Life FM Newsletter May 2008 - PDF Version

Another 5 Years?

It’s time to get our licence renewal application ready.

In August 2004 we were issued a 5 year licence - now we have to show the Australian Communication and Media Authority that we have been good stewards of the frequency (103.9FM) and that we are capable of continuing for another 5 years.

This means we need YOU!

We need letters of support, memberships and donations - all sorts of statistics to show ACMA that the Christian Community of Gippsland wants to have a local Christian radio station.
Please consider how you can help keep Life FM on air -

• Renew your membership
• Ask your friends to join
• Volunteer or donate
• Write a note about why you think Life FM should stay on air in Gippsland

   We can fill in the forms - but ultimately—it’s up to YOU!

Easter @ Victory 

Randell (Production - Traralgon) and Deb (Sale) co-MC’d the inaugural Easter celebration at Victory Park in Traralgon on Easter Sunday.

The organizers are hoping this will become a high profile annual event and Life FM was excited to be involved.

Journey of the Cross and Icon 

Yvonne (Admin - Sale) was very excited to be able to participate in the

Journey of the Cross and Icon as it passed through Gippsland. 

From the CoM                

On Friday April 18th the Committee of Management of Gippsland Christian Broadcasters Inc and senior staff met for a Strategic Planning Day in Morwell.  During the 7 hour meeting we discussed many issues, ranging from looking at where we are today through to where we would like to be in five years’ time.

The day was facilitated by an external consultant, who assisted us to focus our thinking on the activities we need to be doing now to hopefully ensure the mission of Life FM is achieved - that being to equip, empower and encourage the people of Gippsland with the message of Jesus through quality broadcasting services.

It was a very productive day, and highlighted the exciting phase we are currently in at Life FM.  With our licence renewal application due to be submitted later this year, the next few months are going to be very busy for the CoM.

If you have skills in governance, or an interest in learning more about what it involves, we would love to hear from you.

Cameron Rash

LtoR: Beth Harris, Andrew Letcher (facilitator), Peter Couacaud, Peter Devonshire, Cameron Rash.
Front- Randell Green (Music Director) and Heather Toms

Robin is Retiring

A love of books as a young boy and an enthusiasm to share those experiences was all God needed to lead Robin Harrison into a career in Christian Bookshops that would last over a decade.

After having some experience in a bookshop in Swan Hill back in the 1970's, Robin got the "bookshop bug" and so in 1997 it wasn't a big leap to move into the Christian Bookshop in Traralgon. Back then the shop was owned by the Bible Society. In 2001 Robin bought the shop and at one stage there were 25 volunteers!

Robin approached CLC International around 2 years ago as he pondered the future of the shop as he approached his retirement. CLC purchased the shop and it officially opened as Christian Bookworld in November 2007.

Robin is looking forward to a well deserved rest - but he says he's also looking forward to helping out at other Christian Bookworld stores around Australia. We wish him well and all God's blessings for his future.

Christian Bookshop and Radio Studio

After operating for six years as Traralgon Inspirational Books and Gifts, in November last year mission organisation CLC International purchased the store and officially launched as Christian Bookworld Traralgon.

CLC manages a chain of Christian Bookworld stores throughout Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and now in Victoria.

Life FM is very excited about this development as it will maintain a Christian bookshop presence in the Latrobe Valley.  The store will continue to be run by volunteers and we look forward to more people joining the team.

Life FM has partnered with Christian Bookworld in Traralgon and we have been able to set up an office and small studio to encourage access and training to our Latrobe Valley supporters.

The Life FM office/studio is open on Tuesdays from 9 till 3pm and you’ll find newly appointed Production Assistant / Music Director Randell Green there if you pop in.

Randell has experience with community radio through a program he presented for many years on Gippsland FM called - The Servant’s Rock Show.  He has been updating our music and recently added 113 tracks to the mix!

