Why would a woman who runs 3 businesses from her home put life on hold for 6 weeks each spring and fall for a radio station? Easy, Christian radio saved my life.

In 1986 I was a 22 year old woman going to college and working in the medical field. I had been active in church my whole life and I thought I was a “good” person. I thought life was great, I was partying and having fun on the weekends and working and going to school during the week. In all honesty, I was living a dangerous life, one that could have swallowed me up at any time.

One June day,  my co-worker, Margaret, had told me that a Christian radio station, WJIS was going on the air at noon that day. We ate lunch in her car so we could listen to Station Owner Jim Campbell and Station Manager Don Price sign on the air for the first time. I have been listening to 88.1 FM here on Florida’s Suncoast ever since.

Over the next 2 years I heard things about Christianity that I had never heard in the churches I had attended. The world “Salvation” was mentioned often as was the term “born again” both terms that were never heard in the American Baptist church of my childhood nor the United Methodist church of my youth/young adulthood. For 2 years I listened and learned from both the on air staff and the recorded programs like Focus on the Family, Pastor Jack Hayford, Pastor Charles Stanley and the like.

One of my favorite DJs was, and still is Michelle Tellone. Michelle had a Saturday night show called Lightforce which was geared to youth and young adults and featured Christian rock and alternative music. Lightforce Radio is now an internet radio station and still going strong. Anyway, week after week Michelle would talk about “playing church” and how we shouldn’t just go through the motions. She talked about how we needed to press into God and spend time in His Word, the Bible, His love letter to us. This was totally foreign to me. I went to church and owned a Bible, I had even memorized a few verses…in 3rd grade, but the life Michelle talked about was different. It was a radical life change, it was God focused not me focused-different than anything I had ever seen. Yet, I was intrigued and I kept listening.

In May of 1988, just after my college graduation, I was at a Mylon Lefevre and Broken Heart concert. Near the end of the concert the Salvation message was given and I went forward and accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. The hard dry soil had been broken up and prepared for planting by the ministry of a radio station, seeds were planted and watered by radio personalities and musicians who were not ashamed of sharing the love of Jesus Christ with others. Finally, at a Christian rock concert sponsored by the radio station, the harvest began as I said, “Yes” to God.

I am so thankful for Christian radio and its commitment to sharing God’s Word to a dark and dying world. Through this ministry I learned more about Biblical Christianity than I had in 24 years of church attendance. Through the radio station’s ministry I found a local church that accepted me, loved on me and taught me how to study God’s Word for myself. God has a plan for each and every one of us and He used Christian radio to touch my heart and draw me to Him.

From 1991-1995 I actually had the pleasure of working at WJIS as on air talent first as the weekend overnight host and later on the Sunday afternoon shift. I still dream of working there again some day. Now Aaron, my oldest son is on staff there and works in many facets including IT, production and live events. The ministry of what is now known as The Joy FM has been a blessing to me, my family, and our community for 30 years and I am proud to do my part to support this life changing ministry.

If you don’t have great Christian radio where you are, feel free to listen online at TheJoyFM.com or download our app and listen that way. The Joy FM and all of the other stations under the Radio Training Network banner are non-commercial, listener supported stations. Thanks to the faithful support of the listeners, the stations are able to share the Good News across the airwaves.

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As you may remember my son Aaron aka Hammy works at TheJoyFM a large Christian radio station heard throughout parts of Florida, Georgia and Alabama and worldwide with online streaming and their iPhone and Android apps. Last week Aaron called me to tell me when he finished the Alabama Chris Tomlin concert he would be headed to Atlanta for a few days. The Morning Cruise team would be meeting him there for an interview with Mark Hall. Mark just found out he has cancer and as a Joy FM artist, friend and listener he wanted to break the news with us first. I was floored. Aaron said I should start praying but I couldn’t share the need until it went public. I didn’t even tell my husband-I just said Aaron was going to Atlanta for a meeting with Mark Hall.

photo courtesy of TheJoyFM

This morning at 7:07am the audio of that meeting was aired on the radio. If you would like to hear the interview you can hear it on TheMorningCruise.com. While we are all heartbroken when we hear of a friend who has been stricken with cancer, Mark, Melanie and their family know that God is in control and He knew this was going to happen. God’s Word is true and it is in His strength that we walk through the difficult times. In the interview Marks says that while singing their last 3 concerts since his diagnosis, his songs have ministered to him in new ways. One of the songs he mentioned is “Just Be Held” here is the video.

Next Wednesday, March 11, 2015, Mark will be having his right kidney removed. The doctors say this surgery requires a lengthy recovery time, just below that of open heart surgery. Please join us in #prayingformark. He and his family have a long road ahead of them. The Bible says “If one member suffers, all suffer together.” 1 Cor 12:26a. Let’s lift Mark up to The Father in prayer. If you feel led to share on social media below is the graphic we are using to share our prayers for Mark.

Thanks for praying!

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Team Freedom is a group of 200 runners, each running at least one of the races during the Gasparilla Distance Classic Weekend. There is a 5k, an 8k, 15k and a half marathon during the weekend. Team Freedom has come together as part of an outreach through The Joy FM as a fundraiser for Abolition International.

Abolition International is an organization that fights sex trafficking and exploitation.. There are 21 million slaves in the world today. Sex trafficking is estimated to be a 35 BILLION dollar industry. Abolition International educates professionals and communities about the plight of human trafficking. They empower people to help end modern-day slavery and they invest in comprehensive care of those rescued from slavery.

We are running for those who aren’t free to run…yet. To be a part of Team Freedom, I need to raise at least $400 for Abolition International before January 31, 2014! This is where I need YOUR help. If my readers each gave something I could more than meet my goal and you can all run with me, in spirit. I will be making strips to hang off my race belt with the names of everyone who donates at least $20 to my fundraising efforts! To donate, just click on my TEAM FREEDOM link to give securely. Thank-you so much for your support. Please share this post with your friends and family so they can join my team too.

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Dave Cruse, Carmen Brown, Matthew West, Eric Smallridge and Bill Martin

This “surprise” was not the first involving Renee Napier. Earlier this year, The Morning Cruise surprised Renee during an interview in their JOY FM studios by hiding Matthew West in an adjoining room. Matthew’s song “Forgiveness” had been written from the story Renee submitted, but remained unknown to Renee until both the song and the waiting artist were revealed. Subsequently, plans were made for Renee to accompany the Into the Light tour in several cities. Eric Smallridge’s appearance was exclusively for JOY FM audiences. To arrange for the personal appearance of Eric, Renee and others had to convince the Florida Department of Corrections to allow temporary mobility to the inmate, still serving 11 years prior to his planned release in November, 2012.

On May 11th, 2002, a drunk driver killed Renee’s daughter, Meagan, and Meagan’s friend, Lisa Dickson. The driver, Eric Smallridge, was sentenced to 22 years in prison. In the midst of grieving the loss of her daughter, Renee came to forgive Eric and help reduce his sentence to 11 years. In turn Eric decided to make something positive out of his tragic mistake. Less than two years after Meagan’s death, Renee began her journey giving DUI Presentations to a multitude of audiences, including high schools, colleges, the military, churches, and DUI offenders. Since 2004, over 100,000 people have heard Renee’s presentation during which she tells the story of Eric’s decision to drink and drive and the healing power of forgiveness. In April 2010, Eric was granted permission to join Renee in her speaking campaign.

The JOY FM is a network of non-commercial, listener-supported contemporary Christian music stations serving Southwest, Central and North Florida since 1986 and Atlanta since 2011. It is owned by Radio Training Network, and is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization.

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