TWR and Phare Media unite to reach France and beyond

TWR is pleased to announce a formal partnership with PHARE MEDIA and its French Christian radio station, PHARE FM.

This collaboration is grounded in a shared vision, missional alignment and a mutual desire to reach secular listeners across France and beyond.

PHARE FM (pharefm.com) broadcasts contemporary music with a Christian ethos and short programs across FM stations in France, as well as via DAB+ and online, reaching millions with the gospel.

This partnership began organically through early conversations between Nathanaël Chong (PHARE MEDIA) and Cecile Janiaud (TWR), inspired by a common idea to leverage the 2024 Paris Olympics and PHARE FM’s 35th anniversary as opportunities for outreach.

What started as a vision to air Christian athlete testimonies quickly grew into a broader strategy spanning radio, video and digital content.

“We wanted to go bigger than just France,” said Chong, “because there weren’t only French athletes attending the events, but also athletes from the USA, UK, Switzerland and so on.”

As the project developed, it also moved beyond traditional radio to incorporate video and AI-driven tools to adapt content across TWR’s global network.

For both TWR and PHARE FM, the initiative was an opportunity to build trust through a shared project before formalizing a broader partnership.

“We saw this as a win-win-win,” Chong noted. “Not just for TWR or PHARE FM, but for the athletes, our listeners and those yet to encounter the gospel.”

The project, titled Games Talk, led to the production of 30 interviews featuring international athletes, which were translated into six languages and distributed through radio and digital channels across 189 countries, ultimately engaging 1.8 million people around the world.

Looking ahead, TWR and PHARE FM are exploring ongoing content collaborations. One such example includes a newly adapted short-form version of Thru the Bible (TTB) that uses everyday language to connect with non-churchgoers.

This version is set to launch in September 2025 across PHARE FM’s DAB+ network, potentially reaching over 22 million French-speaking listeners across France, Switzerland and Belgium.

Despite increasing attention to digital platforms, Chong affirmed that radio remains central to PHARE FM’s outreach to the people of France.

“Digital complements what we do, but [French] people are very confident in the information shared through radio. More than 84 percent of the population listens regularly.”

Chong emphasized the cultural reality in France: “Only one percent of the population identifies as evangelical Christian. France is often seen as a Christian nation, but that’s a misconception. It is the fourth most atheist country globally, with the largest Muslim population in Europe.”

By focusing on relational authenticity and contextual relevance, PHARE FM bridges the gap between the church and the everyday listener with a model that features 70 percent music and short, relatable messages.

“We play music that our listeners enjoy and relate to, and every 15 minutes, we air a program that catches their hearts by talking about God, Jesus or biblical values. And we do that in a way that is not like church,” Chong said. “We air biblical truth, but in a way everyone can understand.”

As our partnership deepens, TWR and PHARE MEDIA are committed to pioneering new ways to engage secular audiences with the gospel.

Our shared model offers a scalable, culturally sensitive approach that could inspire similar media mission efforts in post-Christian societies worldwide.

“Partnerships hold true significance when they amplify impact and create meaningful value for everyone involved,” said Dirk Mueller, international director for TWR Europe.

“Over the past months, our collaboration with PHARE MEDIA has exemplified this beautifully, demonstrating how effectively our two organizations can unite to advance the mission of reaching the world for Christ. This new partnership marks an exciting milestone in TWR Europe's ministry, and we are deeply grateful to God for this opportunity to serve together!”

Jade Alger, writer and communication specialist for TWR Europe and CAMENA.