It saddens me to say that I personally prepared, and the station mailed 392 letters to all of the churches in the listening area. Below is the exact letter:
Dear Pastor/Youth Pastor
I am writing to share what God has so powerfully done in my life and the impact that it can have on the lost in Southern Illinois. Several months ago, God told me to contact the program director at WCIL-FM and inquire about doing a Christian radio show on Sunday night. WCIL-FM is a non-Christian radio station. I have to admit that I did not respond right away, but at the Men’s rally at First Baptist Church in April, God told me again, a little louder this time to contact this man. I went home and sent an email to the program director that night. The next morning, I awoke to find this in my inbox:
Hi John,
I actually have thought often about it, I also am a Christian with a love for contemporary Christian Music, which is what I listen to alot the time myself, Newsboys, Jeremy Camp, Zoegirl, 3rd Day, etc. I actually have been trying to carry a show called the top 22, a Christian countdown show before Dawson on Sunday and have been talking to the
company that produces the show about carrying it. I do not know if you remember it, but we did have a show on through the eighties and early nineties called "Jesus Solid Rock" with Jerry Bryant that was local. I would always be interested especially with the popularity of Contemporary Christian music right now and the music is very good. If
you have any specific ideas let me know maybe we could work something out, I would like to do it as well, let's talk
Have a Blessed day,
Jon
Needless to say I was floored. I sat in awe of God’s power. I am told that this time slot reaches an average of 20,000 listeners!! Well, after a several months, CT 10 (Christian Top 10) made its debut on Sunday Nov. 11th. On WCIL-FM 101.5. I am on weekly from 8pm-9pm, (for now)
Other than sharing this wonderful news, there are some things that I would like to ask of you. First of all, please pray for me. Pray that I will be willing and able to take this wherever God leads. Pray for the un-churched, un-saved listeners. Pray that the music played will touch hearts and stir change in these folks. Another thing I need is for Christians to support the show. Please tell your congregation, esp your youth about the show and encourage them to listen. Please contact the Program Director (jonnyq@riverradio.net), or call the River Radio Group(985-4843), and tell him that you like the show, or at least are pleased with his decision to put a Christian music show on his station. I was told from the start that my time could be expanded to 2 or 3 hours from the current 1 hour in time. This would just be an even more unreal opportunity to reach the lost and hurting in Southern Illinois!! Also, I want to mention the sponsor of my show, Handfuls on Purpose. They are a Christian Bookstore and Church Supply store located across from the old hospital in Marion.(997-3507) Although they told me that they frankly didn’t think that they would see much if any business from the sponsorship, they did it anyway because they wanted to see the show happen. Wow! What if all Christians would act for the good of the Kingdom and not worry about what was in it for them. I feel they need to be supported in their business efforts. Folks need to go in and thank them for helping to get the show on the air and we need to spend our money in there as well. It is going to take the above support from my fellow Christians to help grow this ministry in the coming months. I believe that God has big plans for the ministry and am very excited to see where he leads. If you have any announcements of upcoming events, esp youth events, or any comments please contact me at ct10music@aol.com. I will pass along as many as I can on the air. I thank you for your time.
To this letter I have personally received 2, YES, only 2 responses. I knew that I might be setting myself up for disappointment by doing this, but I never dreamed only 2 would respond. I am down about this, but as I read it again in this post, I think it got worse. How can 390 pastors/youth pastors read this and discard it? Words cannot even describe what that does to me on the inside. But, I will NEVER let it prevent me from doing what I have been called to do. The only way I will stop is when they pry the micrphone from my hands.
