Surprisingly, the answer is unprecedented access to broadcast programming aimed at expanding the kingdom of faith. Today, technology is being harnessed for the advancement of the Gospel and training of disciples in every nation. In some areas, access to the full written Word is limited. The voice coming over short-wave or AM/FM radio may be the only discipleship tool available to believers.

    Teaching on a global scale requires a legion of laborers to coordinate efforts. (John 4:35–36) Networks such as Trans World Radio and Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC) have worked for years to develop technical skills and government relationships that allow them to produce and distribute top-quality Christian programming. These IN TOUCH affiliates, along with others like HCJB Broadcast Company and Far East Broadcasting Association (FEBA), do the necessary legwork of finding Christian translators, voice talent, and production crews through their contacts in a particular country. "If we had to go out and identify the translators and the production team, it would be impossible," says Dennis Brightman, In Touch Regional Manager. "We would have to have a manager for every two or three languages." Instead, the ITM International Department utilizes two regional managers in addition to the Director, consultants, and a sizable support staff.

    Prayer, which initiates each project, may be the least complicated step in developing a new language broadcast. It is also the most important because every stage poses myriad challenges for the International Department. Regional managers rely upon a proposal system when choosing an affiliate for a language. Two of the keys to a language broadcast's success are locating the right translator and finding the appropriate voice talent to represent Dr. Stanley. "Anyone can produce, but can [the sermon be delivered] with the right emotion and spirit?" Dennis asks. Or, as one team member put it, "[He must] sound like he has a pastor's heart."

    Before the voice talent can begin to work, the translator must accurately convey Dr. Stanley's English sermon in the foreign language. This is often more difficult than it appears on the surface. Not only is word-for-word translation impossible in any tongue, but translators must also consider cultural and social aspects of the sermon. On a recent trip to Kenya, In Touch Regional Manager Ratna Sajja was reminded that common American words and concepts may have no frame of reference in that culture. His Swahili translator explained, "Most of our listeners may not be familiar with something like snow because it doesn't snow in Kenya. So I have to come up with something to illustrate what ['white as] snow' is all about." The length of the translation is also problematic. An IN TOUCH broadcast should include 22 minutes and 30 seconds of Dr. Stanley's sermon. But once the material is rendered into Swahili, it is often much shorter because that language emphasizes brevity in a way English does not. One of the African IN TOUCH broadcasters includes long segments of music in the program. Now Ratna and Dennis know why. "They take the liberty to adapt, and they try to expand and complement the message," Ratna says. "What I've learned is that we cannot be rigid; we've got to give them some flexibility. At the same time, we've got to have control of the content because we don't want them to deviate from our doctrine or our philosophy."

    Another point of no compromise is follow-up work. Generally speaking, communication from the audience is handled by the affiliate. Romania is one nation where all the elements of broadcast work come together beautifully. Her communist government fell 15 years ago, but some religious restrictions linger. Utilizing trained pastors and evangelists to minister whenever possible, Christians inside and outside the country push to fill the moral vacuum left by that regime. Beyond that, as Radio Voice of the Gospel's (RVG) program statement reads, "The only way we can minister to the evangelical churches without pastors is through Christian radio." Unlike FEBA or Trans World Radio, RVG is a small independent network of six Romanian stations that engineers the IN TOUCH broadcasts for the country's 22 million inhabitants. The burden to translate, produce, and distribute programs is shared by just a handful of workers. In addition, RVG assumes responsibility for all follow-up work, just like their larger counterparts. Interestingly, the network's follow-up reports indicate that Romania produces the highest measurable response to non-English IN TOUCH broadcasts.

    Ratna Sajja considers follow-up to be the heart of each language project. Listener feedback reveals whether disciples are growing. It also lets In Touch calculate audience size and understand how the broadcast does or should meet needs in the culture. For instance, Ratna explains the importance of reaching the Middle East with the truth: "There are approximately 300 million Arabs living in the Middle East. They need to hear the Gospel that talks about the God of hope and love. When we talk about the God of love, they respond." Indeed, letters like the following indicate excited reaction to Arabic and Persian broadcasts: "I am your brother in Jesus Christ. I can say this because I have come to know Jesus as my Savior and Lord, even though I live in a country where Christians are unable to communicate with other believers. Every evening when I listen to your program, my faith is strengthened, and I know I belong to God's family. Thank you for sharing the Scriptures."

    Recently, giant strides have been made in translation work. "In Touch set a goal of 100 languages by 2012, but thanks to God's provision, the deadline has been accelerated to 2007," says Conrad Cantrell, International Director. Many of the present broadcast languages as well as a significant percentage of targeted ones are spoken inside the 10/40 window—the swath of land situated between the 10th and 40th parallel north of the Equator. It stretches from West Africa to Eastern Asia. In this region of 62 countries are found 80% of the world's poorest people and 97% of its unevangelized nations. A lack of Bibles and translators in several 10/40 languages presents a fresh problem. Dennis explains, "If Dr. Stanley is preaching a message [that makes reference to both] Old and New Testaments, [but translators have] only the gospels, then it just makes it much more difficult . . . to do accurate translation." He adds that for listeners, this barrier also makes it "a lot harder for discipleship."

    Many, though not all, of the countries in the 10/40 window are closed to Christianity. But the Gospel breaks down doors and crashes through "windows," bringing joy to a dismal world. Themessage of Jesus Christ promises courage in the face of fear, hope to chase away despair, and truth to stand in the place of lies. By means of methods that the foot-weary apostle Paul could not imagine, the Word is pouring out to thirsty hearts.