Radio Missionary On Need To Assist Asia

Press, Volume C, Issue 29684, 30 November 1961, Page 24

Radio Missionary On Need To Assist Asia

If communism is not to engulf all of Asia, the free world must raise Asian standards of living more quickly than it la now, while giving stronger support to the free Asian nations in their fight again, t. Communist infutraticn. This is the belief of Mr R. H. Bowman, a radio missionary and one of the founders of the Far East Broadcasting Company, which broadcasts in 37 languages to 40 countries throughout Asia and Latin America. Mr Bowman, who is on a New Zealand tour undertaken at the invitation of an interdenominational church committee in Wellington, said that after the upheaval of World War H, he felt the answer to world problems was Christianity. "Human nature is the only thing that is the matter with the world. A practising belief fit Christianity is the way to change human nature. More than half the world's population lives in Asia ana radio is one of the best mediums for reaching the greatest number of people,” he said. Started in 1945 on a capital of £350, the Far East Broadcasting Company now has a staff of 225 operating 16 sta-

tions in the Philippines, Japan, and -San Francisco. The company, Mr Bowman said, was non-profit-making. Interrtenominatlnnal nrwf fndependent of State aid. Money came from lecture tours and donations. Mr Bowman that between eight and nine mil-1 lion persons heard the company's broadcasts each month. “Fifty per cent, of the broadcasts are of a religious nature while the other half consists of cultural, educational, news broadcasts and public service features,” he said. “The religious broadcasts avoid all controversial points of doctrine. The churches work together with an atmosphere of tolerance, emphasising points of common agreement,” he said. From the north of Okinawa a 100 k.w. station broadcasts on a medium wave-length to the Chinese mainland. In operation for 18 months, it has yet to be jammed by the Communists.