The Tide® Celebrates Their Diamond Anniversary by Honoring the Past and Looking to the Future
August 2, 2021
CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.— In 1946, Reverend Charlie Byers set out to spread the Gospel via his radio show “The Gospel Tide Hour.” Broadcasting from Chambersburg, PA, Byers started locally but with a vision of sharing the Good News around the world. In 1978, The Tide® (www.thetide.org) began producing global broadcasts, recorded in the languages of listeners, across Southern Africa. Fast forward 75 years later, and The Tide® has extended their programming with partners to be able to share the Gospel daily to millions in 30 different languages on three different continents including those in Afghanistan, Albania, Bhutan, India, Kosovo, Mozambique, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Thailand, and Zimbabwe.
The effect of The Tide global radio ministry is undeniable, with thousands coming to Christ over seven decades by hearing the Gospel daily through various radio stations and media players around the world. One listener stated, “I listen to your radio program regularly. My life is changed through your radio program, and I have received a new hope in my life. I had been disturbed in my life but now my life is changed. I trust in the Lord and want to live for Him. Please pray for my spiritual growth and send me some literature.” Another wrote in, saying “Last week for the first time, I got an opportunity to listen to your radio program in my own language. It is an interesting program, and I will try to listen to it again. I want to know more about Jesus Christ.”
Don Shenk, Director of The Tide® Ministry, commented, “The longevity of this ministry is astounding and we give all glory to God—it really shows that there is a hunger for the Gospel all around the world, and we here at The Tide® are humbled by the fact that Christ has used this ministry over the past 75 years to reach the lost. Our mission still remains relevant, and we are seeing ongoing impact all around the globe.”
In order to celebrate their inspiring milestone, The Tide® has organized a week-long Gospel reading during August, the anniversary month of The Tide®, at Roxbury Camp and Conference Center. The significance of Roxbury is that Rev. Byers’ previous blessing of reading Scripture across the loudspeakers every morning at the camp birthed his radio program that aired across America for many decades. The Roxbury anniversary reading will take place over several days, and several portions will be read in a variety of languages to emphasize the fact that The Tide® shares the Gospel with people in their “heart languages,”—their own native tongue. The camp also is a historic setting for the ministry, with Rev. Byers not only helping establish the camp in the mid-1930’s, but also serving as the annual camp meeting director from 1941-1977.
Looking ahead to the next 75 years, The Tide® ministry and its partners will focus on the core foundationsof
“The Tide Diamond Vision”:
- Amplify – The Tide ministry will increase ministry initiatives so that more people can experience God’s grace.
- Magnify – The Tide ministry will work to grow its support base to an expanded demographic.
- Solidify – The Tide ministry will develop and supply more resources to help new believers to grow in their faith and live in right relationship with God.
- Verify – The Tide ministry will measure the effectiveness of its activities to both manage them well and to demonstrate the efficient stewardship of resources.
- Glorify – The Tide ministry will strive to ensure that all it does to achieve its vision will bring glory to God.
For more information about The Tide broadcast projects, history, radio programs around the world, special year-long campaigns, the weekly Global Update radio features or other news, visit its website at www.thetide.org or its Facebook page. Read more about The Tide ministry and Director Don Shenk here.
In addition, The Tide ministry is always actively looking for people godly and manly enough to take up the 2021-2022 “Year Beard” challenge. Visit www.YearBeard.org for background and to meet some of the participants who are growing out their facial hair to raise awareness and financial support to help The Tide ministry reach an additional 1 million people with the name of Jesus next year.
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To schedule interviews with Don Shenk, director of The Tide® global radio ministry, contact Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Beth Harrison, 610.584.1096, ext. 105, or Deborah Hamilton, ext. 102.