Epic Stories

Mike and I will be in Greece from Tuesday to Saturday working on another film for the Epic Stories series. These eight films were produced by the TWR Europe PR department back in 2006. Actually, the creation of these films is how I heard about TWR in the first place, as David's production company and Amy's photography were large parts of the mad skills behind these initial films. My internship followed only months later.

Speaking from experience, the Epic Stories are a really powerful tool to raise awareness and education about TWR's global ministry. Each film is 8-12 minutes long and describes a particular area of TWR's work in a particular area and why it is such a vital ministry.

Our favorite Epic Story to use in fundraising was the film covering Ala's Diary, an internet program in the Middle East reaching youth. More than half of the Middle East's population is under the age of 25, and they are all deciding who they want to be and how they want to live. Anyone, not just Christians, can see how extremely significant this next generation will be in deciding the world's next steps. TWR is there, telling them about Jesus in a peer-to-peer ministry.

Just to name a few other areas covered by the films:

• A nomad from North Africa begging for more oral programming, as his people are miles and miles from the nearest church and are unable to read a Bible.
  
• On a radio meant to be used for communist propaganda, a Ukranian pastor and producer first heard about Jesus through TWR's programs reaching past the Iron Curtain.
• A woman in Albania uses her shop to promote TWR's Project Hannah program for women to encourage her sisters that are so often oppressed and hopeless.

We'll be traveling to Greece to answer a question we get so often: Why Radio? Greece's FM radio programs are also aired on the internet, and TWR's hour of programming is the most-listened to, by far. (It's true. I've seen the statistical print-out!) In a recent survey of developed countries, it was revealed that radio is one of the most trusted and used sources of information. (Politicians were at the bottom of the last--some things are truly global!) Greece is simply an excellent example of how truly relevent and powerful radio is today, even in a 'developed' country.

We are also filming an Epic Story about the plight of the Roma people in Eastern Europe, a group of people that make up the largest minority group in Europe. Formerly (and incorrectly) referred to as 'gypsies,' this oral society of people is very segregated, thought to be liars and thieves, and refused education and employment. TWR is creating programs for them in their unique native tongue, which varies country-to-country. They are also handing out solar radios so they can hear our programs.