Gippsland's own Christian Community Radio Station |
December 2003We hope you’re enjoying the special Christmas music. It is such a privilege to be able to celebrate Christmas in this way. As we remember the birth of our Saviour, we pause to thank Him for the many blessings. Inside you’ll be able to see His hand in the progress of Life FM through 2003. This big news of course is that this new radio station was born at 2:18am on Wednesday 29th October! All Praise to Jesus! All Praise to Jesus! All Praise to Jesus! All Praise to Jesus! We have now increased our loop to 21 hours and have added a different 5 hour loop of praise and worship music for Sundays. We also want to let people know what's happening around the region so we have introduced a Community Service Announcements segment. If your church or non-profit group is having an activity, we'd love to hear from you. (Contact info below) Due to the limited equipment (see below) we cannot start scheduled programs yet but we will be pro-viding some EXCELLENT Christmas music through this very special time of year. Please continue to pray for us as we work towards making LIFE FM a permanent part of our community. WHY ARE WE LOOPING THE MUSIC? Since we started broadcasting it has become
evident that we need extra equipment sooner than we thought. We need to
build up our studio and also purchase microwave links. We always knew
start up costs would be around $100,000 - God has blessed us with the
money for the purchase and installation of our transmitter ($60,000) now
we need to finish the job. "For if the willingness is there, the
gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he
does not have." 2Cor 8:12 NIV All Glory To God! Deb Bye—Station Manager For the rest of the December Newsletter - PDF - click here September 2003* * * Much has happened since our last
newsletter. God is so faithful and the speed at which changes and developments
come is sometimes overwhelming. Let's Praise the Lord as we look over
the last couple of months.
Transmitter Ordered & Visit to Mt tassieAllen has done a fantastic job liaising with all the relevant authorities in regard to the installation at Mt tassie. This has been an extremely convoluted process and has been well managed. MT Tassie - Wed 10th SeptWhat an amazing day!! First the convoy met at the Traralgon office @ 10am, There was the site controller, the electrician, the phone man, the engineer, the Station & Business Managers. Allen & I were there to observe and we were to learn more than we expected. By 11am we were all at Mt Tassie the first time for all but the site controller. There were a few small buildings scattered around one main building which we were to discover was where our TX home will be - in a far corner by itself among its BIG brothers - millions of dollars worth of equipment which puts the ABC and commercial radio and television stations to air 24x7. Just seeing the equipment was mind blowing (for us anyway!) The guys quickly found their respective areas to see what needed to be done while Allen was becoming un-done as Telstra (who were supposed to be installing phone lines for us while we were there) hadn't appeared - and a few phone calls quickly revealed there was a problem! Allen spent much of the site visit on the phone to various Telstra offices all over the country looking for the tech who would do our installation - no one seemed to know who would do such a job. Just as we were about to leave an hour and a half later yet another call revealed that the tech was actually in one of the smaller buildings at Mt Tassie doing another installation!!! We probably could have yelled out to him!
TRARALGON OFFICEAfter the mountain experience Allen, John & I spent a few hours in the TR office planning the next steps. We have determined equipment priorities and operations structures for best programming practice. The upshot is that we will have a production suite in Traralgon and communicate and send programs via ADSL. This can all be done fairly inexpensively and will also provide equipment for our sales team. ~ Deb
We were so blessed to have Wes Jay come from Melbourne to help set up the on air computers. Wes has had an amazing career in radio and what he DOESN'T know about Christian music - isn't worth knowing!
Steve Baker from Geelong has been helping periodically since day one and has volunteered to help set up the automation system to get us on-air. This is a pain-staking job and Steve has had lots of experience with these types of systems.
President David Jones with newly appointed Sales Rep Danielle Ford and Station Manager Debbie Bye. Danielle recently returned to Sale after ten years. She was community Service Coordinator at Canberra FM for three years and is currently completing Bachelor of Primary Education at University of Canberra. Danni is a private tutor for years 1-8, mainly English and Mathematics and an experienced coxswain and Level 1 rowing coach. She was a Rotary Exchange Student to Wisconsin, USA in 1994. Danni enjoys bushwalking, horse riding and spending time with "Pusskins" (the cat) and is very keen to meet with prospective sponsors. You can contact Danielle at sales@lifefm.com.au or call the office Sam Jones has spent many hours patching walls and painting the 2 new offices in the Raymond St building in Sale.. Steve Castles also helped to patch the holes in the walls, thanks guys!
