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CRMF

CRMF (Christian Radio Missionary Fellowship) provides radio communications and technical services for Churches and Missions in Papua New Guinea, mainly in remote and isolated locations.

In a country of limited conventional telephone services and few roads, CRMF seeks to meet the communications needs of remote communities. Over 1200 outstation radio transceivers are located in missionaries homes, offices, hospitals, schools, aircraft, boats/ships, and in dense bush (when the church worker is out on trek) thus providing the following services for about 50 Churches and Missions:

• HF (high frequency) radio which enables reliable country-wide communication
• VHF (very high frequency) radio which enables 'local calls'
• satellite phone for instant world-wide telecommunication
• Radio Email to remote locations via HF radio (rather than using a telephone connection to the server)

Almost every missionary and many pastors of National churches in Papua New Guinea rely on at least one of CRMF's services.

The server for the High Frequency (HF) and Very High Frequency (VHF) email system is based at our Communication Centre in Goroka. Radio calls from modern equipment are patched through automatically via the telephone network to local and international destinations. Some old equipment used mainly by National churches requires them to be patched through via the CRMF radio operator.

We provide a monitoring service for emergency traffic, When an emergency call is received, CRMF liaises with the relevant health official to obtain permission for funding to organise a medical evacuation (If funding not available, alternatives will be attempted). CRMF contacts MAF to arrange transport, if unavailable or the terrain not suitable for a fixed wing aircraft, other arrangements will be made.

From our Communications Centre at Goroka we offer technical backup. In the workshop, the maintenance and repair of vital equipment is carried out, computers upgraded and repaired.

CRMF runs a training program for National staff and courses in basic repairs for representatives from organisations.

To maintain this vital service, CRMF technicians travel to almost every province in PNG installing and repairing radio equipment. Although not involved directly in broadcasting, we help with technical advice to enable transmission of local Christian radio programs.

As a division of MAF International Asia Pacific, CRMF runs the Learning Technologies programme in PNG.  By partnering with existing ministries CRMF aims to bring theological training, resources and Scripture in an audio format to pastors and church leaders in remote communities.

Those wishing to know more about CRMF or seeking to support this vital work can email the CRMF-Australia office, phone 03 9890 2338 or check the CRMF website www.crmf.com