African communicators practice digital photo editing techniques. They were students enrolled in a two-and-a-half-week training conference held at Africa University in Mutare, Zimbabwe. Photo by Mike DuBose.

Communications initiative helps spread the word worldwide

By Joey Butler

Sharing the story of the gospel has come a long way since its word-of-mouth beginnings. Now, you can download Scripture onto your cell phone or listen to a sermon podcast while you're driving to work.

But in some parts of the world, communication isn't far removed from the days of the apostles. Often, the best -- or only -- way for churches to reach others is to travel and meet with them individually.

That's why the 2004 General Conference approved the Central Conference Communications Initiative to nurture and strengthen church communications in Africa, Europe and the Philippines.

"In these parts of the world, such things as e-newsletters, PowerPoint¨ presentations or audio/video have not been readily available," said Tafadzwa Mudambanuki, director of United Methodist Communications International. "Many used to demonize technology, but we see a lot of change coming."

The initiative has four main goals:

* Establishing communication centers in annual conferences in Africa, Europe and the Philippines.

* Training communicators in those areas.

* Establishing community radio stations.

* Opening distance learning centers.

Radios are a vital communications source in Sierra Leone and could be used to broadcast information about important social and educational issues. Photo by Kathy Gilbert.

Communication centers have opened in 15 African countries to date, and are equipped with computers, cameras, Internet access, video capability and other vital communication tools. Partnerships with numerous U.S. annual conferences and other groups and individuals provided funding for the centers.

Since 2005, staff members from United Methodist Communications have traveled to Zimbabwe, the Philippines, Uganda and Latvia to train communicators to use the new equipment and to hone their journalism skills.

Hakan Wiik, editor for Nya BudbŠraren, a United Methodist publication in Finland, attended a 2007 training session in Latvia and remarked, "It gave me firsthand experience how to conduct a visit among people with social problems. I haven't done that before, and now I am planning to visit a shelter for homeless men for an upcoming issue."

The Rev. Elias Massicame, a United Methodist pastor and journalist in Mozambique, learned new publication software skills in a training session at Africa University in 2006.

Massicame says reaching a wider audience is helpful in spreading the gospel, but vital in spreading life-saving information. "Malaria is a bad problem here, and we need a way to get information to as many people as possible. Radios and newspapers reach a wide group."

European communicators gathered in Riga, Latvia, last November for a Central Conference Communications Initiative training. Photo courtesy of UMCom International.

In Liberia, a 300-watt radio station opened in March 2007. Stations are expected to open in Cote d'Ivoire, Mozambique and the Philippines in the coming years. In addition, hand-cranked radios were distributed in rural areas of Liberia.

The Central Conference Communications Initiative has also partnered with the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry to open distance-learning centers. The first, a satellite campus of Africa University, opened in Maputo, Mozambique, in March. Other proposed sites are in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone.

"This is the realization of a dream for us," said Nodumo Dhlamini, director of Africa University's information and communication technology department. "Now the student who is not free to go to Zimbabwe can take courses where they are."

"When you give access to life-saving information to fellow human beings, you unleash their power of innovation and entrepreneurship," Mudambanuki said. "The Central Conference Communications Initiative has provided ladders of opportunity that were not readily available for previous generations."

--Joey Butler, managing editor, Interpreter and Interpreter OnLine.
Additional information from United Methodist News Service reports.

For more information, visit www.umcominternational.org or call (615) 742-5120.