Broadcasting Christian Truth to Haiti

The Republic of Haiti

A small, often troubled, mountainous
country southeast of Cuba, Haiti was
originally claimed for Spain by
Christopher Columbus in 1492. Later
Haiti became a slave colony settled by
French slave traders in the 1700s.

Today, Haiti still suffers from attitudes,

practices, and challenges from its difficult past. While
its people are determined to live life as best they
can, Haiti struggles with its identity as the poorest
nation in the western hemisphere.

Radio Lumiere
Founded in 1959, Radio Lumire is a network of ten
Christian radio stations and a Christian television
station. It covers 90% of the island of Haiti with the
message of Christ's love.Radio Lumire belongs to
the Evangelical Baptist Mission of South Haiti but is
operated as a service to all of the evangelical
churches. In fact, Radio Lumire is known as the voice
of the Protestant Church in Haiti. Programming, staff,
and financial support come from all of the evangelical
denominations.The network is made up of AM and
FM stations connected by relay sites strategically
placed on mountain tops around the country. Most of
the programming, including local and regional news
and public health features, is produced in Haitian
Creole and French by a dedicated staff of evangelical
Christians.

Radio Lumire: A 55-Year History

Why use radio in Haiti?

Background
Vision of David Hartt
History of Radio Lumire
Original station
Growth of nationwide network
Todays Radio Lumiere

Why Radio Lumire is

important to the people of Haiti
Emergency broadcasts (hurricanes &
earthquakes)
Combat illiteracy in the nation
Education on health issues
Teaching agriculture and business
News and public information
Broadcast services for churches
Provide announcements

Haiti Mission Trip Special Projects

These Haiti Mission Trips were established to provide
continuing technical support to the work of Radio Lumiere.
Groups of six to eight
people return to Haiti
approximately once a
year to work on radio
station development
projects to expand the
outreach potential of
Radio Lumiere
throughout Haiti.
These Missions Trip groups have completed nine significant
projects since 2004, with the next project planned for 2016 in
Jeremie.

Haiti Mission Trip Projects Completed To Date

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

2004: Artibonite AM Station Repair & Upgrade

2007: Torbeck (near Les Cayes) AM Station Renovation
2009: Les Cayes Downtown Studio Repair and Upgrade
2010: Cite Lumiere (near Les Cayes) Studio Renovation
2011: Jacmel New FM Station Installation
2012: Morne Brieux (near Les Cayes) New FM Station Installation
2013: Port-de-Paix New FM Station Installation
2014: Petit Goave New FM Station Installation
7
2015: Menelas New AM Station Installation
1

9
4

2,3,6 8 5

Haiti Mission Trip: Major Work Project #1

2004 Artibonite Repair & Upgrade
Completed the installation of new local
programming equipment and two
studios.
Built and installed new doors and
windows for the building that houses
the transmitter room and studios.
Installed air conditioning for the studios
for the first time ever.

Haiti Mission Trip: Major Work Project #2

2007 Les Cayes (Torbeck) Renovation
(Feb 2007)
New Tower Base Installed
Replaced Base Insulator
New Roof Installed

Haiti Mission Trip: Major Work Project #3

2009 Les Cayes Studio

Completely Remodeled Studio

Haiti Mission Trip: Major Work Project #4

2010 Cite Lumiere Studio Renovation
(June 12 - 21, 2010)

Studio Remodeled
Roof Repaired

Haiti Mission Trip: Major Work Project #5

2011: Jacmel Radio Station
(March 12 - 21, 2011)

Installed New Radio Station on 100.9 mHz

Studio

FM Transmitter

Tower

Antennas

Haiti Mission Trip: Major Work Project #6

2012 Morne Brieux FM Station
(January 6 15, 2012)
Erected tower & antenna
Installed transmitter
Installed electrical service
Installed inverter, batteries & charger

Haiti Mission Trip: Major Work Project #7

2013 Port-de-Paix FM Radio Station
(January 11 - 20, 2013)

Installed New Radio Station on 90.9 mHz

Studio

FM Transmitter

Tower

Antennas

Haiti Mission Trip: Major Work Project #8

2014 Petit-Goave FM Radio Station
(February 1 - 10, 2014)

Installed New Radio Station on 97.7 MHz

Studio

FM Transmitter

VHF Receiver

Tower

Antennas

Haiti Mission Trip: Major Work Project #9

2015 Menelas AM Radio Station
February 22 March 2, 2015

Major Repair of the old

Transmitter Building

Electric poles & transformer to

provide electricity to the site

Inverter & Batteries

AM Transmitter

VHF Receiver

Repair Tower Base

180 foot Tower & Radials

Menelas

From Snow and Ice at JFK To Heartline Guest House

Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Radio Lumiere New AM Station, Menelas, Haiti

The February 2015 Team

Charles Long, Lancaster

Charles Kleeman, Schwenksville
Peniel Mizaire, Haiti
Bob Thompson, Souderton

Teresa Long, Paradise

Ray Long, Paradise
Bruce Snyder, Souderton
Dale Long, Lititz
Doug Brubaker, Lancaster

Radio Lumiere New AM Station, Menelas, Haiti

Daily Routines:

Eating
Traffic
Deli Mart
Working
Breaks
More Traffic
Cool Showers
More Eating
Devotions
Recap and Plan
Check Mosquito Nets
Sleeping

Radio Lumiere New AM Station, Menelas, Haiti

From its location in the

village of Menelas, next to
an MEBSH church, this
A.M. radio site is ideally
situated to reach 4 million
people in several
directions, unimpeded by
mountains:

All of greater Port Au Prince.

