I put here an explanation of the situation behind Story Channel's request for funding support in June 2024. If I was considering committing to this I would appreciate some answers to a few questions beforehand :
What is the funding going to be used for? The funding will be used first and foremost to pay the 80,000€/year needed for the satellite broadcast.
Is it really necessary?
- At the moment Story Channel is the only Christian satellite TV channel broadcasting for the Berber languages of North Africa; All the other Berber satellite TV channels are non-Christian.
- Right now you can count the number of Amazigh TV channels on the fingers of your hands. They are easy to find, well known, and attractive to the population. Counting and finding all the websites containing the same information is a major challenge.
- The channel is well organised, good quality, and broadcasting the work of all the major Christian workers in the Amazigh languages of North Africa. Without Story Channel or a similar work, much of this Christian content will disappear into the gigantic maze of disorganised content which is the internet. Most of the population may never find or benefit from it.
- The population of Amazigh speakers is around 30 millions with 6 major languages all of which have a growing amount of Bible focussed content on Story Channel.
- Satellite TV remains the most effective and powerful means of gospel proclamation to North Africa. Some reaasons for this:
- the cost of data for mobile phones which limits access to videos streamed on phones (much of the population is poor),
- the quality (or inexistence) of the data connections in many areas (especially rural),
- the fact that data use via computer or mobile telephone is not anonymous - there is a risk involved in watching Christian content this way
- StoryChannel is a particulary good project to help with because:
- If you wanted to share the gospel message with the Amazigh speaking peoples and there was no one else doing so (which is actually the situation for the majority of the population), founding Story Channel would probably be the best way you could go about it.
- Story Channel owns no building, pays no salaries and rents no office space. Its equipment is running in a private home, all workers are supported missionaries, all funds go directly to the project for which they are given with only a very small percentage deducted for bank fees and general expenses.
- You will find much useful information about the project here : https://storychannel.org/q-a/
Why has funding not been found elsewhere?
- Funding has been found for nearly the last 3 years via organisational channels. Organisations change priorities and can drop off at any time. We have come to realise that we need a more stable funding base. A significant number of committed believers each contributing a modest amount is a good long term solution - if a small number drop off at any time the work is not placed in jeopardy.
- Many foundations are convinced that satellite TV is no longer important for the proclamation of the gospel. They think that the internet has replaced the satellite. We believe this to be a mistake - so it is a question of mismatched vision and priorities.
- Many foundations give primarily to organisations and people they know well. Our main team is running Story Channel - a full time job. Our fund raising team was only recently started.
How could your current campaign resolve Story Channel's funding needs?
- 200 partners each giving an average of $25 per month would provide a solid extendable support base enabling StoryChannel to continue broadcasting to North Africa’s 30 million Amazigh speakers. A partner could be a church, a small group, a family, an organisation, etc. This underlying support (about 60% of the need) should be sufficient to enable the channel to continue to function while the Channel's fundraising efforts source the required remaining funds from foundations, organisations and other sources.
- We would really like for “the yoke to be easy and the burden to be light” - so we are asking potential partners to choose a level that is doable for them. For this reason also we would like to see the number of supporting partners grow to 200.
- We are soliciting our support primarily in four places: USA, Canada, New Zealand and France.
- The work amongst the Amazigh peoples of North Africa is being carried by many different workers and organisations - all of which stand to significantly benefit from Story Channel. We are contacting the main partner workers and asking them make this need known in their own support networks. In this way we expect that the value of this project will be recognised by many hundreds in prayer and, we trust more than 200 in regular financial support.
- We have imagined here how a wider moblisation of God's people could be benificial to the media work of bringing the good news to North Africa's Amazigh speaking population. However we recognise that God is sovereign and can provide for this work in whatever way he wants. We look forward to seeing how He does this in the future months.
Perhaps you are connected to us for such a time as this
If you are reading this page it is probably because you are connected to someone working with Story Channel. Your relationship brings with it the opportunity to contribute to the work of making the gospel available in an area of the world where it is little known. We pray that you will find a place for this work in your priorities, in your prayers, in your giving. The body of Christ is made up of many, each with different gifts and roles. Let it grow up as it works together for the kingdom of Christ.
We will put updates on this funding campaign on this page