Letters from Albania

Click here to learn more about how TWR is reaching women in Albania. You can see a preview for the Epic Story about Project Hannah, TWR's global ministry for suffering women. Several of these letters are also in response to a very popular TWR program, Thru the Bible. The theme of oppression in these letters in heart-breaking.


"I live in a far village and I am so blessed that I can hear the radio. I and all my family are believers. The nearest church is far away from our village so we don’t have the possibility to go there. Radio has become good spiritual food for us. The program Thru the Bible is a wonderful opportunity to study the Bible together. It is like [the speaker] Dr. McGee comes to us at the same time every day to teach us the wonderful revelations of the Word of God. It is great, because the radio can come where it is difficult for others to come. "

"Christian radio is my great friend. I have my own shop where I style and prepare clothes for women. The radio in on all the time and the customers often ask me about different things they hear on the radio, so I have great possibilities to share my faith with them. I gave several of them fix-tuned radios and I’m amazed at the work the Lord is doing on their hearts as they go home. They come back so full of the Word. The Lord is increasing his Kingdom and this is so exciting. I tell everyone that, if they want to understand the Word, they must listen to TTB. May the blessings of the Lord be upon you."

"It’s a blessing for us to have you. I cannot go to church as my husband is against it, but I meet different Christian friends in my shop and we pray together. We want to know God more and the radio is helping us. It’s such an incredible and crucial help for me in growing as a Christian and sharing my faith with others. I keep the radio on all day long in my shop and different customers ask me about my faith. This way, I can share my faith; my husband is okay with this, as long as our customers are happy. "

"For many years, Christian radio was my only way of growing in faith. I came to the Lord through radio and as part of a family [from a different religious background]. I was never allowed to go to a small cell group in my village. My father destroyed all the Christian booklets I had and the Bible. Last year, he forced me to marry an unbeliever. Now I live in Greece and miss the radio so much. I miss the programs. Would you please send me your programs from the book of 1 Chronicles and further? Thank you. I pray for you all the time and I trust the Lord will strengthen your faith and bless the work of your hands."

"The TTB program is a great blessing for me. My husband does not allow me to go to church, so Christian radio is my great companion. I listen to the program and read the Bible with the pastor. It’s like a balm for my sprit. The Word is so powerful and encourages me to go on and trusting God that he will change my husband and bless my family. Thank you, and I’m praying for God’s great blessing on your life."

"Thank you for being a good friend to all of us who don’t have possibility to go to church. I am so blessed by the program of Mr. McGee. I am a Christian, but my husband doesn’t allow me to go to church. Thank you for giving us spiritual food through the radio. God bless you all. "

A listener letter

Ramu was tall and gaunt, with sunken eyes that were always on the move, looking for the next young girl on whom to prey. Ramu was a pimp and had only one interest: to coax the villagers into sending their young girls with him to the nearby city where he would find work for them. Here is Ramu’s story in his own words (excerpted and adapted from the book I Heard a Voice by Vinita Shaw, CEO of TWR-India):

I would gather young girls and take them to the city, as one takes cows to be slaughtered, where they would be supplied to brothels. My trade was so prosperous that I supplied young girls to Mumbai and even across the border to Nepal. It wasn’t difficult at all. The poor villagers were like sitting ducks, waiting to be preyed upon. I would look for new villages each time. Making money had never been this easy, especially since I belonged to the area, looked like one of them, spoke their language and had a way of ‘marketing’ my ideas.

I earned a hefty commission because the steady flow of girls that I kept providing made me the best at the game. And so, I reveled in my newfound wealth and squandered it all. Never once did I regret my actions. Never once did I think of the ruin I had brought to the lives of innumerable young girls. Life was busy, and days were full for me.

The horror of my deeds never struck me, until one day, in my drunkenness, I switched on the radio and happened to listen to [TWR’s] Bhojpuri program. I heard it because the man was speaking in a colloquial language, something I did not have to stretch my mind to understand. I also heard it because the man’s voice had a gentle tone.

I listened to it again the next week, out of sheer curiosity. A radio program had never before had such an effect on me. As I continued listening, I began to realize the awfulness of my crimes and the immorality and ugliness of my life. I felt unclean and ashamed.

