For decades, LHM has proclaimed the Gospel to the world through a unique ministry model that identifies and equips local laypeople to build their presence and impact using specific strategies and tactics contextual to the culture and language in which they serve. LHM staff and volunteers throughout Africa and the Middle East are offering a variety of programs to address the particular issues that people there are facing and establish ongoing personal relationships to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.
LHM—Cameroon recently celebrated the milestone of its tenth graduating class of participants from their successful Divine Sewing School. Initiated in 2013, this holistic program transforms young women's skills-and lives-by training students on proven, marketable skills. The young women learn how to dye cloth, create and cut clothing patterns, sew, and custom tailor their creations so they can financially support themselves upon graduating from the program. The Divine Sewing School attracts participants from a variety of faith backgrounds who are not only from Cameroon, but also resettled young women from Chad and the Central African Republic. The relationships established during this long-term course help LHM staff and volunteers share their faith as trusted friends to these young women.
LHM's partnership with the SAT-7 satellite network continues with the February launch of a fifth season of Arabic-language programming. The new program, titled Catalyst, engages young adults from more than 20 countries throughout the Middle East and North Africa by fostering dialogue about topical issues relevant to the people living there.
"The aim of the program is to help young people change their lives for the better," says the producer for Catalyst. "Its fast-paced, multi-segment episodes achieve this by applying the Bible's wisdom to their everyday struggles."
Youth were consulted in identifying the program topics to ensure they are relevant for the intended audience, and the style of the content has been developed to include interesting videos and captivating graphics. The four co-hosts discuss the selected topics for each episode, and small, informal groups of young adults are then invited to participate in an active debate about the content. Largely unscripted, these discussions stimulate conversation and serve as a "catalyst" to encourage the audience to engage with trained evangelists who are staffing social media pages and response centers to answer questions and share more information about Christ's love. The program airs five times a week for 26 weeks and is already ranked among the top three most popular Arabic programs.
Millions of people in the Middle East and North Africa are also reading LHM's inspiring messages and watching our topical video content across four social media sites. Over the past several years, nearly 1.5 million people from throughout the region have responded by subscribing to these pages, where they are gently led towards spiritual conversations. LHM staff has had conversations with tens of thousands of these individuals where they shared the message of God's hope and love for their lives. One of the pages just surpassed one million unique followers.
LHM—Kenya is reaching new audiences with the Gospel message. Multiple film screenings over the past few months have attracted more than 2,000 people. At one of these events, a young man in his twenties who is an atheist admitted that he only attended the screening of the Jesus Film so he could engage others in debate about their beliefs. But as Charles watched the film, seeing the miracles and sacrifice of Jesus touched him profoundly. His mother had longed for him to join the Christian faith, but he had repeatedly resisted. After the film, he sought her out to reconcile, began reading the Bible, and the Holy Spirit opened his heart to faith. Today, he is active in the Christian community of his local village and is enrolled in the Bible Correspondence Courses offered through LHM—Kenya.
"I thank God for bringing your team here to show me how He can reach a person anytime and anywhere," says Charles. "The message shared through your film has changed my life."
A new Kenyan radio drama series offered in two languages (Swahili and the local Sheng dialect) is now airing on two FM stations. The program reaches an estimated audience of around 700,000 in a high-density slum area of Nairobi. At the end of each broadcast, listeners are encouraged to call LHM staff and volunteers to learn more about what was shared on the program. This leads to additional opportunities to share God's Word with respondents.