Vision Radio can trace its roots back to a rhema—a personal message from God—dating back to 1961, when New Zealander Richard Berry was given a vision to establish Christian radio in his nation. Decades later, his vision would begin expressing itself around the world, including Australia.
However, the original seed goes back much further, to 1928, when American missionary Clarence Wesley Jones received a rhema from God to set up a missionary radio station while he was serving in South America. With such a mammoth task at hand in securing a broadcasting permit, he received very little encouragement from missionaries, and the doors were closed from the governments of Venezuela and Columbia.
Finally, in 1930, Clarence met missionaries who told him how he could get a permit in Ecuador. After raising the funds for the equipment and securing the permit, a 200-watt transmitter was set up in a renovated sheep shed on Christmas Day of 1931 in Quito. HCJB (Heralding Christ Jesus’ Blessings) became the world’s first missionary radio. It was broadcasting the Good News of Jesus Christ to the far corners of the world via short wave.
Fast forward to 1961 when twenty-year-old Richard (Dick) Berry heard HCJB thousands of miles away in New Zealand and received a rhema to establish a Christian radio station in New Zealand—another mammoth task that seemed impossible.
Logos and Rhema
Although there were many struggles, disappointments, moments of wanting to give up after obstacle after obstacle was put in place to stop the establishment of Christian radio, understanding the difference between logos and rhema was key to the ultimate success of Rhema Broadcasting Group, and the reason for its name.
Logos, the eternal, unchanging, inspired Word of God, was written over a span of around 2000 years by forty men under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. God’s Word was transcribed into sixty-six books we know as the Bible—the foundation upon which our faith is built.
Logos gives us valuable insights into God’s character, His Will and His plan for humanity.
‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.’ John 1:1 CSB
Rhema is a Greek word that refers to an ‘utterance’ or ‘spoken word’ of God. It is a personalised message from God spoken directly from God to an individual or community offering guidance, comfort or direction. This Word or message can carry a sense of urgency, relevance, and timeliness that is tailored for a specific moment or situation. This message could come from reading a scripture (logos), inner prompting from the Holy Spirit, a dream, or something a person says to you that answers a specific prayer or problem you’re encountering.
While we need to understand logos, it is with rhema that we step out in faith because it is a direct and personal message from God asking us to take action or guiding us in the steps He wants us to take.
When seeking to receive a rhema word or message from God, we pray and read through Scripture with a receptive heart. The important part is to respond in faith and obedience when we receive a rhema from God. This sometimes involves stepping out in courage, making difficult decisions, or persevering in times of hardship. Hearing a rhema should be taken as a source of encouragement, strength and guidance in your faith journey.
‘For the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.’ Hebrews 4:12 LSB
By seeking and receiving a rhema from God, we open ourselves to His transformative power and wisdom. We can rest in His promises and trust that His timing is not our timing as we walk in faith and obedience.
Satan wants us to be paralysed with uncertainty and confusion when we face trials or an urgent crisis that requires us to make difficult decisions. But God is not a God of confusion. He represents peace and calmness.
How Can We be Sure We’re Receiving Rhema From God?
The answers are in the Bible—the logos God has provided as our foundation. The Bible serves as the cornerstone of our faith. His logos never changes and is as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago.
The Bible is our personal library, filled with wisdom and hidden gems. Within its pages lie timeless truths that will resonate with us at the precise time God feels we need the rhema of His personalised message.
The more we study and meditate on His Word, the more in tune we will be with God, making it easier to discern whether what we are hearing is from God or the desire of our heart that is not aligned with God’s Will.
Some have taken steps of faith by modelling their actions from stories in the Bible or Scripture. Examples are pastors who borrowed money from the bank to set up churches and then become bankrupt. Some have tried to walk on water, like Peter, or handled deadly snakes and drowned or been bitten and died.
In the story of Peter, when the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water, they were terrified and thought it was a ghost until Jesus called out to them and reassured them.
But Peter wanted to make sure and asked for a rhema:
‘“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”’ Matthew 14:28 NIV
It was only when Jesus invited him to get out of the boat and come towards him did Peter step out in faith and obedience. Under a rhema, Jesus performed a miracle and protected Peter. It’s interesting that Peter’s faith faltered when he saw the wind (adversary) and doubted the rhema (invitation) he’d received.
Covered By His Protection
If you have not heard a direct word from God—rhema—then you are acting out of the will of God and will not be covered by His protection.
The way to distinguish a rhema messages from our own thoughts is to develop skills in discernment and get confirmation through various channels. Having a deep sense of peace replace your inner turmoil is one source of confirmation.
By meditating on the Biblical truths of logos and embracing the personalised messages of rhema, you’ll navigate life’s ups and downs with greater clarity, confidence, purpose and a deeper connection with God.
Success Comes Through Obeying Rhema
When God asks you to do the impossible, expect it to be the ultimate test of your faith. The fruit of your labour will only be seen after you persevere against all odds and never lose sight of the rhema given to you by God.
‘So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.’ Romans 10:17 ESV
In conclusion, the repercussions of Clarence Jones obeying a rhema in 1928 to establish a Christian radio station in South America resulted in Vision Radio in Australia being birthed from Dick Berry’s obedience to a rhema, that took 17 years to come to fruition, to establish Rhema Radio in New Zealand.
‘Rhema is God reaching people through people. His love, once born in our hearts, reaches out to others … it’s the desire for people who have found Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord, reaching out to other people in this land to tell them the Good News that Jesus Saves.’ Dick Berry
Together, we are advancing the Gospel to every corner of the world when we obey a rhema from God!
Further reading:
Collection: Collection 349 Papers of Clarence W. Jones | Archives of Wheaton College