4th Annual General MeetingThursday 30th October 2003
STUDIO COSTS - EXCLUDING TRANSMITTER & MT. tassieE COSTS
JULY (2) 2003God MovesEarlier this month we sent an urgent update as our deadline to order the transmitter approached. On Friday 18th July the Sale Christian Outreach Centre held a Fund Raiser Dessert Night and God moved in a mighty way. Local churches donated home made desserts, CoC Band Jehu provided background music, Station Manager Deb Bye brought everyone up-to-date with a Power Point presentation and Pastor Brian Heath (Life FM's Vice President) closed the evening with a challenge to sow into future harvest. The opportunity was provided for memberships, donations and interest free loans. We were believing for $20,000 and the blessings poured out in nearly $10,000 donations and $30,000 interest free loans. There were also 17 new members signed up on the night! PRAISE GOD! That's DOUBLE what we asked for!! Deb has been saying for some time when asked where the money would come from that "God owns the cattle on a thousand hills - He's just going to sell some for us!" God moved in a mighty way that night and people responded. We have now ordered a transmitter and have been able to enter constructive
negotiations with Broadcast Australia regarding tower rental. We still
need another $30,000 to complete the studio and for the transmitter installation
and approximately $8,000 per quarter for tower rental. Please continue
to ask God how you can sow into this ministry.
New Committee of Management MemberA vacancy on Life FM's Committee of Management (CoM) has been created by the appointment of Deb Bye as Station Manager. Under our Rules of Association, the Station Manager is an automatic on-going appointment to the CoM - (Rule 12.3). Cameron Rash has agreed to fill the vacancy and this has been agreed to by the CoM. Cameron was born in Maffra, raised in Stratford, attended Secondary School in Sale and has been a member of Life FM for three years. He runs his own financial planning business in Doncaster, Melbourne and is a member of Eltham Presbyterian Church. He has completed a Bachelor of Science (Accounting and Computer Science) and an Advanced Diploma of Financial Services (Financial Planning). Having assisted with the preparation of our licence application (the financial aspects of our proposal in particular), we believe that his God-given talents will compliment the talents and gifts of those already on the CoM.
ALLEN STEPS OUTAllen Moore has joined Station Manager, Deb Bye as a full-time volunteer
at Life FM.
JULY 2003In this first 2 weeks of my full time service I have seen God move in incredible ways. It has been a steep learning curve as we stepped out to sell Sponsorship packages to local businesses. This is a very slow and labour intensive process and while there have been fruits from that labour we are very short of our fundraising target. The Committee of Management has been in discussion with our Broadcast Engineer and it has been determined that even though we STILL NEED $90,000, we can conduct this Test Transmission with a minimum of equipment costing $45,000. That means we will need to hire some linking equipment short term and have negotiated with Broadcast Australia regarding the use of a combiner (that piece of equipment costs around $20,000) BUT we need the transmitter. The cost of leasing tower space from Broadcast Australia is still unknown. So far we have raised $12,000 from donations and sponsorships with a
further $6,000 in sponsorship sales still to be received. HOWEVER we have
a deadline of Wednesday 30th July to order our transmitter or we will
miss our Broadcast launch date of 3rd October and will have to start our
negotiations all over again. The CoM agrees that a bank loan is not an
option and that we (the members) need to own the mission. God has been working in marvellous ways in the last few weeks. I am constantly
amazed by the generosity of our members. It has been so encouraging to
see tangible evidence of your support for this ministry. I believe God
will move in a powerful way across our region through Life FM and already
this is evidenced in the unity among believers that Christian Radio is
what Gippsland needs. Please pray about how you can help us reach the
target - $45,000 for now, but $90,000 would be a blessing so we can show
Gippsland what a great and powerful God we worship. June 2003
WHERE DO THE $$$$ GO?When we started out we needed $100,000. In the last four years we have purchased the equipment listed below and kept the office running, setting up databases and systems to ensure the smooth running of the station. The big ticket items now are the Transmitter and antanae - around $60,000; a combiner - $20,000 approx and tower rental. The latter is unknown because we have to negotiate with Broadcast Australia who owns the site.
