“What an incredible opportunity to integrate the Great Commission with the technical skills He has given me!”

Noah Peternel, a summer intern from Grove City College, first heard of SonSet Solutions as a freshman engineering student at his college’s annual career fair. Watching a video of the gospel message paired with a clean water system in an African village grabbed his attention. Seeing joy reflected in the eyes of the villagers stirred his heart and filled him with a passion to be part of this endeavor.

The following two years were filled with prayer, phone calls, and emails. At the end of his junior year of college, Noah was selected to become part of the very intern team at SonSet Solutions that he had “prayed oh-so-hard for” since his freshman year of college. Continue reading →

I’ve wondered how I could get my family involved in Christian missions. Well, missionaries with SonSet Solutions visited our church and invited everyone to volunteer to test and prep a batch of solar-powered radios that are tuned to receive only the Christian radio stations in the particular country to which they are sent. The ministry was only 10 miles away, so we said “Yes” and signed up.

When my wife, three young boys and I showed up at SonSet Solutions, we joined fellow church members around a makeshift “assembly line.“  Everyone was given a task – some tested radio reception, state of charge, and button function; another checked solar charge function; others added an instruction booklet, packaged and boxed the units… 300 in all headed for Burkina Faso.  My children enjoyed the idea of being part of an assembly line. We had a sense of satisfaction knowing we had helped in a small way with a project that has life-changing and eternal implications. Continue reading →

Though the journey of life may seem like a series of random twists and turns, looking back we can sometimes see the hand of God steering us according to His perfect plan. Mathew’s life is an example of this.

Mathew was born in 1968 in Kisii, Kenya, and was reared in a good Catholic family. After graduating from college in 1989 with a degree in sales and marketing, he volunteered part time at the Anglican Church Christian Community Services organization where his older sister worked. It was there that God brought him to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Several moves followed in the intervening years as Mathew got married, pursued jobs, sought better schools for his children, and fled tribal violence that saw their property burned to the ground. In 2008, God led him and his family to Kericho, Kenya, and to a warm, friendly church with solid teaching. Continue reading →

After many years of patience and perseverance, our work monitoring clean water wells has come full circle. Along the way, our effort to help one water ministry has benefited many others.

This account goes all the way back to 2007, when a team of SonSet Solutions missionaries traveled to the Central African Republic (CAR) to install a shortwave radio station for Water for Good, a ministry dedicated to bringing clean and lasting water to everyone in the Central African Republic. This station enabled Water for Good to reach its people with messages about clean water, hygiene, farming, and, most importantly, God’s Word.

Later, Water for Good asked for help with monitoring their water wells remotely. This would lighten the burden of their maintenance teams who travel through the remote African bush. We began collaboration with well pump manufacturers in pursuit of a solution.

While we were able to test two prototypes in March 2013, civil war broke out in the CAR immediately afterward. Continue reading →

Eyes brimming with tears and his face shining with genuine sincerity, he said, “I can work with my hands.” These were the words of Scott Kocher, volunteer at SonSet Solutions. He has, indeed, brought those very hands to work here. Scott reports, “I empty waste baskets, clean, do maintenance and have even gotten involved in assembling SonSetLink™ water monitors.” His love for God has given him a desire to help wherever needed.

Scott’s story here began when his son suggested a tour of SonSet Solutions. Overwhelmed by the intricacy of the work he observed and the technical precision and overall ministry, he asked himself, “What could I do to be part of this work?” He offered his hands; God answered.

