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| From the broadcast
the weekend of Feb. 6th & 7th, 2010: |
This was our 30th anniversary
program, and it certainly brought back a lot of fond memories for
me from those early years of our broadcast. In fact, the first three songs
on the program were all heard on our very first program that
 aired
the weekend of February 2nd, 1980. As you heard, our Featured Artists
were the Happy Goodman Family, using the same interview material and
the same songs from them that you would have heard on our very first broadcast.
I even dug out the original script to be sure what I was saying regarding
the Featured Artists was the same as what was said back then.
I also appreciated the many artist comments we shared through the program
— words of congratulations and well-wishes. I'm heartened by the young
artists we had on the second hour who talked about "growing up" with The
Gospel Greats program. Michael Booth's reminder that we did their
very first radio interview brought back great memories, as did Kenny
Bishop's recollections about rushing home from work to hear the program
long before the Bishops were even a singing group. These are truly
fond memories.
This past week in my weekly e-mail newsletter, I reminisced about the
anniversary. If case you don't get my newsletter
(which you should) here's what I
said:
"Thirty Years!"
Today's date – February 2nd – is forever etched in my mind. Thirty
years ago, in 1980, that date fell on a Saturday. And that was the date of
the very first broadcast of The Gospel Greats program. So, ever since,
we celebrate the program's anniversary the first weekend in February –
and we'll do just that on this weekend's broadcast with some very special
features.
Thirty years! This truly amazes me. That's a long time to be doing anything
— especially in the high-turnover field of radio. But I have no doubt
that the success of what we've been doing all of these years is thanks entirely
to God's continuing blessing.
People keep asking me why I'm doing this. I simply reply – quite truthfully
– that I'm doing it because I believe it's what God wants me to do.
And He's affirmed that by blessing what we do. I believe God prepared me
by giving me an interest in radio programming, radio production, newswriting,
journalism, electronics, etc., that began to manifest itself in elementary
school. He opened the doors for fourteen years of local broadcast experience.
In short, He placed in my heart an interest in all of the things that I would
need to do what I've been doing for these thirty years.
And then I believe God has continued to bless our work because we strive
to keep Him first in all we do. He is, after all, our most important audience!
You cannot listen to our program each week without hearing an artist or
songwriter talk about a song – or several songs – which have deep
spiritual insights. Honor God in what you do and He will honor you. I know
– He's done it here.
We are so thankful, too, to many others.
First, we are thankful to the hundreds of radio stations which have carried
our program over the years. Some of those who started with us the first year
– thirty years ago – are still carrying our program. We feel like
a part of their family! Without these radio stations, we simply could not
do what we do.
Then, of course, we are thankful to you, our listeners. If you weren't so
faithful in listening to our program each week, radio stations simply would
not carry the program. You have made it one of the top-rated programs on
many of the radio stations on which The Gospel Greats program is heard
– and for that we are truly thankful. You are among the most faithful
listeners that any broadcaster could possibly want or have.
We thank you, too, for the continuous flow of cards and letters and e-mails
telling us how something you have heard on the broadcast has blessed you
in a special way. Many long-time listeners recently shared with us how the
program has been a continuing blessing over the years. You will never know
how much of an encouragement that is to us.
We owe a special debt of gratitude to the countless Southern Gospel music
artists who have been so generous with their time over the years, consenting
to interview after interview. The abundant integration of artist interview
material throughout our program gives The Gospel Greats its unique appeal
and interest, and, obviously, we could not do it without their cooperation.
Of course, many of the artists we dealt with regularly in our early years
are no longer with us. What a pleasure and what an honor it was to get to
know personally such people as George Younce (who even co-hosted our 20th
anniversary program), Glen Payne, James Blackwood, Hovie Lister, Kenny Hinson,
the Goodmans, and many others — and to be able to call them "friends."
But many gifted new artists have come along to fill their well-worn shoes.
We have seen first-hand the maturing of many of these newer artists as they
get a grip on the fact that it's not all about the music, it's all about
the Lord. Southern Gospel music's future is in good hands.
Then, too, we owe a huge debt of gratitude to those behind-the-scenes people
in the Southern Gospel music industry who have been so wonderfully supportive
over the years. We certainly value the friendship that so many of these industry
people have shown us. Some have been to our home. And we've been to some
of theirs.
And on a very personal level, I'd like to thank my wife, Shelia, for all
she has endured all these years. To be honest, ours is very demanding work,
with very little time off, and she bears a heavy load of responsibilities
in the office which can cause quite a drain physically. But she is a very
vital part of the work we do together. Undoubtedly, God prepared her to be
the perfect "helpmate" in our combined endeavors. As you can tell from her
"Shelia Shares" column that you find here each week, she certainly has a
heart for ministry.
Now, although our anniversary celebration is dealing a lot with the past
thirty years, I don't want only to look back. I believe, should the Lord
tarry, there's plenty of work to do for years to come. Technologies may change,
but the need for what we've been calling "the greatest songs about the greatest
message" is greater than ever.
So, again, if you're one of our regular listeners — and most of you
reading this are — I'm thankful to you. Without you, there would be
no reason for me to be on the radio each week. Thank you! And may God bless
you as abundantly as He's blessed us these many years.
- Paul
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own
understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your
paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6).
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