May 2003Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? Jer 32:27 NKJV It's Crunch Time!We have until noon Friday 1st August To that end we have decided that if, by noon Friday 1st August, we do not have sufficient funds to equip Life FM in order to conduct the test broadcast - all the sponsors money will be refunded. Accordingly, all sponsorships will now be held in trust until the target of $90 000 is met. HOWEVER - we believe that this Christian radio venture is in God's plan for this region and so we urge you to PRAY and to ACT.... Test Transmission
 "Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things -- and the things that are not -- to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him." 1Cor 26-29 NIV Something to Think AboutI turned on the telly this morning and it was like God was revealing
to me (and this time I was really listening!) the urgency of having Christian
Radio in Gippsland because other electronic media is definitely not good
for the soul! Then I flicked to the cartoons - witches on broomsticks and death, doom and destruction as colourful aliens plot to take over the world. Then I hear on the radio about how witchcraft has been legalised in our State! Pick up the paper and read about the latest murders or sex scandals. Does your heart ache like mine? NOW MORE THAN EVER we need to be telling people about God's saving grace and forgiveness AND about the hope we have in Jesus. NOW MORE THAN EVER we need to let people see and hear that Christians aren't just the "namby pamby" "wishy washy" "milksops" the media makes us out to be! NOW MORE THAN EVER we need to stand up and be counted - to proclaim that Jesus is LORD and that THERE IS HOPE! Life FM is here FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS - will you join us as we give Gippsland a REAL alternative in our media. Blessings
Insight for LivingThe CEO of the Melbourne headquarters of Insight for Living has offered to support Life FM with the provision of programs for air and books, tapes and CD's by Dr Chuck Swindoll for us to make available to our members at discounted rates with a small donation to Life FM from each sale. Click here for a list of products available.About Chuck SwindollInsight for Living's Bible teacher, Chuck Swindoll, has devoted his life to the clear, practical application of God's Word and His grace. A pastor at heart, Chuck has served as senior pastor to congregations in Texas, Massachusetts, and California. He currently leads Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas, but Chuck's listening audience extends far beyond a local church body. As a leading program in Christian broadcasting, Insight for Living airs in major Christian and non-Christian radio markets throughout the world and to a growing webcast audience. Chuck's extensive writing ministry has also served the body of Christ worldwide, and his leadership as president and now chancellor of Dallas Theological Seminary has helped prepare and equip a new generation for ministry. Chuck and Cynthia, his partner in life and ministry, have four grown children and ten grandchildren. For more information go to www.insight.org
You may have heard the Prayer of Jabez - from 1Chronicles 4:10. New Office SpaceThe Anglican Diocese (our landlords) has reaffirmed their strong support for Life FM and very generously opened up another room for our use. This has come with some shuffling from the current incumbents and we are most grateful for the enthusiasm of Diocesan Archivist Tim Gibson in wanting to help us out. Thank also to Kelvin Kenny and Sam Jones for the "hands on" help. The new space will be used as our administration area, making room for separate on-air and production studios. WHAT A BLESSING! Life FM Gippsland GOES INTERNATIONAL!Allen and Deb travelled to Brisbane for the International United Christian
Broadcasters Conference last month and there were MANY BLESSINGS. AND…recently we mentioned how Deb had recorded some station identification tags for HCJB (the short wave Christian Radio service to the South Pacific) - well they've been broadcasting those recordings so if you're overseas and you hear a familiar voice on short wave - it just could be our Deb! Interstate recognition for our web siteLife FM on the Gold Coast and Family Radio 96.5FM were also ports of
call for Allen and Deb. It seems our web-site has been helpful in inspiring
others - thanks again Beth Harris from Anchor
Web Design for the fabulous web page you've developed for us.
Interested? Call Life FM Member and Sponsor Cameron Rash 9840 1166 (BH) or email him at crash@taylorfingrp.com.au . Thanks to Cameron for organising this great fund raiser for us.
