Why I Love K-Love (and Christian Music Radio)

Hopefully all my Christian Music Broadcaster friends will read the complete title of this post, understanding that K-Love was primarily singled out because it sounded good in the title , but also because it serves as a national representation of the collective community provided by Christian music radio for its listeners. “Why Air1 is THE 1 for Music” would have directed attention to K-Love’s edgier Christian Hit Radio (CHR) partnering network.

I guess I could have also titled this post, “Why I Want to Kiss the Fish,” in reference to another national Christian radio network, Salem Communications, “Why I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy Down in My Heart,” for my friends (since high school, mind you) at Joy FM in St. Louis, “Why I’d Give My Life for New Life,” the Illinois network of radio stations (WIBI, 91.5 WCIC FM, & WBGL) partnering with Hope Shows prison concerts in the region, “Why I’ve Got the Spirit,” in central Missouri and southern Indiana, or “Why I Stay on the WAY … FM,” a favorite of mine when I’m visiting Nashville, TN, West Palm Beach, FL or driving through Louisville, KY.

The point being … I believe in the surrounding hope of the Gospel as presented through Christian music AND the power of Christian music radio to both distribute the Word and facilitate communities of faith.

For those who know me, they know my passion for Christian music was birthed long ago under the tutelage of Amy Grant’s Straight Ahead, Michael W. Smith 2, Steve Camp and Kenny Marks. My young adult years in Nashville produced opportunities for me to participate in a number of Brian Mason Christmas parties (a popular Sunday morning DJ on a mainstream station in Nashville, TN), welcome Bob Augsburg and Way FM to Nashville, pay regular visits to WCBW (now Joy FM) friends at home in St. Louis, interact with well-known radio personalities Joe Battaglia and Greg Cassidy at Gospel Music Association’s Annual DJ-Artist Reception and watch heads turn as Christian radio’s godfather, John Rivers, would saunter into a room wearing his Texas-sized cowboy hat on his Texas-sized frame accompanied by his Texas-sized success in the industry.

As much as God tuned my heart into the music and lyrics of Christian music, He also tuned my attention and my appreciation for Christian music radio.

Throughout the last five years marketing AgapeFest, a Christian music festival in southern Illinois, I have loved growing my relationships with Christian music stations across Illinois, Missouri, Indiana and Kentucky. As much as I have appreciated their partnership with the festival, I also have loved promoting their stations to our audiences … in particular, WIBI, a member of the New Life Media Network of stations based in Carlinville, IL, has served as our primary event sponsor, a relationship that eventually grew to include Hope Shows.

It was WIBI Station Manager Jeremiah Beck who first invited me to produce a prison concert. With their full support, along with the support of sister station 91.5 WCIC FM (and the valued support of their listeners), Hope Shows brought Sara Groves to the ladies at Lincoln Correctional Center.

This concert would not have happened without a specific interest in outreach to  prisoners in the region, a Matthew 25:36 directive, stirring in Jeremiah’s heart as he was reading Willowcreek Founding Pastor Bill Hybels’ Holy Discontent: Fueling the Fire That Ignites Personal Vision. As God was planting in my heart the idea of getting Christian music where it’s most needed, God was also growing a concern for communities of need in the mind and heart of the station manager of a large Christian music radio station.

And WIBI has responded to the needs of the poor, orphans, widows, the sick and those in prison, positioning themselves to promote the work of Convoy of Hope in Haiti, Compassion International, Project S.A.F.E. (Stuffed Animals for Emergencies) to bring love to children in local hospitals and Hope Shows, as well as sponsoring a regional car care day for single parents, partnering with a project to provide CDs to our military overseas, and collecting duffle bags for foster children who are often removed suddenly from their homes without anything in which to carry their belongings. As WIBI has engaged listeners to help those in need, God’s work has multiplied in the region.

In neighboring St. Louis, MO,  newly-expanded Joy FM invites their listeners to partner in monthly Project Joy outreach activities including summer missions trips, 5K fundraising events on behalf of Mercy Ministries, Myanmar outreach and crisis pregnancy centers,  and, most recently, tornado relief efforts in a neighboring community. While visiting Dallas last fall, I heard a Christian station promoting a Christian book and Bible drive to benefit area prison libraries.

When Jeremiah Beck and I discussed the logistical challenges of a prison concert early in the planning process, we both noted our concern for followup after the show. We talked about the importance of the prison chaplain, existing church ministries in each facility and encouraging churches to develop new prison ministries … all viable options. But when I placed my first call to a local prison chaplain, I found out that radio was the primary (oftentimes only) source of music for inmates.

Due to strict regulations at most levels of prison security, many inmates do not have access to CDs, iPods or other listening devices, but some have access to radio headsets. As he said this, I smiled as I quickly understood the opportunity for  Christian radio to continue the ministry started at the prison concert. They were one followup resource inmates could access 24/7. In their very limited surroundings … the Lincoln Correctional Center inmates could be surround by the hope and community offered through WIBI.

Christian radio has given voice to the Hands and Feet Project in Haiti founded by Audio Adrenaline, Mercy Ministries Biblically-based rehabilitation service to young women ages 13-28, Compassion International child sponsorships, the importance of adoption as shared by Steven Curtis Chapman and Show Hope, the needs of crisis pregnancy centers across the country, and, this past December, Hope Shows and prison ministry … as Sara Groves was heard across the country talking about her latest project, “O Holy Night” Tour Live: The Prison Show, recorded at our first Hope Shows prison concert.

As I heard the voices of the ladies of Lincoln Correctional Center joining in with Sara and her band on the song, “Carols,” I couldn’t help but feel deeply grateful to K-Love for playing the song for their listeners. The music helped to tell the story in ways words alone couldn’t … and it didn’t hurt that K-Love is the nation’s largest Christian music radio network.

So what?

• If you’re not listening, listen. If you live in a community without a Christian radio station, I encourage you to listen online (www.klove.com, www.air1.com, www.wayfm.com, www.94fmthefish.net, www.wibi.org, www.joyfmonline.com and many local and regional stations offer live streams). Surround yourself with hope throughout the day – at work, at home, in the car, on your iPod.
• Tell your friends and family. Someone you know needs to listen today. Post a link to your favorite Christian radio station on facebook, twitter and other social networking websites.
• Support your Christian music radio station. The nonprofit, listener-supported Christian music stations in your region rely on individual contributions, church donations and business underwriting to continue to do the work to which they’ve been called. They also need volunteers for sharathons, office work, prayer teams and special event support.
• Partner with your Christian station in outreach to your community. Attend benefit concerts, support cause-related initiatives and participate in outreach activities.