 Current Bookshop Team (L-R):

 Back: Jennifer McMahon, Denise Edgar, Trevor Paine, Val Morris

 Front:  Robin Harrison, Stella Morris, Sue Little

Bookshop Volunteers Needed                                                                         

A new era is beginning in Christian Bookworld and we are assisting in the search for volunteers.

If you love chatting to people - especially about God and have a love of books, music and movies - what a great way to volunteer your time to serve God.

Ideally we would like to get people to volunteer for a day a week - but we will be flexible - what about a day a fortnight?

We need people who are willing to open the shop at 9am and close at 5:30pm Monday to Friday and also Saturday from 9am till 1pm.

If you can’t manage the time - maybe someone in your church would be interested in this ministry?

You’ll also need to be able to answer the phone, be accountable for money taken and be enthusiastic!

Call 5174 0147 for a Volunteer Application - or pick one up from the bookshop or Life FM’s main office in Sale.

Maybe you’d prefer to volunteer for Life FM ….you can use the same form. Get involved - let’s touch a heart today for Jesus!

What is CLC? 

CLC stands for CHRISTIAN LITERATURE CRUSADE, more commonly known today as CLC International.

CLC is an International Christian Literature mission comprised of people drawn from many nationalities, denominations and backgrounds. All are dedicated to serving the Lord Jesus Christ and to the task of helping others to know Him better, primarily through the tool of the printed page.

CLC is not just a chain of bookshops, but a ministry which desires to see people's lives changed though making evangelical literature available to all nations so that people may come to faith and maturity in Christ.

CLC Australian Director David Scouler 

with Robin at his farewell dinner 

CLC strives to impact individuals, families, communities and entire nations through their various ministries. Each book centre becomes a place where people can browse, buy and benefit as they discuss spiritual matters.

Local ministries may include:
Reading and lending libraries, mail order programs, wholesaling to other book outlets, special counseling facilities or a place to drink coffee with friends, bookmobiles go where people have little or no access to Gospel Literature to market places, fairs, shows and isolated towns. Book tables are frequently set up in conjunction with local churches.

Publishing and printing is undertaken in areas where there is a shortage of suitable literature. Each country, through its excess finance, invests in the furthering of the work in the local community, nationally or internationally.

Leongatha Fundraisers

Johanna Haasjes and her faithful team regularly hold sausage sizzles outside the Leongataha IGA for Life FM. They also support TEAR Australia and that’s why Johanna has her mobile toilet!

The note in the loo says -

When in the comfort of your home
You sit upon a ceramic throne.
Let your thoughts roam far and wide
For those who have no place to hide
Except behind a bush or tree
Those not as fortunate as we.
Your gift will save them from such strife
And give a better way of life!

So if you see Johanna and her loo don’t miss the opportunity to help out!

Target: $60,000 by June 25th

Our catch phrase is “a better Life for Gippsland” - it is the focus of all that we do to bring the message of the hope of Jesus into the hearts of those who listen to Life FM -
YOU are an integral part in this listener supported ministry!

It currently costs about $470 a day to keep the station running, which includes our site rental for the transmitter and microwave link. Our projected costs for the next year are $640 per day as we continue to grow. So as we approach the end of the financial year - we’re asking God for $60,000 by 25th June.

Your tax deductible donation will help us achieve our daily goal and allow Life FM to continue telling people who “have ears to hear” about His saving grace and the sacrifice of Jesus - through our music and programs we are fulfilling our mission to spread the Good News!

Please prayerfully fill in the form below and return to Life FM, PO Box 1378, Sale, 3853.
You can pay by cheque, credit card or arrange with your bank to Direct Credit to Life FM’s account.
Please make sure you put your name as the reference so we can send you a receipt.
Bendigo Bank, Branch : 633-000 Acct : 116708298

Prayer and Praise

Praise God for His continued blessings
God has blessed us abundantly through you His faithful servants. Praise the Lord for His loving-kindness!

