1. One FEBC program producer in a predominantly Buddhist country has gone to great lengths to relate to his own culture. He has studied hard to understand Buddhism by learning much of the Buddhist language (Pali). He never gives the impression that he is alienated from it or the culture that surrounds it. Standing in a Buddhist temple he recites with great detail the intricacies of Buddhism and how the system serves the community. This love of his own culture combined with his working knowledge of Buddhist religious language (and consequent understanding of Buddhism) has done much to make him a master at relating to his listeners — particularly monks and those intimately acquainted with the teachings of Buddhism.
2. An important part of FEBC's broadcasts to Vietnam has been this apologetic role. It was designed to address the cadres and those who had been influenced by their teaching. Given that a whole generation has been educated under a school system dominated by Marxist philosophy there are many areas of life for which they have no answers. They have also been taught to suppress both their inner feelings and questions induced by this system.
3. Many of FEBC’s Chinese programs are targeted at intellectuals. One of the early trials was the Pursuit of Truth which emphasized that we search for the truth together with the audience. After the Tien An Men Square incident in 1989, intellectuals caved in to a mood of desperate disappointment. At that time the Pursuit of Truth drew considerable mail response as it performed the apologetic role. Later In Search of Life in the New Life Series targeted intellectuals also. In recent years we have The Vagabonds’ Heart with overseas Chinese scholars playing the main roles. They present the Gospel through sharing the feelings of a vagabond.
4. This type of intellectual-targeted program does not easily get written responses from the audience. One of the successful examples of apologetic programs was In Search of Life. It set up a reading club in the program and got many responses from the audience who love reading and thinking. Their responses helped staff do follow-up work.

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Last updated 15 Jul 2009