Latest News and Updates

from around our region of the global United Christian Broadcasters family…

The Word for Today for 2022

The Word for Today for 2022

We are excited to let you know that all the 2022 editions of The Word for Today are on their way to their various Pacific Island destinations. We've printed just under 20,000 copies in total for the people of: The Cook...

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UCB Family gets together

UCB Family gets together

Today we enjoyed another digital Family Get Together. While COVID is still ruining everyone's travel plans and, in some cases, our ability to get together with friends. Digital technology means we can get together! So...

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AGM in the Cook Islands

Over the weekend the UCB Cook Islands members got together for their Annual General Meeting (AGM). This is an important meeting for all UCB groups. At the AGM the Board is elected (or reelected) and all members get to...

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The Old Becomes New

Repurposed for YWAM's Training and a Community Radio Station in PNG   Aerial view of the campus - originally built as a water sports complex for the South Pacific Games in 2015. A generator that once served our...

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Licence Granted for Vanuatu

Licence Granted for Vanuatu

It was with great excitement that we received notification from the TRBR in Vanuatu that our application for a nationwide radio licence was successful! Praise the Lord! This is a huge step forward for our fledgling...

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Theory or Truth (1)

‘We believe that Jesus died and rose again.’ 1 Thessalonians 4:14 NIV

Let’s look at some theories put forward by those who’ve tried to deny the Resurrection. Some say that the Gospels were written 200–300 years after the event, so the story was either falsified or embellished. But archaeology disproves that. Now we know that the Gospels go back to the authors whose names they bear, and that the testimony of the Resurrection goes back to the same decade in which it took place, not centuries later. So, there was no time for legend to develop!

Some say that the disciples experienced visions or hallucinations because Christ promised to rise from the dead, and they fully expected Him to. But in the history of hallucinations, there is no incident where 500 people from different backgrounds ever saw the same vision at the same time. And what about the two disciples on the Emmaus Road who walked and talked with Christ after His resurrection, then ate supper with Him (Luke 24:13)? Were they hallucinating too? When Peter preached on the day of Pentecost about this so-called ‘great hallucination’, he was standing only 10 minutes away from the tomb (see Acts 2:24). Thousands of people believed; others heard it and didn’t believe. Did no one think of walking down the street to check it out? Certainly, those conspiring Sadducees would have taken every opportunity to show that this was simply a hallucination.

The Resurrection is what distinguishes Christianity from every other belief system in history: in it is the hope, not just of our souls lasting beyond death, but of our bodies returning to life, having overcome the last enemy, just as Jesus did.

SoulFood: Gen 22:1-18, Matt 27:32-56, Ps 22, Isa 53

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright © 2024

The joys of heaven (3)

‘There will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain’ Revelation 21:4 NASB

Sometimes we describe dying as crossing the Jordan. That’s because the Jordan River runs into the Dead Sea. The story is told of an elderly Christian lady who was dying. For most of her life, illness had confined her to bed or a wheelchair. The family gathered to say farewell. Holding her hand, one of her grandchildren asked, ‘Are you afraid to die?’ With tears of joy, she replied, ‘No, I’m not afraid of death because my Father owns the land on both sides of the river.’ What an answer! In Heaven, there will be no sickness, depression, pain, loneliness, fear, grief, or any of the things that make life on earth so difficult. God’s Word says, ‘But to you who fear My name, The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings’ (Malachi 4:2 NKJV). Isaiah writes: ‘The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away’ (Isaiah 35:10 NKJV). When we lose a loved one in death, the question arises, ‘Will I see them in Heaven; will I know them?’ Yes! You wouldn’t know less in Heaven than you knew on earth. Paul answers, ‘For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known’ (1 Corinthians 13:12 NKJV). Heaven will be the greatest family reunion of all time. And here is the best part of all: we will never be separated again.

