Resources for Congregations Radio ministry catches fish By Paula R. Kincaid The Presbyterian Layman July/August 1999 William Vanderbloemen FORT WORTH – Visitor attendance at Memorial Presbyterian Church in Montgomery, Ala., has “sky-rocketed” according to senior pastor William Vanderbloemen, and he attributes the growth to a new church ministry of “spiritual moments,” one-minute radio spots on secular FM radio stations. Worship attendance has doubled since the ministry began and the church has 30 to 40 visitors a service now, said Vanderbloemen. “Everyone has heard the radio spots,” he said adding that about one-third attend “just because of the radio spots.” ‘Exactly’ Vanderbloemen related the story of a church member who wanted the radio spots on Christian radio stations. Secular radio stations have a lot of junk on them, she said. “Exactly,” replied Vanderbloemen. Not a lot of Christians listen to those stations, she continued. “Exactly,” he said. The purpose of the radio spots, said Vanderbloemen, is “to catch fish.” “Forty-five percent of the population in Montgomery has no church home and that’s the buckle of the Bible belt. Those are who we are interested in,” he said. Making a difference One woman was “real depressed. She was seriously contemplating taking her life.” She heard the radio spot one morning, then listened to several others before giving her life to Jesus Christ. “She told me, ‘I know it may be hard to see if you are making a difference, but I want you to know your radio show made a difference and changed my life,’” said Vanderbloemen. “The man who produced the radio spots was unchurched,” said Vanderbloemen. “Now he attends church.” Vanderbloemen also does devotionals at the radio station. “It’s opened all kinds of doors.” One phone call An elder at Memorial came up with the idea of the radio spots. Vanderbloemen said it took only one telephone call to secure funding for a nine-month trial period. The radio spots are broadcast at 7:20 a.m. Monday through Friday, with a different message every day. Vanderbloemen, who writes and reads the messages, said he tries to use the spots to intersect secular culture with God’s message. The ministry, through numerous donors and sponsors, has grown to eight FM stations, including country, pop, soft-rock and alternative stations. Plans are being made to begin sporadic spots throughout the day, and possibly some television spots near Christmas and Easter, “when there are more fish to catch,” said Vanderbloemen. For more information, contact Memorial Presbyterian Church at 334-274-1018; or write to them at 301 Interstate Park Drive, Montgomery, Ala., 36109.

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