RELENTLESS RADIO

 

Author:	Rick Davison
Published:	May, 2000

 

Was it a plane crash, a fallen satellite from space, or maybe debris from a wayward UFO? According to darwinawards.com, the Arizona Highway Patrol was mystified by the pile of smoldering metal embedded into the side of a cliff rising above the road, at the apex of a curve. Upon a closer investigation, the AHP discovered that the wreckage was actually that of a 1967 Chevy Impala. As the story is reported, a former air force sergeant had somehow taken a JATO (Jet Assisted Take Off) unit and attached it to his Chevy. The JATO unit is actually a solid-fuel rocket used by the military to assist heavy transport planes with take-offs on shorter airfields. It appeared that the driver ignited the JATO unit approximately 3.9 miles from the crash site. This was established by the location of a prominently scorched and melted strip of asphalt. It is estimated that the Chevy soon reached speeds between 250 to 300 miles per hour and continued at that speed for another 20 or so seconds. Remarkably, the automobile remained on the straight portion of the highway for about 2.6 miles before the driver attempted to stop the vehicle by using his brakes. When the brakes had melted and the tires were blown, the Impala became airborne and flew another 1.3 miles before impacting the cliff face at a height of 125 feet and leaving a three-foot deep crater in the rock. Fingernail shards were removed from a piece of debris believed to be a portion of the steering wheel. And ironically, a still-legible bumper sticker was found, reading, "How's my driving?" While this is actually a fictional "urban legend," it is a story that illustrates a real truth. You need to understand the power at your disposal before you seek to use it. Everyday, most of us in Christian radio "ignite the rocket" without giving enough thought to the power God has given us through the Holy Spirit and our broadcast stations. The result is poverty stricken radio. I'm not talking about radio broadcasters who are financially poor or need additional resources, but radio stations operating in poverty. Dr. Wesley K. Stafford, President of Compassion International, recently pointed out the difference between being poor and living in poverty. According to Dr. Stafford, the poor enjoy the riches of love, friendship, and knowing what's important. Poverty, on the other hand, is rooted in the message, "You don't matter." Christian radio that comes from the heart of a programming staff that believes they don't matter is poverty stricken radio. When you don't fully contemplate the awesome power of your station, whether it's a 1kw AM daytime-only station or a Class C FM, you are programming in poverty. It is the poverty of missed potential, less than mediocre performance, and bankrupt self-esteems. We don't care as much as we should because we think we don't matter. Dr. Stafford says it's fatalistic, "We wonder why we should even have hope?" Being economically challenged actually has some advantages. Poor people are not petty people. To the contrary, they better understand what's truly important than wealthier people. Poor people who don't live in poverty enjoy the richness of love and companionship set in the priorities of everyday life. Hey, that sounds like great radio to me! Too much of our industry is in poverty. Too many people think they don't matter and so they aren't prepared, polished, and professional. Dr. Stafford says that a person who says, "I matter," soon knows that "What I think matters," which leads them to the discovery that "I can fix that." Christian radio ought to be better than its secular format counterparts because we know the riches of love, need for friendship, and fellowship with God. Pass these action points on to your air staff. 1. I matter because I have an intimate relationship with God and a purpose to fulfill in Christian radio. I will commit to begin my on-air prep every day by seeking His help and direction. 2. If God has given me a purpose, then not only do I matter but what I think matters. First, I need personal growth and maturity through instruction, counsel, coaching, and training. Then, I will commit to the effective use of my talents and skills. 3. Before I "ignite the rocket", before I go on the air, I will fully reflect on the power at my disposal and will seek to use it carefully and responsibly. I will commit to be prepared and to be professional.