Written by Rev. Abdoulaye Sangho
Article source: TWR Africa
Featured in the June 2026 issue of JOY! Magazine
249 PYGMY MEN & WOMEN BAPTISED IN JESUS’ NAME
Deep in the emerald heart of the Central African Republic, where the rainforest breathes ancient songs and the paths are known only to hunters and gatherers, a quiet miracle unfolded. For generations, the Pygmy communities of this region lived close to the forest – listening to its rhythms, honouring its mysteries, and passing down wisdom by word of mouth and song. Radios were rare. Electricity was almost unknown. And yet, hope found a way to travel through the air.
Hope through the airwaves
It began with a simple device: a solar-powered radio. Over three days, from 26 to 28 May 2025, Trans World Radio (TWR) personnel distributed radios across remote areas of the Central African Republic. These small radios carried voices in familiar languages – messages spoken gently, clearly, and respectfully. Among those voices was the message of Jesus Christ: His love, His sacrifice, His power to forgive, and His call to a new life.
From curiosity to faith
As weeks passed, listening became expectation. Expectation became conviction. Conviction became faith. Men and women began to ask questions: Who is this Jesus who loves even the forgotten? Why does His message bring peace to our hearts? What does it mean to follow Him?
Truth shared with patience
Local believers and ministry partners travelled to these forest communities, answering questions patiently, teaching from the Bible, and explaining the meaning of repentance, faith, and new life in Christ. There was no rush. No pressure. Only truth, respect, and time.
A public confession of faith
Then came the day: 30 December 2025. Near a river that had long sustained the community, people gathered – young and old, men and women. One by one, they stepped forward. Some with tears. Some with quiet smiles. Some holding hands with their children. That day, 249 Pygmy men and women publicly confessed their faith in Jesus Christ and were baptised.
As each person entered the water, the forest seemed to listen. Songs rose – not polished hymns, but heartfelt praise in local rhythms. The water that once symbolised daily survival now became a sign of new birth. For many, this was more than a religious event. It was a declaration of dignity. A proclamation that they are seen, loved, and called by God.
The story continues
The impact continues to ripple outward. Small Christian gatherings are forming. Radios are now treasured not just as tools, but as lifelines of teaching, encouragement, and prayer. Elders speak of peace replacing fear. Families speak of reconciliation. And children grow up hearing stories – not only of the forest, but of Jesus.
A message they had never heard
At first, people listened with curiosity. Elders gathered under trees in the evenings. Families sat together after long days of hunting and gathering. The radio speakers told them of a God who knows every person by name, who is not distant, who entered human suffering, and who offers life that death cannot defeat. The message was unlike anything they had heard before – and yet, it resonated deeply.
A new song in the forest
This is the quiet power of the Gospel when it is carried with humility and faithfulness. This is what happens when the airwaves reach the margins. This is the story of 249 lives changed – not by force, but by love. “How can they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Rom 10:14). From the depths of the Central African forest, a new song is rising.
This article appears in the June 2026 issue of JOY! Magazine. Read the digital version of this magazine here: joygifts.co.za
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Date published: 21/05/2026
Feature image: Sourced from original article printed in JOY! Magazine June 2026
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