Testimonials
Don Clark - Haiti 1991 Testimony
"I'm going to die here!" Don Clark thought to himself.
This was day three of a ten-day Sharing Ministries trip to Haiti. The team was staying in concrete block houses, which provided little protection from the outside world. As he lay in his sleeping bag on the hard cement floor, Don could hear distict voodoo drum beats in the distance. The drum beats came like waves. Louder and louder they beat, then they became softer, only to grow louder again. Don's backpack was on a chair above his head. Suddenly, he realized that a large rat had climbed into his room through the window and was intently investigating his backpack, looking for his trail mix. Petrified, he asked, "Lord, why have you brought me here?"
He prayed to the Lord to quiet his fears, moved away from the rat, and eventually drifted off to sleep. Finally morning came. He was still alive and well, as were the other Sharing Ministries missionaries who were laying in their sleeping bags nearby. All was well and the team prepared their medical clinic.
Giving out medicine and vitamins, cleaning wounds, and giving shots became the order of the day. In the small village, the horrifying signs of malnutrition were almost unbearable to accept as reality. Children age 5 and 6 looked no older than toddlers. There death is a part of life. The team worked diligently to reach as many people as possible with basic medical care and the love of God.
When the trip was finished, Don had a difficult time relaxing. It had been challenging ten days, and in a lot of ways, he never wanted to see such conditions ever again. But, this short- term missions trip was also life changing. Don's paradigm about the world had forever been altered. He went home with a heart for the people of the world, which he imparted to his children. "All the people in Haiti have to eat sometimes is a little handful of rice," his youngest daughter at the time would tell people.
Now Don is in full time ministry with his family. He continues to work faithfully with Sharing ministries as well as with other missions and ministry organizations.
Vidal Gonzales
Pastor Vidal Gonzales lives on San Pedro Island (also known as "Temptation Island") off the coast of Belize. He first came in contact with Sharing Ministries several years ago, when Chuck Pollak and others visited his country. Vidal had a vision to start a Christian radio station, but did not have the knowledge or equipment needed to fulfill such a task. Under Sharing Ministries, he attended a radio seminar and began to learn about broadcasting. Sharing Ministries also helped him obtain the equipment: a transmitter, mixer, cassette player, as well as a CD player. Soon afterwards, he was granted a broadcasting license from the Belizean government- "a miracle," he says. Then, on 28 March, 200, Radio Emmanuel 101.3fm went on the air.
Since that time, Pastor Vidal has heard many testimonies from those who have listened to the station. People call in to share how God has changed their lives through the ministry of Radio Emmanuel. Sometimes when people call in, Vidal says, "It lifts us up for the whole day! It's like we are right there sharing with them all day every day. God can use it to be an instrument for His kingdom. Even people who don't go to church are listening."
"Radio is playing a very important part in the kingdom of God," he excitedly declares. On his station, youth programs as well as Christian reggae lift up the young people; Bible teaching, testimonies, Bible reading, and marriage counseling are also part of their daily broadcast. Even local, International, and Christian news is shared from their radio station. Though they continue to face "hard financial difficulties," the station continues to trust God for provision. As He has provided in the past, they know He will provide for the future, and they are thankful to those, like Sharing Ministries, who have helped them accomplish their dream.
Richard Smith
In 1990, God gave Richard Smith a vision for Christian radio in Belize. A year later, he began developing a close relationship with Sharing Ministries and Chuck Pollak. Then, in 1994, with the help of Sharing Ministries, the first Christian radio station in Belize was born. Subsequently, yearly training sessions with Sharing Ministries began. During these training sessions, Richard and others learned more about the details of operating and maintaining a radio station.
Now, in 2003, there is not one, but seven Christian radio stations in Belize. Sharing Ministries remains a part of each of these stations, but is beginning to step back as the Belizians take charge. Richard shares, " Sharing's partnership with us has raised the level of excitement and confidence in Christian broadcasting."
Because the training Sharing Ministries provides is on site in the country, their training budget is cut to less than half of what it would cost the radio team to leave the country to get training. "We have, as a result of Sharing Ministries coming to our country and meeting us at our level, been equipped for international standards. For most of us, in our indigenous radio development, we would probably not qualify for Christian broadcasting due to our academic level. However, the level of training and partership Sharing Ministries offers puts us to the very top to compete with secular media," says Smith.
Richard still works with the radio and sometimes takes shifts on the air. But now he also works as a consultant- offering training for old projects as well as pioneering for new projects. He says, "Now it's my greatest joy and honor to team up with Sharing Ministries in giving back to International projects."