March 2003
|
Twenty-one
years ago God called me to Christian radio. I was a postie then
and radio was a huge jump from delivering mail! (proving of course
that God can use ANYONE!) But God opened up a whole new world to
me that would develop into a 17 year career at the ABC. Demo CDThe demonstration CD we have produced is now available and will give you an overview of what Life FM Gippsland will sound like. Of course it's difficult to get the whole range of what Life FM will offer into 10 minutes but we pray that as you listen you will "catch our vision" and hear the potential of what Life FM can achieve in Gippsland. The demo was put together by Wes Jay (Light FM Melbourne), Cameron Want (Trans World Radio), and Deb Bye and Allen More (Life FM Gippsland). It was mixed and copied in the Trans World Radio studios in Melbourne. Our thanks to Pencil Boone and the TWR team for the use of the studio and the resources. Extra copies of the CD are available from the office so you can share it with your friends and spread the word that Life FM is coming! We have also made a draft program schedule so you can see the kind of programs we have planned for full time broadcasting. |
This year we have reduced our annual membership fee to $33 for new members and renewals. We will have to make another application for a full time license later in the year so we really need to get those membership numbers up. You can get copies of the demo CD by contacting us - share it with your friends to encourage them to join us. Alive Magazine has generously offered a FREE 2 months subscription (that's 2 issues) for each new or renewed full membership in 2003. Make sure you fill in a NEW membership form (online or by contacting the office).
Have you got a Ritchies Card?
You can support Life FM Gippsland every time you buy groceries at Ritchies Supermarket in Sale & Maffra. Sign up today (quote Life FM ref# 94637) and you'll get Ritchies discounts as well as help us raise much needed funds. So far we've receieved almost $200.
We have 6 months to raise $90,000!
We need to look seriously at how we can raise these necessary funds for equipment. In response to our fund raising appeal we have had several generous donations and a few folk have signed up for regular donations - but we have a LONG way to go.
$90,000 sounds like a lot of money and it is! You may wonder how you can help. If 150 people (that's basically Life FM's membership) were able to donate $23 per week for just 6 months we would reach our target. Friends, remember every dollar you sow into Life FM now is seed for the future harvest and through your support of Life FM "...your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God" 2 Cor 9:11
Obviously not all of our members will be a able to donate this amount, and that's ok - some will give more, some will give less. We have had several one-off donations and a number of regular commitments which have been very helpful. Quite a lot of work has happened since Christmas so we need to keep the matter of our finances before you because God supplies our needs through His people. "...give as freely as you have received!" Matt 10:8
It is now possible to make a direct deposit to Life FM. You can do this
as a once-off or you can set things up so that your bank transfers a set
amount once a week, fortnight or month. Having a direct debit means it's
painless for you and regular for us. Why not give it some thought? Just
contact your bank and ask them to arrange a regular transfer to Life FM
Gippsland at:
Bendigo Bank BSB: 633 000 ACCOUNT
NUMBER: 116708298.
| We need to set up a van for our test broadcast. Initially it would be a small information van to have out and about in public view. Our plan is to eventually fit it out to do outside broadcasts to get "Life into the region!". The van will need to be road worthy and around 16ft so it can be towed easily. So far we've had a couple of offers of vans that would require a lot of work and money spent on them. We have seen a couple of suitable vans for around $2600 but of course we don't have the money for this at the moment. Do you have a suitable van that Life FM could put to very good use OR perhaps you would like to designate some funds towards the cost of buying one. Please contact the office for more information. Mondays from 9:30am - 5:00pm or by email. |
HCJB World Radio, the world's first missionary broadcaster, has
been touching lives around the globe since 1931. Together with its
local partners, HCJB World Radio now has ministries in more than
100 countries and broadcasts the gospel in nearly 120 languages
and dialects. HCJB World Radio also ministers thorugh healthcare
and training......doing whatever it takes, so all may hear. AUSTRALIA SHORTWAVE STATION GOES ON THE AIR HCJB World Radio-Australia's new shortwave station at the Jununurra in the northern part of the country went on the air Sunday, Jan 5, with it's first five-hour transmission to the South Pacific. This culminated more than five hyears of planning and praying. "Praise God, He has doen it!" said Director of Ministries Dennis Adams.from the Australian office in Melbourne following a dedication service. When the facility is in full operation, the shortwave signalwill be within hearing range of more than 3.5 billion people -- 60% of the world's population. Including the Asian antenna, 10 hours of English programming with air daily: five hours to the South Pacific and five hours to Asia, plus a weekly program in Oromo to Ethiopia. Although the broadcasts are goign out on a 100kw short-wave transmitter designed and built at the HCJB World Radio Engineering Centre in