Scott said, “My father was a man of few words, but he taught me to work.” Another person whose impact Scott cited was his mother-in-law who had come to America from Switzerland. Again tears started as he shared, “She didn’t know English, but knew the language of prayer. Faithfully, she prayed for her husband to know the Lord. He did eventually become a believer and pastor. She carried a love for God and a positive attitude throughout her life.” Continue reading →

Marriages struggle in many societies, but in the strongly male-dominated society of Papua New Guinea, marriages face increased challenges. Jane’s (name changed) marriage had been plagued with affairs and threats of violence. With a small financial gift and a request to pray for her marriage, Jane contacted Wantok Radio Light (WRL), a radio ministry started with the help of SonSet Solutions. Rebecca, who served at WRL, called Jane to pray for her over the phone. She encouraged Jane to fast and pray for three days and Rebecca would do the same. Rebecca reports, “At the end of three days, she said her husband saw in a dream the cross of Jesus with blood dripping off of it. He knew it was because of his sin that Jesus died. He asked forgiveness of his wife and gave his life over to Jesus to change him…. Now their marriage is strong, and they are strong in the Lord.” Continue reading →

Sweeter than honey in the honeycomb, indeed! The Word of God can now be heard in this town that is famous for the honey it produces. Radio Uhai FM broadcasts from Tabora in western Tanzania reaching perhaps a quarter of a million listeners. Radio programming features gospel music and teaching from the Word of God in the Swahili language.

Khadija, who was spiritually lost, was sick in bed. He listened to the radio to fill the quiet hours. Hearing a pastor on Radio Uhai, he picked up his phone to request prayer and healing. The pastor prayed for Khadija live on the air and the next day he felt much better! Amazed at what he had heard and seen, he immediately went to the pastor’s church and gave his life to Christ.

Magreth, a Christian, was concerned about her unbelieving children. A pastor on Radio Uhai encouraged her to begin fervently praying for them. One month later the children began listening to the radio with her and asked to go to church where they accepted Christ and were baptized. Continue reading →

In the isolated countryside of Bolivia, Bruce and Janice Johnson were laying the footings for a new radio studio. A man approached them, said he’d been curious, and had to come investigate. He told them his daughter listens to a radio station in San Borja (Bruce and Janice’s first station).

“She listens to it all day and night, even when other languages are spoken, because she knows they are talking about God. You see, she was born blind and that radio station is her world!”

Bruce and Janice serve with Ethnos 360. They have worked in Bolivia for over twenty years setting up radio stations and producing programs in six different languages. Bolivia is a country in west-central South America and runs from the peaks of the Andes Mountains in the west to the Amazon Basin in the east. About three dozen people groups account for sixty percent of the population. Continue reading →

“Africa in miniature.” This is a common designation for one country in West Africa. Cameroon includes all the major climates and vegetation found on the continent: beaches, deserts, mountains, savannas and rainforests. About the size of California, this geographically and culturally diverse nation encompasses 250 different language groups.

It is difficult bringing biblical truth to a nation where diverse religious beliefs exist when navigation from one region to another is arduous and language barriers exist within its borders.

These challenges didn’t hinder Dr. Donald and Betty Hocking who began the Cameroon Biblical Seminary in the 1980s. Today, Grace Bible Mission has become the mission board of the Cameroon Biblical Seminary, Grace Bible Churches of Cameroon (a fellowship of 80 churches), and a Christian medical clinic. Continue reading →

Buhati walked into the pastor’s office at Radio Alpha Omega FM with tears streaming down her cheeks. Life had become unbearable for this young, unmarried, pregnant girl. Pastor Mabutwa, who runs the station in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), listened as she shared her story.

While in high school, she became pregnant and was beaten severely by her family until she and her boyfriend, Justin, ran away. Feeling a nagging sense of hopelessness, she decided to end her life. That evening she turned on her radio and tuned in to a message of hope. Buhati knew she had to find where the radio station was located. It was there that Pastor Mabutwa was able to lead her to Jesus.

But Buhati’s struggles were not over. Justin, who had since married her, refused to allow her to attend church. The radio program was her only source of spiritual nourishment. One day, she was escorted to the pastor’s office by her husband. He thanked them for their programs but said he didn’t want his wife in church. If she tried to go to church, he would beat her.

Providentially, Radio Alpha Omega FM held weekly meetings at the station for listeners to come together. Justin and his wife attended; however, Justin made it clear that, although they could attend the radio meetings, they could not go to church. Their presence at these meetings continued until, finally, Justin surrendered his life to Christ. Now he and Buhati are evangelists together, proclaiming Jesus to others. Continue reading →