“And to tell you that I am not counting your sin (2 Cor. 5:19),” the speaker said on the program. These words burned in my heart. Who was offering me pardon, without my asking? Even I cannot forgive myself, I thought. Wasting no time, I invited the Lord Jesus into my heart. I confessed all my sins, and I am a changed man today. I still do not have the courage to look at myself in the eye, but I know that Jesus has forgiven me. Please pray for me.

—A TWR listener in India

Listener letters from around the world

Everyday we have the true privilege of working with letters we receive from listeners. Any frustrations or doubts about what we are doing simply vanish with reading these letters. I just put together a few for the upcoming TWR Europe newsletter and thought I'd share. Each one of these was chosen from about a dozen in the region. TWR receives thousands every year and personally responds to each one.

Names and locations have been removed.

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GERMAN
The wonderful program „Thru the Bible“ is my companion throughout the last years. I have been strengthened in my spirit and have joy and peace in my heart. Your clear explanation of God’s Word is so easy to understand. The hymns that are at the end of the program are particularly nice.

ROMANI-KALDERASH (formerly called 'gypsies')
I am glad that you gave us this solar radio. Along with my family who is Christian, we listen to your programs. I am a member in a small Baptist gypsy church and all my brothers are listening to your programs. We pray for you that God will give you strength and blessings.

POLISH
I am 52 and single. I am sitting my sentence and don’t know how long it will last. My parents are both dead. My cell mate often speaks to me about Jesus Christ. I see that those who live with God are happier because they can trust in God’s love and give their problems up to Him. I am fed up with the kind of life that I live. I would like to change it. Is it possible to correspond with somebody who is a believer? I have never experienced another person’s kindness or friendship.

ROMANIAN
I listen for 40 years to your programs, since 1967. I was hounded from home right after I was baptized. My only spiritual food was and is TWR Romania. I listen with a great joy and love and I am anxious to hear the programs every night. I listen first to the programs in the Hungarian language, then in Romanian. I have been blind for four years and am alone. I have no other relatives but there are so many sisters that come to my house. We pray together and I feel surrounded by their love and, also, I feel God so close to me. I love you very much and I am asking you not be discouraged. I prayed God to “feed” you like He did with Elijah by sending the “crows” for you, so you’ll be able to exist until He’ll come again.

ALBANIAN
I am writing to thank you for the TTB program. I got to know Jesus through the radio. I was in a very depressing situation. I have studied law and I haven’t got a job. When I first listened to the TTB program, it was just like a light in the darkness. Day after day, I began to learn more about Jesus and I wanted to know more about HIM. I am so glad God used you and this program to bring me in His Kingdom. Now, I go in church in my city and I would love to know God closer. May God bless you!

Listener Letter from North Africa

TWR receives countless listener letters, text messages, and Skype calls each month from every region of the world. The contact information of a local TWR office is given to listeners in broadcasts, then every single letter is responded to, translated, and sent internally among TWR to encourage its workers. Here is one from North Africa that TWR received this past month.

"A few years ago, while I was serving in the military, I was depressed and disgusted with my life. One day when I was on patrol duty around the barracks, I resolved to take my life with my weapon of service. Suddenly, a friend arrived to relieve me of my patrol. Seeing my depression, he held out a small radio receiver and said,'Take this receiver. I received a broadcast from abroad; somebody was speaking our language. Go take a rest and listen well to what the speaker says.'

"I turned on the small receiver and a few minutes later I heard a voice read Acts 16:27-31: The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, 'Don't harm yourself! We are all here!' The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' They replied, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—-you and your household.;

Through this verse, I believe I heard the voice of Jesus tell me, 'Do not give yourself over to death, believe only! I am here to give you life. I will give life to you and to your family, and to your friend that is with you!'

"After hearing this, my purpose in living was restored to me because Jesus gave me His life. I told my friend about this event, and he gave his heart to Jesus also. When I shared the story with my family, who are devout followers of another religion, they gave glory to Jesus. They also accepted Jesus as their King and their Savior Who is able to give them life."

You can also click here to watch Grace Burnham, a missionary held captive by separtist terrorists in the Philippines with her husband, explain how TWR reached out and encouraged them in the jungle.