Nine days after TWR Malawi received a prestigious honour from media peers in Texas, that award made it home to Lilongwe.
“We had a luncheon to celebrate, and everyone was taking pictures with the award,” TWR Director Janet Mtali said. “It was really amazing.”
The award was the International Media Award presented by the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB), a U.S.-based international association of Christian communicators, on 25th February during the group’s annual convention in a Dallas suburb.
Victor Kaonga, TWR international director for East and Southern Africa, accepted the award on behalf of TWR Malawi, which he directed through 2022. He delivered it to Mtali and the staff on March 6.
The award “was given to TWR Malawi for its pioneering work in Christian broadcasting,” according to NRB. “With 13 FM transmitters and programming in six languages, TWR Malawi continues to spread the Gospel in one of the world’s poorest nations.”
Mtali, 34, became national director in July 2023 but has been involved with TWR Malawi much of her life, including presenting children’s programmes while she was still in high school. She leads a youthful staff of 23 plus 15 volunteers, with additional help from ministry partners.
Previously served via shortwave from TWR’s Swaziland (now Eswatini) site, TWR Malawi began building its network of FM transmission sites in 2000. Although outside help was needed to pay for most of the sites, the final two were paid for entirely by Malawians. They were dedicated in 2022.
“That project showed us the impact that TWR Malawi has in this country,” Mtali said. “We had about 1,250 listeners who supported that project. So it really goes to show that once a person is impacted, they then can give back to the ministry.”
Expanding the reach
But the team isn’t resting on their laurels. Although 80% of the Malawian population live in rural areas and continue to rely on FM radio, TWR Malawi also is responding to an increasing social media presence. A staff member is dedicated to exploring online content, Mtali said. In a country in which half of the population is younger than 18, TWR Malawi also is developing additional specialized content for young people and children.
Economically, TWR Malawi is working to increase local partnerships and to be less dependent upon outside support, Malawi said. For example, a local organisation is backing an initiative that’s starting this month for children and parenting programmes and local partners are providing the money for a series of programmes on personal finances.
Mtali said that with digital platforms she’s hopeful to reach more Malawians who live outside of Malawi. Her team also is focussed on increasing listener engagement this year.
The TWR Malawi team didn’t seek or expect the recognition, Mtali said. (The nomination was made by TWR International.) But it was an encouragement to the staff and volunteers and to listeners.
“It’s really a celebration for us, and celebrating all the people who have been listening, supporting and praying for the ministry as well, because we do have a team of people that pray for us,” Mtali said. “It’s just a reminder as well of God’s faithfulness and giving us that sense of responsibility, to say we need to continue to use media to his glory.”
Prayer points
- Aging transmission equipment needs to be replaced. Please pray regarding an ongoing technical assessment and for the resources for the needed upgrade.
- As the nation of Malawi approaches elections in September, pray for peace amid political tensions and economic challenges.
- Pray for unity in the Church of Malawi, that it would be a beacon of light and of hope for the hopeless.
