Channel 7 is the radio station of Media Network for Christ. The first transmission took place on 6 December 1993 in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia.

Media for Christ, the initial name of the organisation, was founded by Neal van den Berg and Tokkie van Vuuren in 1982 as an extension of ministry work, done initially under the auspices of Trans World Radio and later Trans World Radio RSA. When Radio Pulpit was founded in South Africa, God’s leading was to start Media for Christ in Namibia.

The station was founded in order to reach the population of Namibia with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, supplementing the work of Media for Christ. The goal of Media for Christ was and still is, to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ through modern media. A definite need existed for a media organisation with a Christian perspective to fulfil the total need of listeners, secular as well as spiritual.

Channel 7 will never replace the role of the church but sees itself as a tool available to support the church.
In 2014 the Board of Directors of Channel 7 made a decision to amend the name of the organisation to fit the modern trend and due to the fact that Channel 7 is more than just radio. Therefore the name was changed to Channel 7 Media Network for Christ.
The role of Christian Media is increasingly important and more relevant than ever, in the light of fake news, biased reporting and erosion of values, especially Biblical principles and Christianity. It is still the only way hope can be brought to a world that is bombarded daily with negative and derogatory reporting.

Christian Media, and in this case Channel 7, must be perceived as modern missionaries. Radio is still the most successful medium in bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to locations where conventional missionaries have no access.
In Namibia, Radio is the most accessible medium, as the population is mostly reached and served by means of the radio.

It is important to understand that the model Channel 7 uses is aligned with the international approach in Christian Media. In his book, “Powerful Christian Radio” Josh Reid acknowledges this model also in the Australian context.

He writes: “Christian Radio, at its core, is a strategic, powerful and influential ministry that communicates with thousands of people through different media platforms in places no church could ever reach. Current Christian Radio broadcasting is a mix of Christian and secular music and content that is definitely more appealing to a wider audience, who can identify with the music and content while preserving the Evangelical focus.”

• Opening the mind of listeners through sharing of short testimonies and thought provoking messages, thus creating accessibility for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
• Playing music that encourages listeners and provides them with spiritual sustenance for growth.
• Providing exposure to local preachers and Spiritual leaders and so doing, establishing a link between non churchgoing listeners and encouraging attendance of local congregations.
• Broadcasting personal testimonies listeners can relate to and be encouraged by.
• Presenting an alternative radio station that is uplifting, trustworthy and “clean”.
• Playing acceptable secular music, drawing listeners that identify with the familiar sounds, but alternating with Christian music and talk radio.
• Integrating radio with various social and other media platforms. Giving hope and encouraging listeners to obey God and live a positive life.
• Bringing listeners in touch with the Word of God and the Gospel, at a time when less and less people have a desire to attend church.
• Feeling compelled to apply radio as medium, to the glory of God, in contrast to the Godlessness prevailing in secular media.
• Marketing local congregations and their activities much wider that any congregation could by itself.

Channel 7 can be heard in Namibia by means of 33 FM transmitters country wide.

This is, to our knowledge, the largest infra structure of any private radio station in Africa.

Channel 7 can also be heard throughout Southern Africa via DSTV audio channel 825 as well as GoTv Channel 303.

Channel 7 broadcasts on 5 different channels of the internet, namely:Channel 7 Radio Channel 7 Oshiwamo Radio

CTR, Channel 7 Youth Radio

Two dedicated Bible reading channels, one in English and one in Afrikaans, and

K7 Clips, a YouTube Channel, bringing a wide variety of Christian messages.

