Tim Selander and broadcasting evangelism in Japan

Contrary to his plan to work in Japan for only two years, Tim Selander has been here for 40. He now serves as Executive Director for the Pacific Broadcasting Association (PBA).

Born in the Chicago suburbs and raised by devout Christian parents, Tim went to a Christian college to study broadcasting and journalism. One day God spoke to him—“Use your skills for me. Engage in broadcasting evangelism.”

While there were numerous Christian broadcasting stations and programs in the US, their primary target was often Christians. “I thought broadcasting should be used to share the gospel,” said Tim. “In my country, I couldn’t find the kind of broadcasting evangelism that I would be interested in.” He pursued possibilities to work for a Christian broadcasting station overseas, but no door would open to him. Then a letter arrived from Japan.

Tim had gotten married while in college. His wife had grown up in Japan as an MK. Through that connection, Mr. Tygert, Director of PBA at that time, invited Tim to work in Japan for two years. Until then, neither he nor his wife had had any interest in working in Japan. Tim accepted the invitation nonetheless, thinking he would gain experience for a future career somewhere else.

In 1981, at 23, Tim set foot in Japan. He worked on the production of a program about Japan in English to be aired in the US. As he observed how PBA worked in Japan, he noticed a significant difference from the way American broadcasting ministries worked. Most Japanese churches were small, and thus were financially limited, and yet, the churches shared the burden to support the local PBA programs (including Lifeline TV). They did so in order to evangelize the local community, and to follow up with the program audience. “I was impressed,” recalls Tim. “This was how broadcasting evangelism should be. I committed my life to it.”

He made it a point to mingle with his Japanese co-workers. One day, a Japanese pastor shared with him with tears in his eyes how the Lifeline TV program was helping him in local evangelism. When performing house-to-house visits in the community, the pastor would introduce himself as someone involved with the Lifeline program. This gave him credibility and many people would listen to what he had to say. “I was convinced then,” says Tim, “that it was not PBA doing the evangelism but local churches. PBA produces programs and helps local churches. This model is so biblical. Once I return to the US upon retirement, I will perhaps teach this model to American churches.”

From Christian Shimbun, October 31, 2021
Translated by Atsuko Tateishi