New Members
5 new members including one Lifetime member since last newsletter. Thank you and PRAISE GOD - please pray for more sponsors.

Christian Volunteers to Run the Station
Please pray for God to send those with servant hearts that He would have in these positions

Finance to Run the Station
For the day to day costs and for work still to be done in the studio.

Technical Issues
Pray for those who maintain our equipment and for those working on our studio installation - for those “extra” hours needed.

Protection for Staff
As we move into the colder months please pray for the health and protection of our front-line workers.

Life FM Newsletter January 2008 - PDF Version

How will you rate in 2008

I can remember when 2008 was “the future” - “the space age” - a long way off! How quickly it has come around.

Now that Christmas is well and truly over I think it’s really sad to see the shops trying ever so hard to market the next “special” holiday. So far I’ve seen Easter eggs (on Boxing Day!), Valentines and St Patrick’s Day.

Remember when “special” WAS special. Looking forward to something that wasn’t taken for granted and not appreciated.

We were talking about this over Christmas - how special ham and chicken used to be - now it’s available for daily take-away. Even hot cross buns - bought especially for Easter and how we looked forward to them. I reckon it’s sad for us - but especially sad for the children who don’t have that sense of expectation of things to come. The anticipation of something wonderful - even if it is just a hot cross bun!

How complacent are we then as the return of Jesus approaches?

Is it something you’re looking forward to with expectation of the fulfillment of all those wonderful promises?

Are you ready?

Don’t get left behind…………..

Our Youngest Life-time Member

Meet our newest AND youngest Life-time member - Christy Rash. She’s just 18 months old - so she’s getting value for mummy and daddy’s investment in quality family friendly radio - even if she can’t vote till she’s 18 years old!

Christy is Life FM’s 26th lifetime member. If you are not a member of Life FM perhaps you’d like to
consider joining. We need to keep our membership numbers up to show the Australia Communications and Media Authority that Gippslanders really do want Christian Radio.

Just fill in the form on page 7 of this newsletter.

   Annual Membership fees are $33

   Concession Membership $22

   Life-time Membership $1100

And of course donations are welcome anytime!

Adventures In Odyssey Fans

Meet the van Andle girls - they love Adventures In Odyssey and are very excited that their favourite program is now on weekdays. We received lovely letters from the girls about AIO and so we invited them to come visit the studio.

You’ll hear Bronte on the new Adventures In Odyssey promo telling you when to listen for the program.

New Programs

Riverside Country, with host Jason Farris, features popular Inspirational Country hits from today and chart-topper's from the past, plus the latest Gospel Country news, requests and dedications, prizes, and more! Each week a portion of the show is dedicated to a featured artist. You'll hear tracks from their latest album release, interesting personal info, and short interview clips. Also, once a month we count down the top hits in Christian Country music. Tune in for a great time! Starts Sat 9th February

Veggie Tales first burst onto the scene in 1993 and since then the videos have sold over 50 million copies. Now they are on the radio! So far there’s 13 stories which we will broadcast from 16th Feb each Saturday at 8am and 5:30pm.
Join Larry the Cucumber and Bob the Tomato for a rollicking good time as they encounter different characters from the Bible in their adventures.

Commencing 4th February - by popular demand - we will be once again broadcasting the entire Left Behind Series.

Come on the journey with Rayford Steele and Buck Williams as they encounter chaos, adventure, and faith among those who have been left behind.

Don’t miss Left Behind at 7am with repeats at 7pm and 10pm. Follow the series with the books - available from Life FM partner Christian Bookworld, Traralgon.

Production Assistants Needed

If you love working with audio and computers and desire to be a part of an exciting ministry that is making a difference in Gippsland then send us a letter and resume describing your attention to detail, technical savvy and previous experience with audio editing.

Sarah Possart is a media student at Monash and has been doing work experience with us. Sarah assists in program production and editing.