Dear friends,

You would have been amazed at what we found in our bank account that day... Let me explain.

Not long after we set up Life fm as a network for the young people of New Zealand, we started to receive positive feedback and testimony.  At last, young people were able to listen to a radio station that played their kind of contemporary Christian music, the type that they could relate to… and at the same time be challenged by the programmes and young presenters who worked on the station to ‘live life’ as Jesus taught that we should. 

In one particular city, however, we were having problems because the main transmission site for the region had moved to another area. The commercial stations all quickly moved their transmitters to the new site, achieving much better coverage, but we and one other station were left at the old site. The result of this was that our signal became much weaker than the other stations, making it difficult to tune in. This was especially so for many young people, as the majority of them had older Japanese imported vehicles with band expander radios that did not “tune in” easily here in NZ.

Our technical team worked out exactly what we would need to do to provide a strong, easily received signal. It would certainly necessitate moving to the new site, but to do this we would have to solve some legal complications. We’d need to be released from the contract at the old site, obtain a new linking licence and sign up for a lease at the new transmission site all before the positions there were taken up.

Naturally our heart was to make the move so that as many young people as possible could tune in to this life giving station. We had a strong sense that God would make a way for us to solve the problem of the weak signal. We talked with the Board and there was unanimous agreement we should move ahead as soon as possible…however there was a problem…we simply did not have the money!

We had worked out that it would cost $34,000 to make the move plus we’d need to be released from the old transmission site contract. The following week the staff gathered together for prayer and worship and specifically asked the Lord to make a way for us to get the transmission problems sorted out. An hour or so after this meeting our Financial Controller was looking in our bank account via the internet and he was amazed to find a sum of money that had just been deposited there... exactly $34,000!

We had no idea where the money had come from. After making inquiries we learnt that the money was a bequest and it had been deposited into our account that very afternoon by a law firm.

You can probably imagine how excited we were. We contacted the operators of the old site who agreed to release us from the contract and actually even assisted us to move to the new transmission site. Once at the new site, the output power of the station was able to be increased from 6,000 to 16,000 watts! The signal was hugely improved. We could reach many more young people and had the right to increase the power even further if we wished, up to 50,000 watts. 

I don’t think I will ever forget that wonderful provision. I guess the bequest had probably been written in the will years before and left to RBG for broadcasting purposes; eventually to be paid to us at just the right time. My only sadness is that we could not thank the person who had left us the legacy. I can’t help but wonder if maybe they will eventually meet people in heaven whose lives were changed as a result of that legacy?

Someone once said that ‘where people put their time, money and other resources do not lie about where their priorities really are’. While at first hearing the statement seems a bit provocative, on reflection I think it is probably right.  

Thank you for so generously sharing your resources with the RBG mission. You are helping to encourage Christians young, old - and all those in between - in their daily walk, and assisting us to tell others about God; that He is real and that He has a good plan for their lives. Thank you for helping us to do this. You are leaving a legacy that by the grace of God will radically change many lives for good. 

‘Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.’ Daniel 12:3 (NIV) 

May God richly bless you and all those that you love and care about.

Sincerely

Your brother in Christ Jesus

P.S. Each year we make our “Leaving a Legacy of Hope” brochure available to those who support us. Please don’t feel any pressure to respond to this. We realise that this is a sensitive area. We strongly believe that adequate provision should be made for immediate family before any consideration is given to charitable missions like Rhema Broadcasting Group.

P.P.S We continue to hope and pray to be able to establish Life fm in Wellington and Christchurch. Please pray for a breakthrough.