the request

HSI responded to a request by a former professional soccer player and coach, turned Christian mission leader, to set up a video facility at the nation’s only Christian training center in all of Algeria. At this time video was a very new facet of what HSI offered.

The project began with a scouting trip to visit the training center and confirming the suitability of a room to be devoted for the video and audio studio. This project was made possible by the cooperation of two mission agencies, which included financial gifts to purchase the needed equipment.

the response

An HSI member, who is also an airline pilot, saw the potential of taking repeated trips cheaply to North Africa not only to install the video studio but train the local team as well. He shared the idea with others and before long recruited others from his church, including fellow pilots who decided to take on the Algeria video project.

It was unique to have an entire team made up of people from the same church and all with the same job.

preparations

Months of preparation preceded the trip to Algeria, including the purchase of a computer, software, professional-quality camera, various accessories and endless emails. Everything needed to be tested, and the pilots made some “pilot” projects before leaving to be sure everything was working properly. The team went in October 2003.

Upon arrival, Algerian customs held up some of the equipment, which was released upon payment of the required fees. The team began preparing the room devoted to the studio. Lighting was installed, and various stand-alone structures made.

training

Before long training of three Algerians commenced, and in a very short time the first actual video shoot was underway. The urgent need for the studio is to video testimonies in Arabic and the minority Berber language, Kabyle. These video testimonies will provide a major boost to evangelism, not only in Algeria but also through the entire North African and Middle Eastern region, via Christian programming on satellite TV. Along with the testimonies, the intention is to video the training sessions from the discipleship courses that are held several times annually at the House of Hope.

With this fledgling video facility, new opportunities now exist within the nation to start flooding out video materials, followed soon by audio materials as well. The studio in Oran will cooperate with other mission groups and ministries focusing on media outreach and discipleship of the Arabic world.

five trips

Phase two of the project began in 2004 with additional trips to Algeria for further training of the three Algerians. How grateful we are that the Lord brought together a unique team of airline personnel that took five trips to Algeria to help train a team that will reach unknown numbers of Arabs with the life-changing message of new life through Jesus, the Lord of North Africa and of all the nations of the earth.