The Word for Today 2020

Timor-Leste is home for around 1.3 million people. Over 95% are Roman Catholic and while Tetum and Portuguese are the official languages there are actually 15 other national languages used.

Brief History

The Portuguese arrived in the 16th century and it wasn’t until 28th November 1975 when East Timor declared independence. However, 9 days later the Indonesian military invaded and after a violent and brutal occupation lasting till 17 July 1999 East Timor (Timor–Leste) finally became its own sovereign nation on 20 May 2002. Unfortunately that wasn’t the end of the violence as Australian and UN peacekeeping forces were required to help quell internal violence right up until 2011.

The legacy of this conflict is a nation struggling to catch up with the first-world infrastructure needs of a growing and vibrant nation.

All that aside, the people are amazing!

In 2013, CV Global entered into a 5 year partnership to help establish schools and a Christian radio station to minister to the people of Timor-Leste.  In 2018 UCB Asia Pacific took over the partnership with the radio station (Radio Voz) with the aim of growing it from one station in Dili to a nationwide Christian ministry.

Through mentoring, training, financial support and regular visits we’ve seen the team grow in confidence and skill. We’ve also overseen new low-powered standalone stations come on air in most provincial capitals, and a new 1kw transmitter installed in Dili itself giving much greater coverage for the station.

The team are regularly out and about mixing with the crowds – bringing the radio station to the people. Every time the invitation goes out to ”call in for prayer” the phones light up with callers.

There is a lot more to be done. In the coming months and years we plan to boost the local Christian music industry by providing opportunity for budding talent to record their songs – and of course play them on the radio.

Our low powered standalone stations are really just a proof of concept and stop gap measure. We plan to one day link them together to provide live local radio with high powered broadcasts.

We have a fantastic team at Radio Voz and we are very proud to have them as part of the UCB family.

Meet our UCB Timor-Leste team

Back Row from Left to Right

Albina, Ps Elienae, Rio, Ps Jose

Front Row from Left to Right

Hadasa, Melinosa, Veronica, Emilita, Miselia, Thelly, Andre

www.radiovozfm.com

 Radio Voz on FaceBook

 

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Latest News

Passing the Blessing on in Ba

The testimony below is from Tomu, the station manager at Life FM Fiji, who shared about the distribution of The Word for Today in the province of Ba. A UCB team of 3 people traveled from Suva to Lautoka on the weekend. On our way, we stopped at Ba for the night....

Influenced by the Message of Hope

We received the following testimonies from the team in Nepal about how people are being influenced and encouraged by the daily devotion. Greetings I am Sushila Thing from the vibrant community of Hariwan Sarlahi and a dedicated member of Ananta Jiwan Church, where I...

For Preparing and Saving

We received the following Testimonies from Tomu who leads UCB Fiji... A PASTORS SERMON I've also received word that a local pastor of a Methodist church uses the book to prepare his sermons every Sunday. The daily devotionals have become a helpful tool that he uses to...

A Life Changed…

Renungan Hari Ini for Perisos staff

  In February we distributed the devotional book the Renungan Hari Ini. I brought 2 boxes to Gipora who is a staff at the Perisos company and he distributed them to his friends. And Gipora himself received a blessing through the book Reflection of the Day....

Receiving a Bible and Healing

In July Radio Voz received a welcome visit from two listeners. Melly and Fina witnessed to how God changed their lives as they listened to Radio Voz. They have both just come to know and accept Jesus and their Lord and Saviour.  They came to thank the team because...

The Word for Today in Tetum

Our team in Timor-Leste translate The Word for Today into Tetum and both read it on air and make it available on their website. They received this encouraging feedback... Lola's mother always feels blessed by this program.  He [Lola] not only heard, but he asked us to...

God is in Control

Sofiana was in a state of confusion because of a problem. She found herself with opposition from her family because she chose to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. I (Rio) shared God's Word with her and I said that all the problems faced were already under God's control...

Obed from Oeccuse

Obed was an intern at Radio Voz in 2016. I remember well when the UCB team came to Dili in 2016 when Obed was practicing at our station. Before he started practicing at Radio Voz, apparently he was one of those people who took part in intimidation and throwing stones...

Finding God’s Peace

Mr. Laurindu heard about Radio Voz from one of our loyal listeners named Merry Audian. Mr Laurindu was experiencing many problems caused by his children so it was difficult to manage. Because he couldn't stand the problems he was in, he came to Radio Voz to share them...

Station Upgrades for Baucau & soon Vequeque

Dear UCB friends, Last Sunday afternoon we traveled to Baucau, and then to Viqueque, both Districts in the East side of Timor island, in order to install the new radio upgrade to the 100W Transmitter. In Baucau, the weather was really bad, but the Lord helped us and...

Nikolau and Alice Wedding

Nikolau is a listener who has recently heard of Radio Voz. He heard the radio three years ago. The program he participated in was Jerasaun Los Nasaun Diak, which was presented by James. Because the topic that was brought by James was interesting for Nikolau. Long...

Doing Church During Lockdown

Radio Voz received more positive reactions from listeners. Especially to the Sunday morning service which we broadcast live from the Church during Timor-Leste's lockdown. It is evident from the many listeners who called in reacting that they were blessed with...

Starting a Family

Back in June Amali called Radio Voz and asked for prayer so he and his wife could have children because they had been married for a long time but had not been blessed with children. Therefore he asked to be prayed for, and we prayed for him regularly. In November when...

The Word for Today, in Indonesian please 🙂

Mrs. Agripina is an avid listener of radio but it was the first time she visited Radio Voz in early October. She came to pick up a few books of The Word for Today for her family.While she was visiting us she suggested that if possible, The Word for Today was made into...

Slowly Recovering, but Blessed

Mrs. Albertinha, is very grateful and feeling blessed by the delivery of God's Word and prayers from Radio Voz for her. So many changes in her life. She used to be sickly but has slowly recovered.