A Message of Hope

I was driving through Taralgon on my way to Lakes Entrance when the car radio began to get a little fuzzy. At this stage I normally do one of two things; I scan for a radio station still in range, our switch to CD’s to satisfy my need for music while I drive. To my amazement, as I ventured further and further away from Melbourne, all the mainstream radio stations on the FM dial faded out to fuzz except for one that still broadcast loud and clear – 89.9 Light FM.

Another time I was driving out past Ararat, and the same thing happened. The only radio station I could receive loud and clear was Light FM. I thought to myself, ‘how amazing is it that the radio station in Melbourne with the largest broadcasting zone is a Christian radio station’. Further more, this was no boring, dorky Christian ‘talk-back’ AM station (sorry but us young people are hard to please). This was a station that had nailed the balance between music, topics, and radio announcers relevant to all generations. The music is a balance between contemporary ‘top 40’ popular music, the latest Christian artists, and even some of the older stuff. All of their music, wherever it comes from contains a message of hope. This is one value they will not compromise. So some popular music that is played on other stations won’t make it of Light FM because it doesn’t meet the requirements of that value. Their different programs tackle the important topics of politics, religion, ethics and values giving listeners an opportunity to interact.

One thing I find amazing about Light FM is that it is a 100% listener supported station. That means, no government assistance, or corporate sponsorship that other stations thrive on – no that would compromise their ethical values. So the only way Light FM stay financially viable is through church sponsorship and individuals who believe in the ministry of the station. Unfortunately for Light FM they constantly struggle to meet their financial goals because not enough churches financially support their ministry.

Over the past 3 years I’ve interacted with various people at Light FM, gotten to know them and they have done a few favours for me and this church. Light FM have given us advertising space, have asked us to broadcast Sunday services (unfortunately we don’t have the technology to provide that), have signed our church up for the Light FM careline, which exists for listeners to call the station, have Christianity explained to the, be prayed for and referred to near by church…like us!
Light FM are committed to communicating ‘Christian hope to people in Melbourne’. Their ministry is based on strong Christian vales which can be found on their website www.lightfm.com.au.

Bob Garbett from Light FM is coming to our church to speak next Sunday. He will share more of this message of hope with us and lets us in on how we can support and participate in this ministry. Please come prepared next week with a love offering that will be collected separately from our regular offering, to contribute to the work of Light FM.

Shalom
Mark