Lifting up Her Voice for the Lord

Documenting research for podcasts

Lifting up her voice

A small lady having beautiful long hair and wearing a floral skirt... who do you think she is? Probably you won't associate this image with anything electronic, right? Even if you would, what you think of is probably those sweet and cute girls who pose in front of the digital cameras of the salon photographers. In fact, the title of this young lady is really hard to tell only from her look. She, Cathy Carlos, is an “electronic media specialist” of Wycliffe Asia Pacific Area Communications who focuses on audio production.

Cathy is a Filipino. She was born in Manila and has grown up in a small but happy family. She has been fond of music since she was a child. She majored in mass communication in university where she studied various types of media production, such as radio broadcasting, television broadcasting, journalism and theatre. After graduation, she immediately threw herself into the broadcasting industry and had worked for 702 DZAS - a local radio station, and Far East Broadcasting Company Philippines (FEBC) – a Christian broadcasting company, respectively. She was a copywriter of FEBC, but due to limited personnel, she had worked nearly in all positions, both backstage and onstage. These positions ranged from brainstorming meetings, script writing, radio drama performing and voice-over recording. Though they were understaffed, it was during those days that she learnt and experienced a lot through daily and real practice. Afterward, she joined a local band and performed as their main vocalist.

Recording a podcast script

Who could escape from His call?

However, deep in her heart, Cathy was actually struggling about her future at that time. While she was working for FEBC, she had read two books - Purpose Driven Life (1) and Holy Ambition (2). Through the books, she sensed that God was calling her to use her spiritual gifts to serve Him. However, Cathy didn't want to face His call. She explained, “I'm very lazy. Every time I think of sitting in the classroom of a seminary to study, and working on assignments in the library, I feel scared.” Therefore, she tried to escape God's calling and fled like the prophet Jonah did.

But who could escape from His call? The call was still there in Cathy's heart. One of her friends is a Wycliffe Bible translator. Knowing that Cathy is a specialist in media production, this friend asked Cathy to help in producing a 90 minute radio broadcasting program, in which Bible translation is featured, for a local Christian radio station in the Philippines. In order to produce the program, Cathy was given a lot of related materials. Unexpectedly, as she was reading those materials, her interest in Bible translation was growing. But, her friend said, studying linguistics and theology is a prerequisite to be a part of the ministry of Bible translation.... She escaped no more. Finally she obediently applied for a seminary in Manila to began theological and linguistic training.

Don't think that things would proceed smoothly by then. The Lord didn't do miracles immediately as Cathy still could not enjoy classroom study and almost dropped out. It was not until the fourth semester that something amazing happened. She had never known that there's a subject in her seminary called “Ethnomusicology” (3). Because of her background and great enthusiasm in music, she soon became the one who enjoyed the subject most and got the most understanding as a result. But most importantly, she learnt from the subject that she could use her gift in music and media profession to serve God in missions!

In 2009, Cathy joined Wycliffe Bible Translators and worked with Asia Pacific Area Communications. In the first year, she had been serving as a "tent-maker"--working in a local radio station for a salary while participating in electronic media production to support Bible translation. In the next year, Cathy started to obtain full financial support to serve as a full time missionary.

Born digital

When talking about electronic media, Cathy said the younger generation today is born digital. The digital generation connects with the world through computer and internet. They wouldn't buy books, not even CDs! Therefore, electronic media is indispensable to reach out to these young people, whether we are to share the gospel or to get them involved in missions. In order to connect with them, communication tools should be emotionally engaging, artistically appealing, collaborative, interactive, thought provoking, meaningful and significant. Cathy remembered the response of a young lady. After watching a video about Bible translation, which Cathy had participated in producing, this lady was so greatly moved that she resigned her job right away to join missions. This was a good example to illustrate the power of electronic media.

Cathy sharing on the topic of music and missions with the young Christians in the Philippines

As a matter of fact, digital communications is powerful, penetrative and influential. According to Dr. Calvin Chong, Academic Dean of the School of Theology in Singapore Bible College, “The 21st century has seen the creation of new electronic habitats extended beyond mere physical space. Today digital spaces are [an] established part of the ecology of clicks and mortar spaces where commerce, business work, communication, education and entertainment are transacted” (4). Let's not discuss whether this phenomenon is good or not. The impact and penetrating power of social media and SMS has been proved already in a few international events, such as the anti-government rallies in West and North Africa, and the riot in the UK this year. Let's imagine positively. If we manage to use electronic media properly, it is also a good channel to share the gospel and mission.

Adventurer's archive

Cathy is currently working on a series of podcasts called “Adventurer's Archive,” which target English speaking youth worldwide. Each 30 minutes episode focuses on one specific topic. Two lively hosts take the audience to new levels of adventure in missions with translated scripture and translation updates, plus Christian music and human interest stories. The first three completed episodes are “Top Ten Most Read Books in the World,” “Happy New Words” and “Music is not a Universal Language”. The program is open-to-all and now available on the internet for online listening or downloading. Simply visit Facebook or iTunes, and search for “Adventurer's Archive”. There you go! I invite you to pay attention to the sweet and clear voice in introduction - she is Cathy!

Looking forward to the future, Cathy is hoping that, apart from English communities, she could use her skills in music and electronic media production to serve other needed language communities as well. Besides, Cathy senses the need to pass the vision of mission on to the next generation, and the need to cooperate with each other in mission. Therefore she always shares the vision with the youth, and encourages them to explore and use their gifts. Cathy Carlos has found her role. How about you?

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1 Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life.

2 Chip Ingram, Holy Ambition–What it takes to make a difference for God.

3 Ethnomusicology is not only the study of ethnic music. Ethnomusicology personnel seek to help language groups use traditional art forms in relevant ways within their daily lives: as a bridge to literacy, to communicate health instructions or address health issues, to articulate community development ideas, and, primarily, to encourage development of meaningful forms of worship within each culture.

4 Quoted from Cathy's blog.

Photo Courtesy: Cathy Carlos 

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