• Local newspaper, Die Republikein: Town of the Year competition

• Imagine Namibia, Annual Youth Festival

• Casual Day on behalf of Namibia Old Age Health Fund

• Various charity organisations through tithes origination from Channel 7 projects

• Angus Buchan – Mighty Men Conference

• Excellent You

• Walk for Bible on behalf of the Bible Association of Namibia

• Project Food for the King, providing those working on Christmas Day with a warm meal

• Fresh Namibia – Dragon Boat Project

• The Journey – Fundraiser

• Hykie Berg – Fundraiser

• Chairman: Etienne Steenkamp, Deputy Managing Director, Pupkewitz Group of Motor Companies

• Stefan Saayman, Managing Director, Channel 7

• Lilian Theron, Owner, Walvis Bay Convenience Centre. Channel 7 Transmitter Committee Member

• Hannes Du Plessis, Farmer. Channel 7 Transmitter Committee Chairperson – Leonardville

• Oubaas Blaauw, Farmer. Channel 7 Transmitter Committee Chairperson – Koës

• Daniel Grobbelaar,  Entrepreneur and Businessman, Channel 7 Transmitter Committee Chairperson – Rundu

• Neal van den Berg, founder and CEO, Channel 7 Media Network for Christ

Channel 7 has developed a user friendly Internet Auction Platform, www.sobyso.com.na, that is used throughout the year to auction off items donated by listeners, as well as during the annual Radiothon Fundraising Campaign.

No start up capital was ever available to Channel 7, resulting in the fact that the growth of the organisation did not keep up with its income. Channel 7 has never been seen as a profit driven company, neither was it ever the goal.

The Board and Management however realise that having debt is not to the glory of God.

Income of similar organisations, broadcasting stations, in South Africa and even abroad, consists of 70% donations and 30% business income.

Income generated by Channel 7 is exactly opposite.

Some of the mistakes made by Channel 7 in the past were, amongst others, not paying enough attention to our donor base, in favour of business income.

If more care was taken with broadening the donor base, more supporters and listeners would have to contribute to reach similar results.

Business income should have been merely a support, as is the case with all other Christian and Community stations.

Channel 7 cannot function at the same level as commercial radio stations due to certain decisions that were made since the founding of the station, based on certain principles. Principles that, in spite of extremely difficult circumstances, are still adhered to. One example being that no commercial advertisement is aired of Sundays, which effectively takes away two whole months (in a twelve month period) of our income.

Another example is the fact that Channel 7 does not accept any alcohol, tobacco or gambling advertisements or sponsorships, which limits potential income due to these sectors being big sponsors in general.

Channel 7 also does not get involved with presentations and events that are not proper or suitable for Channel 7. This too limits the station’s income significantly.

• The remuneration packages of the majority of the employees were changed to term, hourly, or performance contracts.• Positions of staff members who resigned were not filled.
• More than 50% of office space was rented out and remaining offices shared by employees.
• Staff functions and training sessions were cut.
• Travel expenses were drastically reduced.
• No budgetary provision is currently made for salary increases.
• Total expenses were reduced with more than 12%.
• During the past 4 years only 2 salary raises of 3.5% have been approved.

The community of a specific town decides whether the need for a Channel 7 transmitter exists. Then a committee is appointed to organize and raise funds for the new transmitter.

After technical inspection and planning, the location of the transmitter is determined. As soon as the necessary funds are raised and the legal procedures completed, the transmitter is installed.

• 16 Radio Presenters, working between 1 and 4 hour shifts.

• All Presenters are paid hourly rates according to their contracts.

• This includes various Presenters working as volunteers.

• 450 hours per month, on average, are broadcasted by Presenters.

• 270 Hours per month are broadcasted by the computer.

• So doing, costs are not necessarily determined by the number of Presenters, but by the hours of broadcasting

• 2 News rooms: one full time and one part time.

• 5 Marketing Sales: earning small remuneration plus commission.

• 1 Finance, handling all financial aspects.

• 1 Advertisement Administration: scheduling and placing advertisements and promotions.

• 1 Projects: planning and organising all projects, golf days, Radiothon, Casual Day, Breakfasts and Coastal projects.

• 2 Technical: Recordings, Editing, Computers, Studios, Network, Maintenance, Building and Vehicles.

• 1 Management: Managing Director.

• 1 Reception: Telephone, loading, controlling and preparing of all music on computer.

• Staff Expenses Total – 65%
• Rent Transmitter Premises – 10%
• Interest and Banking Fees – 5%
• General & administrative expenses – 20%