It is now over 16 years since a youthful Diamondra Ramboarison came to Mandritsara with a vision to set up a gospel radio station. Since that date Diamondra has been the director of “Feon’ny Vaovao Mahafaly (FVM),” “The Voice of the Good News.”

365 days each year, 7 days a week and 15 hours each day on 92 mhz, the little team of Diamondra and 3 others are faithfully filling the airwaves around Mandritsara with Good News. Let’s ask him to tell us more about “The Voice of the Good News.”

What is the goal of The Voice of the Good News (FVM) radio station?

In the district of Mandritsara there are a quarter of a million people, most of them living in deep spiritual darkness and hopelessness, especially in the remote areas. Our primary aim in FVM is to counter this darkness with the light of the gospel as we proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ and as we seek to edify and encourage believers through the teaching of the Bible. We firmly believe that people need to hear and trust in the message of salvation through Jesus Christ, or they will be eternally lost.

We are also working to uplift the population in social, economic and educational spheres through the programmes we produce.

We plan, we produce, we broadcast and we follow up on our programmes in order to respond to the needs of our listeners – spiritual, intellectual and physical.

Our motto is Psalm 62:1 “I will not keep silent till righteousness shines out like the dawn, salvation like a blazing torch.”

Tell us about your programmes.

Firstly, we have programmes that make known our Triune God – who He is, what He has done and what He seeks for us. This is through the teaching and preaching of the Bible, the Word of God. Here are the titles of some of our Bible teaching programmes in Malagasy: Daily manna; What the Scriptures say; The Word of God is living and powerful; The source of life; Growing in the knowledge of Christ; The good seed; Women in Christ; Rejoice, Young People; Jesus loves children; To be a great man; Evening prayers. We also have Bible teaching programmes in French: Live the truth; Hope today; Echoes of the truth.

We also have health and educational programmes such as: Stay healthy (without spending all your money); Today’s dinner (cookery); Out in the countryside.

Then we have programmes where there is interaction with our listeners, for example: Please give me an answer (counselling). And we have the news, and reports from the newspapers.

Some of these programmes go out every day. Some are weekly, or twice weekly.

How do people listen to the programmes?

Most Malagasy households have a radio. It is one of their priorities to buy. With the proliferation of solar energy there is almost no problem with batteries, so they can listen to the radio without interruption. Not many people listen on mobile phones, however, because of the battery and the weak signal in isolated places.

People in the villages listen to the radio before going to the fields in the morning. Then when they come home, they listen after dinner and before going to bed (sometimes very late).  But recently we have been getting more and more text messages in the middle of the day from people listening to the broadcasts while they are working in the fields.

Those who live in town tend to be early risers and they like to start their days by listening to spiritual things that encourage them for the day (between 05:30-08:00). They also spend a lot of time listening to the radio while working in the home from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m and again during siesta time from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

One of the habits of our listeners is to have the radio at a fairly high volume. This means that the people around them hear our programmes too!

Apart from the four full-time members of the radio team, are there others who help make programmes?

One contributor that we really value is Théophile, the Good News Hospital X-ray technician and director of the pharmacy. He started a children’s programme 15 years ago called “Jesus loves children” which continues to go out twice a week.

Since last year a number of leaders from the village churches have been coming and preaching the gospel on the radio. These sessions have been coordinated by the hospital evangelists. This is a real blessing for listeners in remote areas because all the speaking is in the local Tsimihety dialect.

Here are some prayer points for the Voice of the Good News:

1. Please pray for the team as they plan and produce new programmes. The programmes need to be fresh and lively. Diamondra and his team need the help and inspiration of the Holy Spirit so that the programmes keep the attention of the listeners and speak to their hearts and minds.

2. Please pray for the technical side of broadcasting – the transmitter and antenna etc. At present broadcasts reach up to 45km. Diamondra would like to increase that and reach some areas currently “hidden” by hills. Pray for wisdom in finding a practical solution.

3. Pray for the listeners, that God would draw needy souls to Himself and strengthen the faith of His people.