Elkhart, Ind., the transmitter is still running at low power, but this will be increased "gradually" as testing continues. Plans are to eventually expand to five transmitters and 16 broadcast towers as land and funds become available. The station came as teh result of HCJB World Radio-Australia Director David Maindonald's longtime vision to start an international shortwave station in the country. This initially seemed like an impossible dream. THe prospect that Australia would allow a privately owned international station - including Christian ones - seemed unlikely, and even mission leaders were sceptical about the plan. But instead of giving up, Mindonald trusted God. "I am filled with a great sense of awe at what God has done to bring about this new Asia-Pacific service," said Maindonald at the dedication service. "These past seven years I have seen God do so many wonderful things. He has changed the law of Australia, granted International licenses, provided finances and specialist staff, and just so much more. We launch today because God has been in it all. The staff has worked tirelessly to build buildings, erect transmission lines, towers and antennas, re-equip studios and prepare programs...........It is my pleasure to dedicated the radio ministry of HCJB World Radio - Australia to the glory of God." Life FM Gippsland supports the work of HCJB through tithes. Recently Deb and Allen visited the headquarters in Melbourne to meet with the team and see the studios. Deb also recorded some station identifications for the new Austrailan service! |
We have received the loan of some recording equipment from Wellington Shire which whill be the base of our production studio until we can afford to buy our own gear. We have the Shire's equipment for 12 months durign which time we will train people to produce our sponsorship announcements. Check out the Volunteers Form to see how YOU can be involved. Auditions will be held soon and training will start in May. |
Australian Gospel Music Festival
Looking for something new and exciting to do this Easter holiday? Why not join the thousands gathering in Toowoomba Qld, for the AGMF!
THe AGMF is a community based music and lifestyle event for youth, kids and families with the BEST artists and MOST attractions.
THe only word to describe AGMF 2003 is "BIG" ...... 140 artists (with special guest David Meece), 30 000 people, new attractions, massive venues, 33 seperate events, and loads of positive atmosphere.
The city of Toowoomba will explode with over 30 000 people soaking up the atmosphere of Australia's largest postive music and lifestyle festival.
Sponsors include Christian stations 96FM Brisbane and Light FM Toowoomba. Visit the AGMF website for updates and new things that will be appearing
Life FM needs YOUR input.....most of all we need your prayers. We also need practical help as we gear up for our first Test transmission on 3rd October. Please take the time to fill in this form. If you want to audition for on air work you'll need to let us know ASAP. |
Forthright Discussions about a shared "Vision" for Christian Radio in Gippsland
For the past three years the Committee of Management of Gippsland Christian Broadcasters (Life FM) has been tirelessly working towards a smooth introduction of Christian radio to Gippsland. It has always been the intent of Life FM's management that no public announcements would be made until Life FM was well and truly prepared and in a position to release clear, timely and accurate details of Broadcast commencement dates, the specific frequency to which listeners could "tune-in" to and the sorts of programs that would be going to air. For this to coccur, steady, concerted and unhurried planning was necessary, before the long awaited fan-fare of announcing the arrrival of Christian radio to the region. It was therefore somewhat disappointing to learn the a Brisbane based organisation was set to launch a limited "network" service in the area, that had the potential to confuse Life FM supporters, re-direct some local financial support and derail some of the long term planning.
Late last year "Vision FM" purchased two Narrowcast Licences at both Sale & Bairnsdale and will commence broadcasts from nearby sites on the 29th of March. These services will be limited in the area they cover, with a low power output, and will not feature local programming. The services are not "Community" services and will not be permitted to undertake the "community" style of programming that Life FM seeks to offer in due course.
On Monday 17th February, Vice President (and local Pastor) Brian Heath, together with Committee of Management member Debbie Bye and Assistant Administration Manager Allen Moore, met with two representatives of Vision FM to outline the various concerns that Life FM had regarding the projected commencement date of Vision FM's transmissions and the publicity likely to occur at the time of "switching on" the service.
After forthright discussions, an undertaking was given by the Vision FM rep's that whilst the Bairnsdale area would see significant publicity at the time of launching the service, Sale would experience a "soft launch" without publicity, so as not to confuse Life FM's supporters in the immediate vicinity of our Broadcast area, and those who will also be the recipients of significant publicity relative to our impending test-broadcasts.
However, despite some misgivings, LIfe FM recognises that the big picture is only ever known by God and in this spirit we wish Vision FM every sucess in proclaiming the Gospel via the medium of radio and we will now focus on our own start up date of October 3rd 2003