HCJB AUSTRALIA,

From humble beginnings to INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTER.

A brief history follows.

Late 1950 or early 1951, Mr. Vernon Turner did a display featuring HCJB World Radio at a Missions Convention in the Brisbane City Hall, Queensland. Later in 1951, Mr. Bill Dalrymple was appointed HCJB's Australian official representative, operating from his Sydney bookshop.

During the next 3 decades, under various leaders HCJB in Australia went about the business of promoting the world wide ministry, raising support for the work and sending a number of missionaries to serve in Quito, in Radio, Health Care and other areas.

On return from service in Ecuador, Charles and Val Gray did major deputational ministry and also had a small studio built on their property where programming for HCJB was produced.

In November, 1986 HCJB in Australia incorporated and became The World Radio Missionary Fellowship of Australia Inc.

During that same year the "World by 2000" Partnership of HCJB with FEBC, TWR, and SIM (ELWA) commenced and the worldwide search for speakers of needed WB2000 languages began. What a thrill it was later to find Vita Niosi, a native Kikongo speaker and later still, Oromo speakers, Paulos and Ababo Djini, right here in Melbourne and to get those strategic languages recorded and on the air to their people by radio.

In 1988 during Dr Ron Clines deputation visit to New Zealand God spoke to David & Glenis Maindonald and within months they were called to come to Australia to become the missions first full time director in Australia.

By 1991 our studio had become inadequate to meet the expanding programming opportunities not only for HCJB but also for local and international release.

In an amazing way came the offer of land and partnership with The Canterbury Gardens Community Church in Melbourne. "The site could not have been better situated if we had been actively looking for land ourselves," enthused David Maindonald. "Not only is there more room than we could ever have dreamed of....it's perfect, truly a provision of the Lord!"

The New HCJB Australia Headquarters and Studios were dedicated "Open and to the Glory of God" on Sunday December 5th, 1993.

These studios continued to produce, duplicate and dispatch programming for HCJB and others and in a number of languages for local and international release.

In 1997 a formal offer of a 200 acre property situated adjacent to the Ord River and Diversion Dam, 6 km from the township of Kununurra, Northwest Australia was made to HCJB Australia.

This offer was accepted and the property transferred to HCJB Australia on 25 June 1998. HCJB Australia committed to develop spiritual and other ministries from this location. This property is...

It is a working farm, growing sugar, bananas, mangoes and paw-paw to create funding for the support of ministry.

The Kununurra site was assessed for suitability by international broadcasting consultant John Stanley BSEE. M.I.T. saying "This site has so many advantages that, assuming a licence can be obtained, it would be difficult to see it as anything other than God's provision."

God changed the Laws of Australia and on April 19th 2001 HCJB Australia was granted 4 international broadcast licences with the opportunity to minister to the vast and needy Asia-Pacific region, containing over half the people of the world. (3.6 billion people)

THEN on Jan 5th 2003 it was the DAWNING OF A NEW DAY. HCJB Australia changed forever !

That day, HCJB Australia became an International Broadcaster with a broadcast service to the South Pacific. A month later on February 4th, our Asian services began and we carry programming to the Asia Pacific region in 20 languages.

For more than 5 years of earnest praying, working and watching, we have seen God open doors, remove obstacles and provide in so many remarkable ways. We are excited now to see how God is using this international shortwave broadcasting facility for His glory throughout the Asia-Pacific Region.

To date we have received reception reports from more than 57 countries. God has indeed set before us an "Open Door"!

Pray with us as we continue to develop this International Broadcast Facility and that,as the Gospel is proclaimed to the nations, ears will hear and hearts will be changed for His glory!