That is a phrase that is used and encouraged at the radio station I work for. Maybe yours as well. When a staff person says, “Permission to speak freely…” it is both an acknowledgment and an invitation. Acknowledging that the conversation ahead is important and potentially difficult. And the invitation to listen intently to the heart behind the words.
Do I have permission to speak freely to you as a Christian Music leader?
I’m concerned that we may be facing a crisis of mission. We know how to attract an audience. And grow revenue. We even have well-crafted mission statements. But if the mission of our radio station is only “outward facing” then we have a problem. A crisis of mission.
It struck me as I looked at our radio station mission statement hanging on the wall. Am I as concerned about walking out this mission inside our building as I am out in the community? Are any of the people that God is calling us to reach sitting next to me in a staff meeting?
As someone who has worked in Christian radio for over 30 years, I have a deep passion for the “mission.” But, sadly, I (perhaps you as well) sometimes forget that the mission starts WITHIN our walls. Among our team. In our leadership. In your heart and mine. Our mission begins with those closest to us. To embrace “mission” means that I am called to serve my staff, our Board of Directors, the volunteers AND our listeners and community. Not just those we hope will listen to our radio station.
Chances are that your mission statement is a lot like ours. It was probably written with the “world” in mind. Encourage. Unite. Share Jesus. What a shame if we are only doing those “missional” things with listeners and not each other.
The Christian radio mission begins with how we encourage our staff and co-workers. How we foster unity and protect a healthy work culture. How we serve each other in the building. Only then does it overflow out to listeners and the community. Only then is it authentic.
I think about Jesus’ leadership and “mission.” He came to save the lost world. And, He cared deeply for his 12 closest followers. They were not a means to an end (reaching a lot of people with the good news.) They were an integral part of the mission. Both while Jesus was with them and especially after He ascended to heaven. He invested in them. Cared for them. Taught them. Challenged and corrected them. He ministered to them. He washed their feet. His mission was evident to those closest to Him. And to the crowds.
Humility. Serving. Loving. Teaching. Weeping. He did all of that with his 12. It wasn’t merely for the benefit of the crowd. It was His mission. And it is ours as well.
Is that the model of your mission and ministry? Permission to speak freely? My heart needs help in this area. Perhaps yours does as well. Within our ministries, just like many other faith-based organizations, we have disheartened and disillusioned staff. We have toxic cultures. A lack of humility and accountability. And hypocrisy. I pray that the tender heart of Jesus would beat inside us all. I pray that we would humbly invite Jesus to wash our feet. Show us how to lead with a heart of mission to those closest to us. And then I pray it would authentically overflow to a hurting world.
I would love to know your thoughts. Permission to speak freely!
Sandi Brown
JOY FM / BOOST RADIO
Christian Music Broadcasters, Chairperson
Life 102.5 has a heart for Madison! For the 4
Spirit 92.9 continued its commitment of blessing the central Minnesota community through intentional service projects. As the pandemic affected another year, station listeners rose to the challenge of uplifting and encouraging those feeling loss, loneliness, or burnout. Thanks to the help of generous listeners and business partners, Spirit 92.9 raised more than $8,000 in an online tip jar that blessed the staff at 19 local restaurants returning to work full time with huge tips during the Big Tip promotion. The restaurant workers were grateful for the visibility and appreciation. Numerous area teachers nominated by their students and families received special honor at the end of the school year with flowers and $500 VISA gift cards as part of “Thank A Teacher” organized by Spirit 92.9. In the fall, Spirit 92.9 partnered with two local ministries and provided free holiday meals to the community. During the ‘More Than A Meal’ event, the station worked with community members who donated enough to provide 6,000 meals and give help to people in need. Station team members also prepared and served meals together at the local homeless mission. At Christmastime, 11 community members wrote Spirit 92.9 and shared the story of someone they believed deserved some extra joy due to personal hardships. The individuals received $1000 to bless that person during Spirit 92.9’s Share The Joy promotion. Phone calls were made to hundreds of listeners to offer prayer and encouragement. Prayer support and a personal response is offered all year long.