SoulFood: Jer 7-9, Matt 27:20-31, Ps 38:1-12, Pro 8:22-23

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright © 2024

The joys of heaven (2)

‘The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth.’ Revelation 21:16 NKJV

The next time you feel cramped for space, read this: ‘The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal.’ (v. 16 NKJV). That’s an area of nearly 5,800,000 square kilometres, making the new Jerusalem bigger than most countries in the world. In fact, it’s almost 24 times larger than the United Kingdom and over three quarters the size of Australia! A city that big would be anything but crowded and uncomfortable. And here is something even more incredible: it’s 2,500 kms high! There will be no space limitations. All that confirms what Jesus said about heaven: ‘In My Father’s house are many mansions…I go to prepare a place for you’ (John 14:2 KJV). Since the same God who created the earth also designed Heaven, and since Paul said Heaven will be far better (Philippians 1:23 NKJV), think of the most beautiful place you have ever visited and multiply that scene by infinity. John was shown the holy City of Jerusalem, whose radiance was like a precious jewel. (see Revelation 21: 10–11) One night as he held his father’s hand and looked up at the stars, a little boy said to his dad, ‘If the wrong side of Heaven is so beautiful, what must the right side look like?’ Jesus died so that you could go to Heaven. But you don’t go by chance; you go by choice. So, have you placed your trust in Christ to be your Saviour? If so, see you there!

SoulFood: Jer 4-6, Matt 27:11-19, Ps 55:12-23, Pro 8:19-21

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright © 2024

The joys of heaven (1)

‘For our citizenship is in heaven’ Philippians 3:20 NASB

The story is told of a pastor who asked his congregation, ‘How many of you want to go to heaven?’ Everyone raised their hand except one little boy. The pastor said, ‘Son, don’t you want to go to heaven?’ He replied, ‘Yes, but I thought you were getting up a batch to go right now!’ Let’s be honest, we don’t think or talk much about heaven until a loved one dies and goes there, or we grow old and feel like we have fulfilled our assignment here on earth. Then we feel a tug pulling us heavenward. And we should. On average, we will spend about 70–80 years here, whereas we will spend eternity there. ‘We shall always be with the Lord’ (1 Thessalonians 4:17 NKJV). Here on earth, we get a mixed scorecard; sometimes, we do well, and other times not so well. But in Heaven, we will be just like Jesus. ‘For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Saviour … who will transform the body of our lowly condition into conformity with His glorious body’ (Philippians 3:20-21 NASB). C.S. Lewis wrote that in heaven, each of us will be a ‘dazzling, radiant, immortal creature, pulsating all through with such energy and joy and wisdom and love as we cannot now imagine.’ All the patriarchs, prophets, and preachers in the Bible longed for heaven. Zechariah describes it in these words: ‘For they shall be like the jewels of a crown, lifted like a banner over His land. For how great is its goodness And how great its beauty!’ (Zechariah 9:16–17 NKJV). If you were to die today, would you go to Heaven? You can, by putting your trust in Jesus Christ.

SoulFood: Jer 1-3, Matt 27:1-10, Ps 55:1-11, Pro 8:17-18

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright © 2024

Steps to forgiveness (2)

‘Forgive, and you will be forgiven.’ Luke 6:37 NIV

Here are three more steps to forgiveness: 1) Accept people as they are and don’t try to change them. You say, ‘I’ll only forgive them if they change.’ That just keeps you tied to them, obsessing over what they did and demanding they act in ways that you approve of. Nothing makes people less willing to change than when you try to control them and demand that they meet your requirements. Changing people isn’t your job – it’s God’s job! Your job is to choose to forgive and leave the outcome in God’s hands. The formula for healing is simple: forgive, let go, and let God. 2) See your offender as God’s tool for your growth. It’s easier to forgive someone when you stop seeing them as Satan’s agent sent to destroy you and begin seeing them as God’s instrument to develop you. The life of Joseph speaks to this principle. The path that led him from the pit to the palace was paved by injustice, disappointment, and betrayal. But God used each painful circumstance to get him to his destiny. And God can do that for you. 3) Try reconciling with your offender. Reconciliation is God’s nature. ‘When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son’ (Romans 5:10 KJV). And what God did for you, He wants you to do for whoever you are at odds with. Jesus made reconciliation a top priority by saying, ‘Leave your gift there before the altar and go your way. First, be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.’ (Matthew 5:24 NKJV). Yes, it will take selflessness and humility on your part, but the return is worth the investment!

SoulFood: Hos 11-14, Matt 26:57-75, Ps 13, Pro 8:14-16

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright © 2024

Listening to local Radio led Tahal to Church

The following is a testimony from Tahal who began listening to the radio and this led him to visit a local Church. Greetings I am Tahal Bahadur Kahdka . I live in Koteshowr Kathmandu. I have never been to church before but after listening to the daily devotional...