"Selamat Pagi" - Bryan naturally greets you in Malay or Indonesian if you spoke that language. Whether it's Tagalog, Indonesian, Vietnamese, or tribal languages, Bryan learns them to connect with people he meets. "Learning a language tells somebody 'I care about you so much, I want to communicate in your language,'" he shares. "I'm the foreigner, the visitor. I don't expect others to speak English to me."
For Bryan, mission service felt natural. "Being 'in the field' was like being home when I was with FEBC." This is his story.
Missionary: Bryan*
Dates of service: 1990–1992 (short-term)
Location: Philippines
Role: Presenter
What first inspired you to serve with FEBC?
I had finished a three-month radio course and was helping out at a local community radio station here in Australia when the call to the Philippines came. I fell in love with the work that FEBC was doing as I watched it firsthand whilst on two mission trips in the Philippines prior to my short-term with FEBC.
What were your most significant experiences?
I remember watching Ezra Ng from the Chinese department through the studio window, reading the Bible word by word, page by page. People in China were sitting down writing every word because they didn't have Bibles. That was meeting real needs. Those who heard and wrote could share what they wrote with others - how effective is that?
A significant moment came during the 1991-2 Gulf War. Our compound at Karuhatan, Valenzuela City, Manila was on lockdown due to potential terrorist attacks against Western targets in Manila,, and other strategic locations in the Philippines. I understand that the Abraham Lincoln library in Manila had a bomb threat, At that time, the US bases at Subic and Clark AFB were integral in the logistic supply chain assisting the coalition force in Saudi Arabia in 1991/1992 under Operation Desert Shield/Storm. FEBC Philippines began broadcasting live English updates via shortwave radio. Our team provided crucial news coverage that many listeners couldn't access elsewhere.
I met my wife on the mission field - quite a lasting impact! We have three children, two have been involved in radio and media - a legacy from our work in the Philippines. Wen (Rowen) was a journalist with FEBC and served in the Malacanang Press Corps.
In 1999, we returned to FEBC to record programs for people in cross-cultural relationships, which aired in the Philippines, titled 'When you cross cultures at the altar'.
We've maintained lasting friendships, including with John and Remy Tan. Recently, we caught up with John over Vietnamese beef noodle soup here.
Do you have a go-to Bible verse?
Isaiah 42: 5–9 is my 'life verse', my calling:
'Thus says God the Lord,
Who created the heavens and stretched them out,
Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it,
Who gives breath to the people on it,
And spirit to those who walk on it:
“I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness,
And will hold Your hand;
I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people,
As a light to the Gentiles,
To open blind eyes,
To bring out prisoners from the prison,
Those who sit in darkness from the prison house.
I am the Lord, that is My name;
And My glory I will not give to another,
Nor My praise to carved images.
Behold, the former things have come to pass,
And new things I declare;
Before they spring forth I tell you of them.'
Through the ups and downs of getting sick and recovering, being tired from the weather changes, the reminder that there is a purpose in all things was a strong source of encouragement, even when I was feeling a bit down or isolated at times.
How do you see FEBC's ministry evolving?
FEBC has adapted well to changing technology, expanding its reach in making Jesus known.
I would make one point though: there's nothing more 'real' in radio ministry than actually sitting in front of a microphone, with the 'on-air' light flashing, and knowing that people are listening, as you sit in a soundproof room and speak from abroad.
Doors are opening in previously closed countries like Vietnam and Cambodia - that's strategically important for the gospel. But these people groups are also here in Australia. With our mission of 'Christ to the world by radio,' we can reach them here too. #
Advanced technology has made both international and local mission fields more accessible than ever.
What would you say to someone thinking about joining God's mission (whether by going, giving or praying)?
The Lord can use anyone with an open heart to hear His call and do what He calls people to do, wherever that may be, in the capacity that He opens for them.
Whom He calls, He enables as well. He is faithful.
Take the first step and ask God where He wants you to be.
Since FEBC, Bryan and his wife have run a Tagalog radio program for a station in Canberra, Australia. Their heart for sharing the gospel remains as strong as their FEBC days.
* Surname omitted for privacy reasons.
# Sharing the gospel with someone speaking another language? FEBC’s content is available in multiple languages through apps and online. Contact us if you wish to be connected to a specific resource.