John the Baptist came shouting in the wilderness: “Prepare a pathway for the Lord's coming! Make a straight road for him!” The Miskito Baptist Radio “Good News” is broadcasting into the wilderness of the jungles of Central America with the same message. The Good News Radio is the only Christian radio station many Miskito people will ever hear. Believers are encouraged as they listen to Christian music in Spanish and Miskito. Unbelievers enjoy hearing public service programming and are exposed to the Gospel message at the same time. People constantly call in to the station with praise for what the Lord has done in their lives as a result of listening to Radio “Good News”.

Recently, a new set of Bible stories were recorded in Miskito for use on the radio. Chronological Bible Storying experts, Keith and Penny Stamps, came from Guatemala to provide expertise in the crafting and recording of the stories. William and Amanda Eubank, local missionaries help coordinate the team of pastors who spent the week working on the stories. These stories will be presented on air over the next weeks. More Bible stories will recorded in the future.

Radio “Good News” has been broadcasting for over three years. The radio was sponsored by a group of churches from Perry, Florida and dedicated to long term mission volunteer, Fred Morgan who has passed to the presence of the Lord. Clint Kelly has served a technical advisor for the Radio and help train local volunteers to operate the Radio in his absence.

  For the last year the Radio has been 100% self supported. This means the radio has generated enough resources each month to paid its $800 a month electric bill, provide a small stipend for the announcers, and paid the night security guard. Some months it is tough to cover all the expenses, but Miskito Baptists churches proudly support the radio with occasional offerings to help meet expenses.

Much of the equipment is wearing out and needs to be replaced. Pray for the Radio team as they seek ways to purchase new equipment. Pray for the Radio staff as they continue to “make a straight road for the Lord” into the hearts of the Miskito people.

Alamikamba is the end of the road on the Prinzapolka River. This moderate size village serves as the center of commerce and government for the region that includes 42 villages. The Prinzapolka River is home to a blend of native Mayangna and Miskito, as well as Spanish speakers. There is no Baptist presence and little evangelical witness. 

The week of September 14-20, a medical mission team from Burnt Hickory Baptist Church, Powder Springs, Georgia spent 4 days providing ministry to the people of Alamikamba and surrounding villages. The team work out of the small government health clinic. The clinic is staffed by a Cuban doctor and small team of nurses. Few medicinces are available, most equipment is broken, there is no fuel for the small generator, and the staff hasn’t been paid in months. People with serious conditions have to be transported over rough roads to somewhat better clinics or a day’s drive to a hospital in Managua.

With loving care in the medical clinic attended women and children from eight oclock in the morning till sundown.  People were touched and given relief from the symptoms of poor nutrition and an unhealthy environment. Pharmacy gave much needed medicines for pain relief, infant and maternal needs, and infections. Many men and women were individually fitted with eye-glasses that improve their lives and protect eyes from the harsh sun rays. Dental care gave relief from chronic tooth infections and pains. Compassion and love were freely given in Jesus name.

Spiritual care was offered for each man, woman, and child treated in the clinic. Miskito pastors leaders spoke with each adult and teen, offering God’s Word and plan for their lives. Each person received prayer for their needs, both physical and spiritual.

Once night, the team presented the Jesus Film in the Miskito language. Medical team members shared testimonies and songs with the larger crowd that attended.

Some families traveled as far as two days to attend the clinic. Their physical needs were cared for and they heard the gospel message of hope. Many returned home with the seed of faith.

The Miskito pastors will be returning in the next couple of weeks to do discipleship and help form a new congregation. 

In church planting terminology, we speak of “zero to one.”  This refers to the time and effort it takes to start a church from zero and grow it to be a self sustaining congregation.  This past year over 16 Miskito churches were planted in Honduras and Nicaragua.

One church is a great example of “zero to one.”  The last week of august of 2007, a experienced medical team from Burnt Hickory Baptist Church, Kennesaw, GA visited the village a Santa Isabel.  The village is one of the last villages in the upper Coco River region, before a major series of rapids and waterfalls. There was no evangelical witness in Santa Isabel. On the second night of the week, after just about everyone in the village had been care for, the team presented the Jesus Film in the Miskito language.  The villagers were moved to see how Jesus suffered for them. Members of the Georgia team share testimony of the power of Christ in their lives. Several people came forward to confess Christ as Lord.  The following morning our Miskito pastor leaders meet with the new believers for discipleship. Over 30 people showed up and after several hours of teaching, we went down to the river and baptized 22 people.

Most college students spend spring break on the beach or sleeping late.  Not 10 students from Dallas Baptist University. Lead by student minister Jason Hatch, these young men spent their well deserved spring break building houses for the "least of these" in the jungles of Nicaragua.   They helped build houses for elderly Miskito people who lost everything during Hurricane Felix last September. The DBU students were the biggest circus to ever come to the small Miskito village.  They were the center of attraction as they built houses, played frisbe, and bathed in the creek.  Church members and neighbors all helped build a house for an 75 year old lady who was caring for her 85 year old sister. Even before the students finished the house, the old ladies were moveing in. They said, in all our lives (total of 168 years) we never dreamed we would have a house like this. The beach whould have been nice. But for these 10 students, serving Christ by serving the "least of theses",  was more rewarding.