THE LITTLE FM THAT COULD - Part IV

In 2000, the feared Mai-Mai commandos and 900 troops began pillaging the suburbs and the hills surrounding the city of Bukavu. While resting on Christmas Day and planning their attack on the city , the commander turned on his little radio and picked up the voice of The Little FM. He and his men had stolen the little radios from the villagers. They now controlled a third of the city of Bukavu.

 

 He and several of his men listened to something they had never heard before in their own "heart language." They were so moved by the Spirit of God and the voice of The Little FM that they decided not to attack, but turned back, and the city and The Little FM were spared once again. 

Pastor Gregoire on left, Commander holding notebooks

Later, Gregoire, our journalist, met this Commander, now a new believer in Christ who also founded a new church, which is still functioning today! What an amazing story!

In 2004 the battle came into the center of Bukavu again, and The Little FM was silent for many days while the missionary and his wife were pinned down to the floor. Once again, they refused to flee the violence but stayed to protect The Little FM. They lay on the floor eating Spam out of cans, shuddering at the sound of large cannons and mortars flying over the station for ten long days and nights. They prayed for God's protection over their radio staff, their families, friends, church family and, of course, The Little FM and their new 1,000 watt Shortwave installed in February 2001 by HCJB Global.

Mike Axman from HCJB Global made 
the long journey to Bukavu in 2001

And what about the silent FM 200 relay / translator buried for ten years? Now 80 years old, the protector of the buried box, contacted his (Mwami) king. He was waiting for his king to return to his home at Walungu (on the mountain) to present it to him. But the king had not returned to his mountain home. He had fled long ago, fearing for his life. After years of hiding, he traveled to the capital city of Kinshasa to serve in the new government as a Senator. (He completed his work in preparation for the elections held July 28 - 31, 2006. The king became an automatic Member of Parliament.)

Believing that the "heavy machine" was the long lost relay equipment belonging to Radio Kahuzi in Bukavu, the (Mwami) king asked Radio Kahuzi staff to go and retrieve it. One of Radio Kahuzi's journalists made the journey to find the old man and to bring back the precious box of equipment.

God heard and answered those prayers of faith. What a birthday present! On July 4, 2006 Radio Kahuzi celebrated its' 15th birthday (of receiving the broadcast license) and they received the FM relay / translator as a gift from God!

The years ruined the carton, but with some external cleaning, the FM 200 relay / translator was soon back on the air at 102.1 MHz, along with The Little FM That Could at 91.1 MHz.

On July 31, 2006 the very first "FM transmitter in a suitcase" along with his big brother, a 1,000 watt shortwave, transmitted the voices of democracy in the very first free and democratic election in the history of the Congo! 

Together, once again, The Little FM, The FM 200 and the mighty voice of Big Brother Shortwave their voices sang out the praises of our Heavenly Father. They rejoiced as they remembered all the years God has used them as an instrument of His LOVE and PEACE sharing the Gospel with the struggling people of the Democratic Republic of Congo!
 

Polling and monitoring first election