MOSCOW, RUSSIA (December 23, 2011) – New Life Radio (NLR) has the potential to reach an additional 10 million homes now that it has begun broadcasting on the country’s largest and fastest-growing nationwide broadcast service, Tricolor TV network, says Dan Johnson, president of Christian Radio for Russia (CRFR), which operates NLR.
“This opportunity goes far beyond the dreams and expectations of the Covenant denomination when it made development of Christian radio in Russia its first modern era mission goal, beginning in 1993,” says Johnson.
“As of 2011, less than one percent of cities in Russia, Ukraine, or Belarus have a local Christian radio station,” says Johnson. The various means by which the station gets its signal across the country are enabling people to hear what most Christians in the United States take for granted.
The station started broadcasting on the network last week, December 15. The Covenant started New Life Radio in 1996 as Russia’s first Christian FM radio station, transmitting to the community of Magadan, Russia, with 100 watts of transmitting power. Today, NLR is global, using satellite radio, Internet radio, and FM. It is not officially connected with the Covenant, but individual denomination churches continue to contribute to the ministry.
The station has continued to minister despite setbacks in recent years due in large part to actions by the Russian government, which has closed down several stations in other parts of the country.
Despite the recent positive developments, the ministry also continues to struggle financially, says Johnson, noting that it operates with only a handful of people. Anyone wishing to donate can contribute online.
