How the Program Is Made

Local Music, Local Voices

For each language in which The Word Today is aired, a group of local musicians is hired a single time to play the introductory and closing music for the program, and this music is used weekly for the broadcast. An indigenous person fluent in the language translates the program from the English. Either they or another native speaker records the program in their language for broadcast.

Recording & Broadcast

A local sound engineer or radio studio operator records the program, and the most efficient radio transmitter broadcasts it. In some cases the most cost-effective method is to use Short-Wave or a variation of a "Cable Radio" system. The program is aired weekly, and in some cases repeated.

A Two-Fold Accomplishment

This approach achieves two goals at once: preaching the Good News of Jesus in all the world, and supporting Christians serving the Lord in other lands. When you give to The Word Today, you not only directly enable the Gospel to reach people who have no easy access to most Christian resources — like Bibles, churches, and Christian internet sites — you also support Christians in other cultures who are helping to produce the Gospel program in their native language.

The Cost of a Language

One year of programming and broadcast of The Word Today in one language costs between $8,000 and $20,000, depending on which language and where it is aired.

How Languages Are Chosen

Decisions on which languages to produce the program are not made solely on cost. The most important factor is the percentage of the population which is not Christian. In other words, The Word Today goes where there is little to no Christian presence and introduces people to the Lord, Jesus. The goal is to bring the Good News to people for whom it is utterly new.

Some donors give such that they alone could support a language for an entire year. Others give what they can, and their gift along with many others supports all the languages. No individual controls which languages are chosen — languages are selected based on the need of the population to hear the Gospel.

From English to the World

1. English Script Written — Each program is written in English, centered on a key word or phrase from Scripture.

2. Local Translation — An indigenous translator fluent in the target language translates the program.

3. Local Music Recorded — Local musicians record the opening and closing theme — once, then used every week.

4. Program Recorded — A native speaker records the translated program in a local studio.

5. Broadcast to Listeners — The program airs on radio — SW, AM, FM, or satellite — reaching listeners in their own language.