Christian Radio in Bolivia

A Guarani Indian in the eastern jungle of Bolivia wakes up with the sun and turns on his short wave receiver and hears for the first time the Bible taught in his own language...

LATCOM and EPLABOL is now using only one radio frequency. We reported in July that we would have a two frequency strategy. Both in rural eastern Bolivia, the older Short Wave frequency would air the Gospel to the Spanish-speakers, and the new SW frequency would broadcast in several indigenous languages.

In re-examining its vision and goals, EPLABOL has decided to give up the older Short Wave radio frequency as well as the AM broadcast, both known as Radio Centenario.

At the same time, we have re-affirmed our commitment to broadcasting the Gospel to hard to reach villages in eastern Bolivia. EPLABOL will use the new Short Wave frequency to air Christian programing in Spanish and in several native languages. Two thousand solar-powered, Short Wave receivers are now being distributed.

Local Christian broadcasting in Bolivia began with LATCOM in 1984. In two decades, dozens of missions, ministries, and denominations have followed LATCOM’s radio trailblazing.

At the core of LATCOM’s mission philosophy is to train and equip local Christians who are finding new ways to reach their own people with the Gospel. In keeping with this core value, LATCOM and EPLABOL are redirecting our resources away from broadcasting to leadership development as well as to new indigenous radio ministries, such as Pablo Chuve’s work with the Chiquitano people of Lomerio..

Lomerio Radio

In 2001 missionary Ray Rising approached LATCOM about the need to broadcast the Bible in the Chiquitano language to the Lomerio region. LATCOM missionary Tim Ramsey contacted Pablo Chuvé about installing a solar powered recording studio in his home to record the New Testament and also chronological Bible studies.

In 2002 a team from a U.S. church helped to install the studio. While at Chuvé’s home, Tim saw the great spiritual need of the region. He talked with Pablo and Miguel Ípamo, a local pastor and the voice of the new Chiquitano Bible recordings, about their vision of reaching their people with the Gospel.

Read more about short wave radio ministries:

Short Wave Radio – They are listening

New short wave radio gets permit