We are probably as
opposite of "the Bible Belt" as you can get. New
England or The Northeast section of the country is
"tough soil" as many have said, but God is doing some
great things here especially in the area of unity.
In the three years I have been in Vermont I believe I
have seen some "breakthroughs" in how different
ministries and churches relate to one another. It may
be happening slowly but it is happening. This radio
ministry is right in the middle of it all.
2. What is the most fulfilling aspect to you
personally about Christian radio?
Knowing that lives
are changed because of the message of the Gospel. I
spent 20 years in "secular" radio and most of it was
without lasting substance. We share the Good News and
we build up the Body of Christ. You can't do that in
secular radio.
3.
How do you personally keep the ministry in the
business?
We do ministry
because we are called to...we do business because we
have to. When our listeners partner with the ministry
then we can stay in business. Is that too
simplistic???
4. What is the criteria that determines if a song
receives airplay on your station?
First, lyrics then
style or texture. It has to fit with the overall
"feeling" or presentation of the station. I just
received a complaint letter from a listener who said
they will not give to us until we change our music.
They want us to play more of the classics, whatever
that means. My guess is that they are asking us to go
back to playing Ralph Carmichael. Not that that's a
bad thing but it certainly does not work for 2005.
Music is so subjective I'm sure I will receive a
letter from someone saying that until we start playing
more contemporary music they will not support us...
5. What kind of promotions work best for your station?
Giving tickets to
concerts or events is the best thing. We are a non-com
so we have more restrictions than a commercial
station. Our phone lines do not light up when we give
a book away but when we give CD's or tickets away we
get calls.
6. How do you think Christian Record labels can better
serve Christian radio?
They can stop being
so stingy with their music. In would not hurt them at
all to make more product available to stations to give
away. After all we are the ones playing the music and
doing the promotions...
7. In your opinion what are the biggest obstacles
facing Christian radio today?
Trying to be too
relative to the culture and thereby compromising His
message. We are called to share the gospel not just
play music or "tickle the ears" of the listener. It is
still the Word of God that changes lives not the
latest "hit" from (fill in the blank). Music is
wonderful and I love it but Christian radio is missing
the mark when it's programmers think they can change
lives by presenting more "entertainment" instead of
The Word.
8.
What do you believe is the primary role of the
Christian radio air personality today?
To be real, not
pretentious, not fake religious or pious. It's scary
to me to think that an air personality would go into
work and go on the air with out being a person of
prayer and in deep fellowship with The Lord and be
able to share that with his or her listeners on a
daily basis. Yet if you listen to some stations you
would have to wonder if that is not the case.
9.
What (if any) other Christian radio stations do you
consider as innovators today?
Believe it or not
Moody radio is still more on top of Christian
Broadcasting and what that means to "the listeners"
than you might think. Of course that is my opinion but
I can't help it if it is true.
10.
Where do you see Christian radio in 5 years?
If the rapture
happens some stations will still be on wondering who
their target audience is and what the major money
demographic is...sorry that's pretty negative. In all
honesty without a "revival" in the Church I see it
steadily hurdling out of control and following the way
of the world in marketing and other areas. Some
broadcasters will stay committed to the Gospel. Others
will not...