Director Don Shenk: ‘By showing them that a powerful, loving God sacrificed Himself for them, listeners learn how important they are to Christ’

October 24, 2022

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.— Mental health is in decline in Afghanistan, especially for women. Recent reports show that the country is on the brink of a “mental health catastrophe” for young girls, many of whom have been forced out of schools and into arranged marriages. After just one year under Taliban rule, one in four girls have shown signs of depression or anxiety, and two-thirds of children, in general, say they have they felt negative feelings including worry, sadness, and anger.

The Tide® (www.thetide.org) ministry, a unique global outreach ministry that helps provide evangelical radio broadcasts in local languages to over 20 countries on three continents around the world, has been evangelizing in Afghanistan for just over a year. In Afghanistan, The Tide® ministry utilizes the Dari and Pashto languages, the local dialects of the area, to teach the people about Christ in their own vernacular.

“As mental health is declining in Afghanistan, many people are feeling lost or worthless in the oppressive culture they currently live in,” The Tide® Director Don Shenk stated. “All people have inherent worth, which is why it’s so important to continue our important work in Afghanistan. We share the Gospel via radio broadcasting to millions of listeners in their native tongue, sharing the Good News of Christ and teaching them that Christ died for them. By showing them that a powerful, loving God sacrificed Himself for them, listeners learn how important they are to Christ and will see those around them — including their daughters — in a different light and take their mental health seriously.”

The Tide^® ministry even has an Afghan children’s radio program to reach children directly. Many children in rural parts of the region do not have access to the Christian message. The main objective of producing the radio program is to reach impoverished areas around the Arab world where there is no Christian education. The Tide^® ministry is specifically reaching impoverished areas where there are currently no Sunday School opportunities available.

Listeners have already responded to the message in The Tide® ministry broadcasts and emphasized how it changed their lives for the better.

One listener commented, “One of my friends asked me to listen to your radio program, and I came to know the value of life and the importance of knowing God from your program. The messages were heart touching. One day, a pastor invited me to a church meeting. Out of curiosity I joined it, but I never knew that it would change the course of my life. I have received real joy and peace through faith in Jesus in my life.”

“I have listened to your program several times through the radio,” one listener wrote. “I like this program for many reasons. I developed an interest to know the true God. Jesus Christ was explained to us beautifully. Having understood all this, I asked Jesus for forgiveness and trusted Him as my only God and savior.”

“Praise God that people are responding to the message and understanding how important the health and well-being of every individual is. We will continue to be diligent in proclaiming the Gospel throughout the region until every last person has heard the Good News or Christ returns,” Shenk declared.

For more information about The Tide® ministry and the work taking place in Afghanistan and the surrounding regions, click here.

After over 75 years of Gospel radio broadcasting, The Tide® ministry and its partners will focus on the core foundationsof “The Tide Diamond Vision” for the next seven decades:

• 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®ministrybroadcast 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.