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RADIO WAVES ACROSS NW KENYA
Connect two men of God and watch a vision spark. 2004: Scott Beigle is in the business of growing radio stations. John Cappelen is in the business of training pastors in Africa. Both are idea men, with high energy and deep pockets of faith. On an initial trip to Kitale, Kenya, a dream was conceived. Through Scott, president of Faith Radio, which broadcasts from Tallahassee, Florida; John Cappelen, Scott's brother-in-law and then on staff with ICM-USA; and a team of prayerful, generous supporters both in Kenya and the US, a new radio station was born, aptly called IMANI, which is Swahili for ‘faith.’
May 4, 2005, IMANI 88.8 FM radio station aired for the first time broadcasting to four million people in NW Kenya’s rift valley. ICM-KENYA in Kitale celebrated with a party to document the birth. 1500 people gathered for a great day filled with the joy of the Lord. Even the Vice President of Kenya attended. 
Rev. Stephen & Roselyne Mairori, Director ICM-Kenya; Scott Beagle, President of Faith Radio;
and Butaki of IMANI radio.
Now two years later, what is happening? “Lots,” according to Ptallah Butaki, Director of Communications for ICM-Kenya and for station 88.8 FM in Kitale. Faith Radio continues to help support the station and upgrade the equipment, which has increased broadcast coverage. With the new 2 kilowatt transmitter the station can now reach over 7.2 million people, extending coverage into Uganda and southern Sudan. “This means that approximately 200,000 people tune into our broadcasts at any one time.” states Butaki. “Glory to God.”
The higher it reaches, the further the Good News carries!
IMANI radio station is located on the ICM-Kenya campus, which provides great resources of teaching and programming for the station. ICM staff, as well as students, provide a portion of the programming. The Gospel of Jesus Christ, teachings on Christian living, Bible Studies and joyous songs are heard 24 hours on station 88.8 FM.
ICM Kenya does not take the Great Commission lightly, Butaki adds. Mathew 28:19, commands us to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations....” This remains our focus in reaching out. Now our radio waves reach beyond where we can even go. The station is widely listened to, being one of only four Christian radio stations in Kenya.
We also model the Apostle Paul when he writes in I Cor. 9:19-23, “though I am free…I make myself a slave to everyone. ….To the weak I become weak. I have become all things to all men, so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all these things for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessing.” The Lord has been gracious as to open windows of opportunity, allowing us to reach out to prisoners and the sick around our coverage area through small solar powered radios pre-tuned to IMANI 88.8 FM frequency.
Amazed owner of a new solar radio pre-tuned to IMANI 88.8FM.
SICK IN HOSPITALS NOT FORGOTTEN!!
Butaki writes: God has helped us reach those who are ill and those caring for the sick. We delivered solar powered radios tuned to IMANI station 88.8 FM to three hospitals around Kitale. The patients in each ward are now able to listen to our programs at any given time of the day and night. Every ward has had one radio broadcasting the gospel 24 hours. This has become a big encouragement to the sick in their beds.
About two weeks after delivering the radios to one of the hospitals, a lady called our studios requesting prayer for the healing of her son. He had been hospitalized, diagnosed with malaria and was unable to walk or speak. The next day, exactly 18 hours later, she called to give thanks to God for her son’s miraculous healing. He had woken up the next day strong, talking and able to walk on his own!! Praise God!
IMANI radio is a refueling center, giving spiritual nourishment to many people in NW Kenya and beyond.
PRAY FOR:
* IMANAI radio to reach many people in Africa
* Butaki as he gives leadership and vision to the ministry
* Bibles for the prisoners
* Protection of the equipment
* Continued financial resources
PRAISE FOR:
* Financial, technical and spiritual support of Faith Radio in Tallahassee, Florida
* Support of ICM, who has welcomed this out-of-the-box ministry
* Ptallah Butaki, Director of Communications for ICM and IMANI radio
If you would like to receive monthly updates about the ministry of ICM Kenya’s IMANI radio, please contact Ptalla Butaki at imanifmradio@yahoo.com.
PRESS ACCREDITATION
Kenya has over twenty five (25) radio stations and six (6) television stations as well as several daily prints.
Nairobi is host to over 200 foreign journalists covering Kenya and the Horn of Africa.
IMANI 88.8FM is one of four Christian radio stations in the country.
PRISON OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY TO THE GOSPEL
Prisons in Kenya are closed facilities, yet God has opened windows of hope. Through the support of Faith Radio in Tallahassee, Florida, solar powered radios have been given to each inmate. They can now tune to 88.8 FM 24 hours a day to hear a message of hope, grace and forgiveness found in Jesus. This means that night or day they can listen to IMANI radio without the burden of buying batteries!
Women prisoners raise their hands to receive
Christ and ask for prayer.
Located in the outskirts of Kitale, the town’s main prison houses about 300 male prisoners and 50 female prisoners in separate wings. The majority of convicts are between ages 18-45, a very productive age! There is a small percentage of prison population who have not even committed an offense, yet because of their laws, languish in jail serving their terms. All inmates are now able to hear of freedom in Christ from inside closed
prison walls.
Leaders of women prisoners in their receptive cells
receive radios from Butaki.
When IMANI radio team visits a prison to distribute the radios, they take personal time with the prisoners. Ptallah Butaki, Director of Communications for ICM-Kenya and IMANI radio, tells the inmates of a God who loves them unconditionally and of His son who died for them. Many prisoners give their lives to Jesus even before they receive their radios.
Male prisoners respond to a call to follow Jesus.
The Lord has been gracious as to open a window of opportunity to allow ICM to minister to prisoners through these small solar powered radios pre-tuned to IMANI 88.8 FM frequency. Even though prisons have had a closed-door policy, the Lord has done a miracle in opening prison windows for the gospel to be heard twenty-four hours a day.
Butaki presents leaders of men's prison solar radios.
Butaki reports: “When I asked one prisoner if he had a personal relationship with Jesus, his answer was astonishing. This is what he said, ‘Jesus lives in here, inside these prison walls. He makes visitations to those outside prison but eventually retires to be with us here.’ He further volunteered that without Jesus inside prison, life would be unbearable.”
ICM equips pastors and Christian leaders through formal training, seminars and now a radio station. The good news of Jesus, Bible studies, testimonies, topical teachings, discussions and call-in Q&A shows broadcast 24 hours a day from the IMANI station 88.8 FM out of Kitale, Kenya.
For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to me. Matthew 25:35-36
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The Hope of Africa is Jesus, nothing more or nothing less. We in ICM are committed to partnering with you and those in Africa to ensure that every man and woman has a chance to hear the Good News of Jesus and to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus. Your donation to this fund helps make this goal a reality. To donate on-line just click here.
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