Train hits pedestrian
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Spanish ministry now available on radio
Saturday, October 13, 2007
SPRINGFIELD — Pastor David Espinosa of Iglesia el Buen Pastor church, had his prayers answered when he received a call about assisting with the Hispanic Ministry for WEEC Christian radio.
"I had a gentleman in church listening to the 5-minute (Spanish) devotional on WEEC, so I began to listen and thought, 'it would be nice if we could do something with this ministry,'" said Espinosa.
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He began to pray about it and not long after received a call from WEEC. General Manager Tracy Figley wanted to expand their Hispanic programming.
"Nobody responded except David. He had heard us say we wanted to reach our Hispanic neighbors ... and he's praying about the opportunity to reach out more, but he never contacted us," said Figley.
When the two men met for lunch, Espinosa told Figley, "This is it, this is what God wants me to do."
Espinosa joined WEEC as Director of Hispanic Ministries in June of 2005.
WEEC's Spanish programming was extended from five minutes to five hours a day. Now, Luz de Jesus, or Radio Light of Jesus can be heard 2 hours a day from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The ministry provides free fixed-tuned radio's, by request, to members of the Hispanic community. The radio's are set to 100.7 FM and programming can be heard in Spanish or English by the flip of a switch.
The station has distributed about 500 radios, mostly in Clark and Champaign counties.
The Hispanic programming includes about 25 percent teaching and 75 percent music. The teaching programs are centered on family, relationships, finances and children's programs.
While Espinosa does not provide local content to the program, he does do informational announcements.
"If all you speak is Spanish, you are pretty hard pressed to get information in this market," said Figley.
Figley believes that God has brought a mission field to their back door and feels strongly about preaching the Gospel to them.
"The bottom line for us, we're not called to decide who should be where or what should be done about anything ... we're called to take the Gospel to the ends of the Earth. You share Christ with folks regardless of who they are and to be able to do it in their heart language is a huge opportunity for us."
To obtain a fixed-tuned radio to hear WEEC's Spanish broadcasting call (877) 927-4786.