North to the Artibonite Valley
East to the border with the
Dominican Republic
Southwest to Miragoane
Westward to portions of la
Gonave Island

Radio Lumiere New AM Station, Menelas, Haiti

Prior Situation: This radio transmitter

site had fallen to vandals and looters,
such that not much was left.
The tower was gone
The copper radials were taken
The buildings were rendered useless
because the doors, window, and
stairs were stolen.
Remaining walls were damaged by
the 2010 earthquake.

Radio Lumiere New AM Station, Menelas, Haiti

Prior Situation: The work of vandals

and looters,. and the 2010 earthquake.

Radio Lumiere New AM Station, Menelas, Haiti

Current Status: In the

fullness of time God has seen
fit to put this station back on
the air.
Today all is made new:
A new Antenna Tower is in
place
The Tuning Shed has been
secured and is functional
The Transmitter Building is
repaired and secured.
New copper radials
installed in the ground

Radio Lumiere New AM Station, Menelas, Haiti

AM Antenna Tower: Today

185 feet of antenna tower is in
place under the direction of Dale
Long & Jerry Miel.

New guy-wire anchors were

installed in cement footers
10x4 and 8 feet deep prior
to the February trip.

Radio Lumiere New AM Station, Menelas, Haiti

AM Antenna Tower:

Haitian helpers prepared and carried each

340 pound section of tower.

Radio Lumiere New AM Station, Menelas, Haiti

AM Antenna Tower:

Gin-Pole Installation Method

Radio Lumiere New AM Station, Menelas, Haiti

Antenna Radials: Today 40 355-foot long

radials are installed in the ground and attached to
the ground side of the antenna tower.

Copper wire radials placed in the ground in

outward radiating directions from the antenna
serve as the ground-side of an AM antenna.

Radio Lumiere New AM Station, Menelas, Haiti

Antenna Radials:

These radials were

installed during the
February trip largely by
Haitian helpers who dug
the trenches and installed
the wire under the
direction of Team
Members.

Radio Lumiere New AM Station, Menelas, Haiti

Electricity to power the station:

City power was not available at
the site, nor would it provide
uninterrupted power.

Project funds were used to pay for

installation of poles, wires, and
transformer to bring City Power to
site.
Connection from Pole
Transformer into the Transmitter
Building was made by Peniel.

Radio Lumiere New AM Station, Menelas, Haiti

Transmitter Building: The

heartbeat of this
transmitting station, and
the central focus of the
February trip. The work:

Building Repair
Steel Doors and a Window
New Steps to 2nd Floor
Electric Power
Battery Power
Conduit and Cabling
Receiver and Transmitter
Workspace
Lighting

Radio Lumiere New AM Station, Menelas, Haiti

Transmitter Building:
Steel Doors, Concrete
Steps & a window were
installed by a local
Haitian contractor.

Radio Lumiere New AM Station, Menelas, Haiti

Transmitter Building:

Electrical Boxes and Wiring were

installed to handle the new electric
service and power the required
110 and 220 volt circuits.
Conduit and Wiring was installed
throughout for the Receiver and
Transmitter.

Radio Lumiere New AM Station, Menelas, Haiti

Transmitter Building:

Inverter and Batteries were

installed to handle the daily times
without city power.
Receiver to receive the studio
signal.
Transmitter to send it out

Radio Lumiere New AM Station, Menelas, Haiti

The 600 feet from Transmitter to Antenna2

The Trench (2 ft deep) was dug by our Haitian helpers.

Radio Lumiere New AM Station, Menelas, Haiti

From Transmitter to Antenna2

What Went Into the Trench

RF Cable to carry the radio
signal to the antenna
Electrical Cable to provide 110
volts to the Tuning Shed
2-inch PVC Conduit to carry
and protect the cable.
Multiple Copper Wires for good
grounding

Radio Lumiere New AM Station, Menelas, Haiti

600 feet from Transmitter to

Antenna2

At the Other End of the Trench

Tuning Shed
Antenna Tuner
Antenna Tower

Radio Lumiere New AM Station, Menelas, Haiti

Its also about

Relationship
Building

Radio Lumiere New AM Station, Menelas, Haiti

Its also about

Relationship
Building

Radio Lumiere New AM Station, Menelas, Haiti

Its also about

Relationship
Building

Radio Lumiere New AM Station, Menelas, Haiti

This is the land where

the people live who will
be able to hear the
Word of God on Radio
Lumiere 2

Radio Lumiere New AM Station, Menelas, Haiti

Next Year: Radio Lumiere Technical Project #10

New F.M. Station
Jeremie, Haiti
February March 2016