World Mission Broadcast Partners with Olivet Nazarene University to launch Shine FM Youth Ministry in Africa

World Mission Broadcast (WMB) and Shine.FM are launching Shine-Africa, an initiative in cooperation with Olivet Nazarene University (ONU) and Africa Nazarene University (ANU).

The initiative has two chief purposes: to offer radio internships to ONU students in Africa, and to educate and offer a Christian message to youth in Africa through radio.

Using existing radio stations in Africa, WMB will utilize airtime for radio content developed and produced by ONU radio interns and local broadcast teams based on the needs of the listening audience.

ONU interns will work with local broadcast ministry leaders to offer programming in the context of the multiple languages and cultures within the targeted Africa listening area in cooperation with WMB.

“Radio is a highly regarded medium in Africa. In some cases people listen to it and regard it more highly than village leaders. Africa is part of our global community,” said Carl Fletcher, communications professor and director of broadcast operations at Shine.fm. "In many ways, Africa is a society that doesn’t have a lot of hope. We want to bring them a message of hope through the Christian gospel,” Fletcher said.

The radio internship will offer students off-site, portable editing and recording backpacks, and the study opportunity will be offered for academic credit.

“This initiative is an opportunity to impact people in a greater way with the skills and tools we are equipped with here at Olivet,” Fletcher said.

Students will receive radio programming, research and content-building experience, along with a chance to travel to Africa and use specialized training in a ministerial context on an international scale.

ONU, in cooperation with WMB, has set the goal to send up to three interns by summer 2010 to South Africa, Kenya, and Zambia.

Additional opportunities are being explored for Shine.FM to help Africa Nazarene University develop radio ministry and training.

“This is a priceless opportunity for us at Shine, as well as for incoming students interested in this field,” Fletcher said.