lives and they want to share it with others. The station helps them do that by giving 10% of every dollar received to support native Latin Americans who are serving on the mission field, some in very difficult situations.

Doing Radio in Front of a Live Studio Audience

If you want to be a part of this celebration, you can be. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter. We'll be posting photos, videos and even doing some "live streaming" on Facebook during the event. Of course a little knowledge of Spanish will help you know what is going on, but you'll get a feel for the event even if you don't. If you feel moved to be a financial partner with Mision Compartida you can visit our web page. Most of all, you can pray for us. What a privilege it is to serve our Lord and Savior and see Him move through His people.

Thanks,

Doug Weber
HCJB Voz Global

Misión Compartida 2010

The very next weekend after the Extreme Response Christmas party and the Quito Day concerts, we jumped right into the annual fundraiser/share-a-thon/open house for our two local radio stations. Radio HCJB in Quito ran their share-a-thon from Friday thru Sunday while HCJB-2 in Guayaquil ran theirs from Thurs thru Sunday.

Here in Quito we open the doors to the radio station while at the same time inviting them to give to the station. And they do come. This year we estimate that 5,700 people passed through our gates. They come to see their favorite producer. They come to leave their donation. They come to express their appreciation for the ministry our producers have had in their lives. This is a time of sharing together.

Listeners can pledge their donation by calling us or they can come to the station and leave their donation with us. Then they can enter our "live studio" to see how radio is made from behind the scenes. Much of our music is also performed "live" during the event. Many listeners will come to see their favorite musical group in person. This year we invited the group "Blest" from the USA as well as several local groups from Ecuador.

The children can be dropped off in the "Children's tent" where a local church volunteers to entertain them with face painting, coloring, games and presentations where clowns teach the kids about Jesus. We also have inflatable trampolines for the kids when the presentations are not going on.

Misión Compartida is about connection. It is about connecting with our listeners. It is about our listeners connecting with us. It is about financial support for the station. It is about sharing in the mission of reaching Ecuador and the world with the good news about Jesus Christ. This year our listeners pledged over $215,000 for the station. Unbelievable? History shows that here in Quito, our listeners will likely give more than they have pledged. This is a testimony to the work our producers do on the air. Our listeners give out of gratitude for the ministry they receive every day over the airwaves. That is why we are so excited about the ministry of HCJB in Latin America. Thanks for being a part of that ministry through your prayers and support of our family in so many ways.

Doug & Ruth