It’s such a joy to be celebrating Family Radio’s 65th anniversary! Consider this post an invitation for you to celebrate with us. After all, Family Radio is listener supported—it’s your ministry!
On February 4, 1959, the Lord established Family Radio to share the Gospel with the world over the airwaves. Initially, the ministry was limited to reaching the San Francisco Bay Area by means of a newer medium called FM radio. It all began when KEAR-FM signed-on with the hymn, “To God Be The Glory.”
Today, God’s faithfulness through the generosity of listeners like you have propelled Family Radio into a national media network. We still have the same priority as day one—standing on the supremacy of the Word of God and delivering it so it can be heard by as many people as possible. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God,” Romans 10:17.
If you’ve listened to Family Radio over the years, I trust we’ve been a source of encouragement, peace, and joy in your daily walk with Jesus Christ. Now, more than ever, I’m aware of how much the world needs to hear the Word of God. God’s Word is the remedy for rage, for fear, for so many feelings of hopelessness that are pervasive in the world when people are hyper-focused on anything other than our sovereign Lord, Jesus Christ.
As I was meditating on how God has used Family Radio over the decades to make a difference, I recalled Isaiah 41:10. God says to His people,
“Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
There are three striking truths in this short verse that speak directly to the trials and temptations facing God’s people today. What are those trials and temptations?
- Fear
- Dismay
- Weakness
For each of these trials and temptations, God has an answer!
- His Presence
- His Person
- His Provision
God’s answer for your fear is His presence. Fear is often the product of thinking you’re alone. No one is afraid when they have an army behind them! How much more God, Who commands armies of angels? In Psalm 89:8, David says, “O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O Lord, with your faithfulness all around you?” When you are aware of the presence of God, fear will find no place to land in your heart! Instead, you can celebrate His faithfulness!
God’s answer for your dismay is His person. The Hebrew word for dismay in this passage means to have your vision fixed on something other than God. Perhaps you know what it’s like to be in a situation so difficult that you can’t see beyond it to what God is doing. The bills are too big, the finish line is too far away, you’re in over your head and you can’t tell which way is up. That’s dismay—and God has an answer for you!
David says in Psalm 121:1-2, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” To discover where his help came from, David had to look beyond his circumstances. He had to look up to the hills—and even beyond to the One who made the hills, the heavens, and the earth! You can recognize everything God has accomplished and know that He is beyond capable of working your situation out for His glory and your good. Praise the Lord!
Finally, God’s answer for your weakness is His provision. He says He will strengthen you, help you, and uphold you. God’s promise is not that he will deliver us from our weakness, but that He will deliver us in our weakness. I’m reminded of the words of Christ to the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
What was Paul’s response? “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” What a wonderful trade! When you accept your weakness before Christ, He strengthens you with His power to become all that He’s called you to be. Praise Him!
You may be reading this and think to yourself, “Tom, you’re telling my story!” And that may be the case. But truthfully, this is Family Radio’s story of God’s faithfulness over six and a half decades of ministry. Our time serving the Lord has not been without trails and the temptations to fear, dismay, and give in to weakness. But that has not been God’s plan for Family Radio! Every step of the way, God has given His presence, His person, and His provision so that, through us, the world can know Him as Lord and Savior.
God has a plan for you too! I find so much joy in knowing that God is using Family Radio to help equip you to live your life for Him. I speak for everyone at Family Radio when I say that—to be a part of God’s plan for your life—we are truly blessed.
As we celebrate 65 years of ministry together, I’d love to hear from you! In the comments section below, please let us know . . .
- How long have you been listening to Family Radio?
- What do you appreciate most about the ministry? What are you celebrating?
- How has God shown His faithfulness in your life?
Thank you for being with us in our 65th year! I can’t wait to see what the Lord has in store as we continue working together to bring His Gospel to the world. May the Lord bless you!
I Have been Listening since the year 1981. I Love the Music old & new! My Favortie prorams are The Bible study Hour with Dr. James boice! &grace to you & walk with the King! and sunday Morning echos
I gave up on Family Radio after Mr. Camping made predictions as to when the world 🌎 would end. I now live in Florida on the Gulf coast and the only Family Radio 📻 stations are on the Atlantic coast. Glad to see your moving to Nashville TN. Great place to start anew.
Hi Thomas, I’m not sure where in Florida you are, but we do have some stations on the Gulf Coast, including Orlando, Jacksonville, West Palm and Stuart. If you aren’t in one of those areas, we have streaming options on our website and our free app as well! Thank you for coming back to Family Radio.
I started to listen to family radio in 1981, i moved to Oregon a year before, and had so much trials and temptations, emotionally that I started to go to church, and some how one Day i turn the radio on and stumbled on this beautiful radio stations, and since then it has been my consular and friend, who has helped me to grow in the Christian life. Thank you for your faithfulness and your love that this radio station give to all of us believers. amen.
We are so grateful for Family Radio. We began to listen to Family Radio in the late 90s. We love the use of Hymns on a daily basis. The daily Bible quizzes help to remind us of our Bible knowledge. Thank you for staying strong and brining us teaching to build up the Church and call the world to repentance.
I’ve been listening to Family Radio since 1979. I was saved listening to it in December of that year! Family Radio has a special place in my heart for it’s where I first heard the gospel. I enjoy the strong Biblical teachings and the wonderful music. Thank you!