Women Survived Attempted Abortions, Domestic Violence and Sex Trafficking
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., July 21, 2014 /
Christian Newswire/ -- Reach Beyond (
www.reachbeyond.org), a ministry that uses technology and mass media to spread the gospel to difficult-to-reach areas of the world, recently helped a partner ministry launch a series of radio programs aimed at restoring the lives of women in a restricted county who are victims of severe violence.
Photo: Reach Beyond (www.reachbeyond.org) recently assisted a partner ministry in launching an innovative series of radio programs aimed at restoring the lives of women in restricted areas of Central Asia who are victims of attempted abortions, unwanted and uncared for by their parents, abused by their husbands and sold into sex trafficking.
"Correspondence with My Family" was born out of the tragic stories which Ann Marie has been collecting and recording since 2006. The women of Central Asia, one of the most restrictive areas in the world, recounted stories of abuse, attempted abortions and even being sold into the sex trade by their parents. As Marie collected these heartbreaking stories, she was moved to do more than just listen. She and her team began producing radio programs that would declare a message of hope and love that brings healing and redemption from the pain, in Jesus' name.
The programs take the form of a series of letters written back and forth between a loving mother and her three daughters who are married or on the verge of womanhood. The letters also look at the lives and particular situations of women in surrounding cultures and the role of men in their lives. The aim is to give the daughters -- the audience -- guidance, encouragement, hope and an opportunity to find restoration that ultimately ends with Christ.
"It's difficult for most of us to even imagine the pain and hardship many of these women experience on a daily basis," said Wayne Pederson, president and CEO of Reach Beyond. "This area of Central Asia is very closed to the gospel and has few, if any, Christians. We believe 'Correspondence with My Family' will speak the love of Jesus to these women and deliver a needed vial of hope to their lives."
"Correspondence with My Family" has been recorded in a language spoken in this part of the world. By the end of the year, Reach Beyond hopes to have the programs translated into Russian and a local ethnic language. The programs will then be distributed to unreached places throughout the region -- with a goal to eventually reach an audience of more than 90 million people.
For 82 years, Reach Beyond has used mass media and technology to air and distribute the gospel around the world. Earlier this year, the ministry launched its "Reach Beyond Manifesto" (
www.reachbeyond.org/manifesto), which challenges believers and the church to reach beyond borders and comfort levels in an effort to accomplish the Great Commission and be the "voice and hands of Jesus -- together."
"One of the great passions of Reach Beyond is to bring the gospel to unreached areas," Pederson said. "This region of Central Asia fits that description to a tee. Yet we have discovered over and over again that once the life-changing message of forgiveness, restoration and hope is introduced, lives will be eternally changed and regions will be transformed. We can only anticipate what God has planned for the women of this region through 'Correspondence with My Family."
Those interested in learning more about Reach Beyond and its Manifesto can visit
www.reachbeyond.org.
For 82 years the passion of Reach Beyond (formerly HCJB Global) (www.reachbeyond.org) has been to make disciples of Christ. Using mass media, healthcare and education and working with partners around the world, Reach Beyond has ministries in more than 100 countries. The gospel is aired in more than 120 languages and dialects. Thousands of healthcare patients are meeting Jesus. Local believers are being trained as missionaries, pastors, broadcasters and healthcare providers.
