(Reading Time: 3:30) When I started broadcasting on Joy FM in 2009, I was delighted to be able to increase the reach of our church into our community and the surrounding areas. Little did I know that the end was near for our local station. For 16 years, under the leadership of Dan Franks, this local Christian radio station has ministered to our community and provided a platform for some of our local Pastors to share the Word of God on Sunday mornings. As soon as I found out about it, I joined their ranks and began ministering over the air.
Over the five and a half years that I have been producing a weekly show for Joy FM I have had many ups and downs myself. There were weeks I wondered if I was accomplishing anything. There were weeks I didn’t feel I gave it my best. There were weeks I was criticized for comments I made on the radio. And, yes, there were even weeks where people encouraged me and told me what a difference the show made in their lives.
Even before the announcement, I had been praying all spring about what needed to change in my life. I knew with my additional responsibilities that something needed to change. Whereas some preachers only preach on Sunday morning, I do three services a week at Calvary. They are my first and foremost priority. Lately this has been a struggle for me. So I was asking the Lord what needed to go from my weekly schedule.
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1, NIV.
While I was on vacation in Springfield, Naomi at Joy FM emailed me and gave me the news that the station had been donated by Positive Alternative Radio to Star Radio in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and Sunday, August 9th, would be my last broadcast. That broadcast had already been recorded, so there was no opportunity to say goodbye to my audience. Although I felt like it ended abruptly, I felt relieved that the pressure was off and I didn’t have to give it up. It’s season just ended. 282 consecutive broadcasts over 5 1/2 years was a good run. The only way I will ever know what was accomplished is when I stand before the Lord, for whom I did it all.
Interestingly, as that outreach was ending, I was currently working on expanding our outreach over television. I had already approached Pastor Holdeman of the Lighthouse in Richmond, Indiana to sponsor us on Whitewater Community TV in Wayne County. I had put the application in before I left for vacation and I just received approval for our show from WCTV last week. Their public access channel has a lottery to award who gets on the air. Amazingly, we won a spot in the first contest. Although Calvary TV will air in Wayne County on Mondays at 4:00 PM, now that we are in, we can move up to better days and times later.
Again, we must recognize that this too is only a season, but as Ephesians 5 and Colossians 4 say, “Make the most of every opportunity.” You never know what God can do with even your smallest efforts. Like the boy with the five barley loaves and two small fishes (John 6:1-14), our little TV show can now feed thousands.
“Calvary exists to demonstrate the love of God to the families of our community!”
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