Share the Joy, Share the Love, Share the Inspiration

A few weeks ago, my dad told me about yet another Christian radio station he found. we were on the way to Baltimore for our family reunion, and we were still pretty close to home so i tuned it in just to see what it was. my dad has a really cheapo mp3 player that he got off of eBay right after i got my iPod.(well that was because he got eBay gift certificates, so that's what helped him pay for it) anyways, his mp3 player has a radio on it, and i guess he was just scanning the dial the one day, and found this Christian radio station on 89.9FM. it's more mellow than 90.3, WJTL, yet more music stuff than 94.5, WDAC. Anyways, over the past few weeks when i've been driving around, i switch back and forth between the WORD FM(88.1), WJTL, and this unnamed station, 89.9. i've heard the Legal ID for it once. the station is called Hope FM, but i keep missing where it's located. and i know they have to say where it's located, because that's part of FCC standard. i'll have to remember to check that out sometime today at the top of the hour. usually when i turn it on they're either playing music, or someone is giving a sermon. and like i said, the music is mellowish.

now, on Saturday nights, i've found that they have a cool-ish alternative show. but it's interesting to see their version of alternative. but the DJs seem cool. it's better then any of the other Contemporary radio stations that play around here on Saturday night. WJTL has the Archives where they play music from the seventies and maybe 80s. the WORD FM used to have the Sound of Light, but then Bill Moore left, and made them all sad, so they don't have that any more.(well, that's not entirely the case, but things with that show did start to go downhill after Bill Scott temporarily took over. but i hear they have a new host now, and from what i've read, he's pretty cool, and pretty funny.) so they just play their normal music.

so this brings me to my point that we have way too many Christian radio stations in this area. it's mostly because we are a bible belt. This is because of Messiah College, and Lancaster.(pronounced, LANG-kister) i calculated yesterday that we have seven and a half Christian radio stations, and i think even then i'm missing a few. here, i'll list them, and what kinds of stuff they play.(maybe i'll even put a website with it.) let's count together. (disclaimer: these are the radio stations that can be heard from where i live, so it might not be true for all of South Central PA)

WJTL 90.3- Best Mix of christian music. you'll basically hear a little bit of everything while listening to this station for a week. www.wjtl.com

The Word FM 88.1(Harrisburg) and 93.1(Carlisle)- station based out of Eastern PA with over a dozen towers and transmitters. they play more harder rock stuff than WJTL, and they sometimes have different singles from the artists than WJTL. both have funny morning shows. www.wordfm.org

WDAC 94.5- Focus on the Family programing, and praise music for certain parts of the day. really, really mellow praise music.

Way Truth Life Radio 107.1(Mifflintown)- this station is basically the same as WDAC. they're based in State College though, so they're weather reports are off most of the time.

1230AM The Fortress- praise music, very small and very low powered station. also has some sermons and stuff during the day. and on saturdays they have 20: the Countdown Magazine.(i know you all were singing that as your read it!)

720AM The Rock- lower powered, only during daylight(last time i checked) station. basically the same as the Fortress.

WVMM("the V") 90.7- this is the half station. they have gotten away from playing Christian music all the time, but i'm still going to give them the benefit of the doubt and call it a half Christian music radio station.

89.9- i don't know the name of this, and i described it in the first few paragraphs.


so now you have all those, so let's go back and count them up...eight and a half. if you ask me, we are spoiled when it comes to Christian radio. there are some parts of the country that don't have a good solid Contemporary Christian radio station, or they do, but it's so far away they only get it in their car. i really wish we could share the joy of having a Christian radio station that inspires, and helps people grow in their faith by playing the right song at the right time.

i really hope that during the course of my career, i can help to start a Christian radio station in a place that really needs one. a good solid local station that will help to change the lives of the area. it's going to take so much work and experience, but i know that i can totally do it with God's help. and hopefully he'll bring other people in my life who can help.

so next time you're complaining that they're isn't a good station to listen to, and you live in South Central PA, scan that thing again, because you're just not trying hard enough.