Where does this voice come? We already know, but how the churches, being sometimes so closed to new inventions and discoveries, came to use radio in their ministry? Read more about the story of radio in the Church and the current map of Christian radio broadcasting.

Radio is the oldest electronic media used by the Church. The Italian Marconi, radio's  inventor, is also the father of Radio Vatican, the voice Roman-Catholic Church still uses  today to make heard its voice. The advantages that allowed radio to exist for so long and  with such great success are as simple as they are efficient: it has its own atmosphere  drawing its own public towards it, it's cheap to run and relatively easy to get going and,  last but not least, it's instantaneous.

The same year the Lumiere brothers invented cinema, 1895, Marconi does the first successful  experiments with wireless radio transmission, experiments that will give life later to radio  broadcasting. But all these inventions are received by the majority of churches with some  reticence. The Roman-Catholic Church expresses several times its hope these inventions will  never arrive to be a part in the life of the faithful. Still, in 1931 we have the first  papal discourse broadcasted in radio, but, as you can see, this is taking place only some 39  years after the new media arrived. Together with this we have the first papal documents  about the use of media: „Miranda Prorsus” (1957), addressing for the first time the subject  of media; „Inter Mirifica” (1963), a Vatican II document speaking of the social means of  communication (this document also states the need for a Pontifical Council for Social  Communication, which exists ever since), „Communio et Progressio” (1971), a pastoral  instruction to social communication and „Aetatis Novae” (1992), a document speaking about  the advantages and the dangers of using media in evangelization.

In the Orthodox world, things aren't moving at the same pace with the Catholics, because the  technology for radio broadcasting was not so cheap in the beginning and, when it became  affordable, most of the Orthodox churches were under the oppression of the communist regime  and were not allowed to have a radio of their own. After the fall of the Iron curtain,  there was a boom in Orthodox radio industry, only in today's Romania there are at least 50  local stations, not to mention the other faiths.

In all the Churches now, radio broadcasting has become a reality. This reality is seasoned  with Christian music, prayers and chants. In special places on the globe, where information  are scarce, like in Africa, people get a glimpse of the world through the voice of their  local Christian radio. This is why all major churches have their own radio stations in  Africa. Unfortunately, most of these radio stations are not available online, because of the  lack of infrastructure in the countries they are active.

One of the largest Christian radio network in the world in RCF (Les Radios Chretiennes en  France). Established by the French Catholic Council in France, this radio network has now 57  local radio stations. It evolved naturally, because all the stations are catholic, but they  came under the same umbrella in the '80, making it more strong. With the general quarters in  Lyon, France, it now broadcasts in all regions of France and has 2 local station in Belgium. 
Their programms include news, cultural production and all kinds of music. It is available online http://www.rcf.fr/

One-o-five-live is the radio dedicated to the local Christians in Rome. Having two programs, one in Italian and another in English. It has a more cultural program, but it also focuses on the specific issues of a big capital and also on its Christian roots. Available online http://www.oecumene.radiovaticana.org/105/index.asp

Radio Maria is another Catholic network, but it is developed at a world level. It has local stations on every continent. The most active are those in Africa and South East Asia, where the need for communicating is greater. Most of these local radios can be listened online http://www.radiomaria.org/

Although has some problems with the online transmission, this radio has special features of Orthodox music, live commentaries and shows, with a good technical status http://www.ancientfaithradio.com/

If you have ever been interested in the life of a parish and want to learn more what a parish radio may sound like, you may try the radio hosted by the Holy Assumption Orthodox Church in Canton, Ohio http://inbn.net/

With a more modern look to it and with a great deal of today's music, but also with shows speaking of cultural events in Germany and with suggestions for Christian visits and traveling, Dom Radio surprised us, not only because of the German spoken... http://www.domradio.de/

This site is offering a good choice of programs and shows, with commentaries and interviews with the most respected members of the Catholic community in and around Washington. It also wants to promote the idea of a Catholic station in Washington, DC http://www.catholicradio-dc.org/

Although no good information is given in good-old English, the music on this radio is something special, although maybe it could diversify its broadcast with more opened features
http://www.serbianradiochicago.com/

With a good choice of music and shows, this Romanian Orthodox radio based in Cluj manifests an appetence for cultural life. It balances everything with children shows, shows for disabled persons and live broadcasting. http://www.radiorenasterea.ro/

It is the largest network of Orthodox radios in Romania, with over 14 local stations in the country. It is also the oldest Orthodox radio in Romania. With a great team and a very competent management, the future of this radio is very secure. http://www.trinitas.ro/

This radio is for traditional people or for those who cannot go to church. It is one of the more traditionalistic choice of radios that we encountered online, but it also created a community and it is supported only by the donation of its listeners http://www.wftsradio.com/

We sort of stumbled on this site, but we were surprised by the differences observable in the design of the site, and also the differences in the schedule of the radio station. Tanzania is surprising. It's a pity we didn't stumbled on more of these... http://www.elct.org/TechServ/Radio/pstartenglish.htm

The German variant of Radio Maria, this radio manifests a unity in programming and music and editorial choice of shows, news and music with its family of radios http://www.horeb.org/index.html

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