Jim Campbell, Founder & Network President of Radio Training Network, Inc. began his radio career in commercial radio in Tennessee in 1964. In 1966 he moved his family to Lakeland, Florida to attend college, and upon graduation he joined the staff at First Assembly of God Church where he and the church launched in the mid 1970s the first Contemporary Christian Radio Station in the nation, WCIE-FM. The station grew in both market impression and influence not just in Lakeland, but around the country inspiring others to follow Jim’s lead. In 1989 Jim left the church and founded Radio Training Network, Inc. (RTN) and over the next 30+ years, he oversaw the acquisition and development of 40+ stations plus translators. With 130 team members, RTN stations serve the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, and Missouri. These stations are well recognized in their respective markets thanks to the servant leadership of the staff, aggressive marketing, and a commitment to a strong emphasis on Jesus first. At present RTN has some two million listeners each week on air and approximately the same number online.
Andrea Kleid is a 24-year veteran of radio and records. She began her career working in Christian radio at WNLT in Cincinnati, and then moved onto WAY-FM in West Palm Beach working in programming and promotions. Her next stop took her to JOY-FM in Tampa where she served as the Promotions Director. In 2004, Andrea moved to Nashville to begin her music industry career in radio promotion under Grant Hubbard at Capitol CMG. In 2008, Andrea became the Vice President of Promotion at Word Label Group where she led one of the most successful and influential radio promotion teams in the Christian music industry. Through her signature brand of honesty, passion for Christian music, and focus on relationships, Andrea developed a reputation for successfully launching new artists’ careers including for KING and COUNTRY, NEEDTOBREATHE and Francesca Battistelli. This year, Andrea celebrates her fifth year as the President of her own company, Boxer Poet. An advocate for both radio and artists, Andrea continues to zealously host conversations around further representation for women and people of color on Christian radio.
Jason Sharp has a rich history with CCM radio and leadership. His early years at WONU/Chicagoland and The Bridge/Delaware gave flight to his passion for great programming and innovative promotions. As Program Director of WCQR/Johnson City and eventually the network PD for Positive Alternative Radio, Jason’s influence grew across the industry. In 2007, Jason joined the team at Northwestern Media as Program Director and then Station Manager of KTIS, Minneapolis/St Paul. In 2015, Jason furthered his formal education and earned his master’s degree in organizational leadership. Applying his leadership knowledge and skills to work, he now serves as Senior Vice President of Broadcasting at Northwestern Media’s 23 stations in 14 markets across ten states that service 1.5 million listeners each week. Jason also served Christian Music Broadcasters, first as a charter member and eventually as the lead of CMB’s educational track at Momentum for more than ten years. He then served as the organization’s board chairman from 2017-2020. Jason continues to inspire others within Christian media toward excellence and compassion through a Christ-centered attitude, education, and practical application.
In 1972, while serving in the U.S. Air Force in Orlando, Johnny Stone dreamt of a second kind of “air force,” that of radio. He took an overnight position at WDIZ-FM, the station where Z88.3 now stands. In the past 50 years of his career, Johnny’s work and personality raised the bar for other programmers in markets ranging from New York City, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, San Diego, Tampa, Atlanta, Tucson, and Minneapolis/St. Paul. During his stint as Program Director and Morning Show host at Star 99.1 New York, his team won the NAB Crystal Radio Award and CMB Station of the Year. Presently, Johnny serves as afternoon host with his wife, Stacey, at 91.9 WGTS in Washington D.C. winner of the 2021 NAB Marconi Award for Religious Station of the Year. Owner of StoneStudios, LLC. and as a 22-year veteran in Christian media, Johnny mentored several on-air talents. Today, along with his on-air role at WGTS, he mentors college students at CMBU, teaching and modeling the belief that “you have to win in the hallways to win on the airwaves.”
Lisa Williams was called to Christian radio while praying in 1990. She walked into KCVO in Camdenton, Missouri and started on the air that same week. Over the past 32 years, Lisa served in various roles in on-air, programming, fundraising, and station management at radio stations and networks including K-LOVE, Z88.3, Star 99.1, KCVO, and KCWN. As an on-air personality, Lisa earned several number one ratings in several markets and was the recipient of three industry awards. Lisa now serves as the Network Talent Coach for Northwestern Media, owner of 23 stations in 14 markets across ten states that service 1.5 million listeners each week. While at Northwestern, Lisa hosted the nationally syndicated show Life with Lisa Williams from 2016-2021. She stepped away from the show to focus on coaching more than 90 on-air talents, encouraging and nurturing them to shine the light of Christ through excellent radio. When she’s not coaching talent, Lisa helps stations raise money for their operations. She also hosts a Facebook group for women on-air in Christian radio called GodsRadioGirls and helps facilitate their annual retreat.