Life FM Newsletter June 2009   PDF version

We Press On to the Hope That Is In Us...

The 15th of May was the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Life FM office in Ray St, Sale. In May 2001 we were set up in the

2 front rooms of our current abode in Raymond St. We have come a long way since then. Many steps forward, some delays, some side steps as we tried different things - but all the time moving forward. Many people have come and gone during the last 10 years and we are so grateful for the input they have had in getting us to where we are today.

We had great plans to be a self-sustaining ministry BUT God had other plans it seems - to keep us on our knees and to keep Him in the centre of the target of the prize set before us….to reach Gippsland with the words of hope, encouragement and LIFE that only comes from Jesus!

As we enter this time of year we ask you once again to think about why we need local Christian community radio in Gippsland. We know that things have been tougher than usual for many with years of drought, then floods and then fires. Add to that more unemployment and the economic crisis we constantly hear about in the news…..what better time to tell people about the HOPE we have in Jesus.

As the end of the financial year approaches the Board has set a goal to raise $90,000 by 25th June – this will enable us to clear the current deficit and make a start toward next year’s needs as well as  maintain the small growth steps taken through the year.  We want and need to continue to grow Life FM, however in light of current economic conditions we believe it is wise to maintain our current level for now.  Please read on to see how you can help us reach this goal.

Job Vacancies

Community Notices Producer

The community notices you hear every hour on Life FM don’t just happen. We have faithful volunteers who come in and write them up for the presenter to record.  Then they are edited and scheduled.

That’s where YOU could come on board!

We need someone 2- 4hrs per week to prepare our notices for air. You will need some experience editing audio on a computer and some experience with MS Excel.
This is a very flexible position and you can work from the Sale or Traralgon office, depending on where you live.

Program Producer

This position is for someone to prepare our programs for broadcast . The main tasks include:

•Downloading or ripping from CD - programs, promos and spots and editing for broadcast

•Maintaining database of programs and schedules

•Creating daily air logs using broadcast scheduling and automation software

•Ensuring daily logs are verified and ready for air

•Update website weekly with audio and text

This position is a minimum 25 hours per week working from Life FM Sale office.

You will receive training for either position and we are great bunch to work with…

If you’re interested in either position please email deb@lifefm.com.au by the end of June with your contact details and a short list of your experience.

Christian Bookworld Sale

For the next few weeks Station Partner Christian Bookworld is having some great weekly discounts. Stay tuned to Life FM for details - which will also be on the web.

From 1st to 6th June there will be 25% discount off marked price on all boxed sets of cards + TWO clips on your CBW Reader Rewards Card.

We encourage you to shop at Christian Bookworld because if we don’t use it - we’ll lose it! Life FM is very blessed to be able to rent (at a VERY reasonable price) the office space in the back - so we are encouraging you to take advantage of the sales over the next few weeks and make Christian Bookworld a regular drop in spot.

New Program

This Saturday we’ll be starting a new program with an old voice. Well actually not so old!!

Sam Nicita (from Leongatha) was one of the first voices we heard on Life FM back in our “loop days”. He’s now producing and presenting a program we’ve called Sam’s Golden Greats. The first show will be on Saturday 6th June at 7pm. It’s a bit different from some of the music you’ll hear on Life FM - with a slight country feel and a message from one of the many ministers in South Gippsland.

We’re really pleased to have Sam on board again and we hope you enjoy his show. Let us know won’t you!

Feedback

Traralgon - I became a member of LifeFM last year. Thank you for your recent emails when the bushfires were such a threat. Great communication work.  It was sad that LifeFM was down for so long after that.  I pray that everyone bounces back - to God - so that lots of positive things come out of this. All the best. 

Leongatha - I can only listen to Life FM in the car, and at the weekend tuned in a few times as I travelled around. Sarah has the clearest voice! She is a gem! Her bubbly personality shines through and she sure is an asset to the station. I also love Randell and Deb's ads - as well as the vast majority of your other programs. The station has been playing some very appropriate songs with words that reflect community feeling after the bush-fires and all the other confusing / suffering / insecurities / questions etc.

Warragul - loves the programs we do - Thinks Sarah is great - loves that her grand daughter listens to Sarah's program because she doesn't go to church as much anymore.  They felt "lost" without Life while we were off air during the fires and were really glad when we came back on.

Prayer and Praise

Praise God for His continued blessings

We have been blessed with a few more sponsors (an answer to prayer!) in the last few months and Five new members since the last newsletter including one Lifetime member.

Pray for New Members

Our membership is still low and circumstances have seen a decline in regular donations. Please pray for those who  have not re-newed their memberships to be prompted to do so and we ask for the provision of more new members and or donors. 

Prayer for the Administration Team

It’s always a blessing but lots of extra work getting all your wonderful donations processed during Appeal time. Please pray that we stay focused and for the continued health of the whole team.

Pray for the Board

Please continue to pray for wisdom and guidance for the Board as they bring Life Fm into the next licensing period. 

Pray for the Production Team

For good health and for the right people to fill our vacant positions. 

Praise God for the Feedback

We have received great stories of how God is using Life FM - some are listed here and some are anecdotal. We love to hear your stories so please pass them on so we can share. 

Prayer for Ears to Hear

Please continue to pray for those listening to Life FM to be touched by the Spirit of God though the music and the messages. 

Reach Out with Hope and LIFE!

Back in 2002 we were faced with the need to raise a similar amount to get Life Fm on air, now once again we need to look seriously at how we can raise the necessary funds for to continue the good work. $90,000 sounds like a lot of money and it is! You may wonder how your small contribution can help. To help you see how your donation can work towards our goal of $90,000 we've broken it down into some more realistic figures:

If 90 people give $1,000 once, = $90,000
If 180 people give $500 once, = $90,000
If 150 people give $50 a month for one year, = $90,000
If 87 people give $20 weekly for one year, = $90,480
If 174 people give $10 weekly for one year, = $90,480

You can make a direct deposit to Life FM. You can do this as a once-off through the web site or you can set things up so that your bank transfers a set amount once a week, fortnight or month. Many of us wouldn’t even miss $10 or more a week if it’s directly transferred from our bank account. Why not give it some thought. Just contact your bank and ask them to arrange a regular transfer to:

Life FM Gippsland

Bendigo Bank

BSB: 633 000

ACCOUNT: 116708298.

Please make sure you put your name as the reference so we can send you a receipt.

Click here to donate on-line. 

Life FM Newsletter April 2009   PDF version

Easter - A Time Of Renewal

There has been tremendous loss of life, homes, livelihood, and the feedback we have had since resuming broadcast is that Life FM is an oasis in the midst of all the continuous broadcasting of after fire trauma. We maintained our regular schedule and it's amazing how the programs have fit the situation. Things like overcoming adversity, forgiveness (some of the fires here were deliberately lit) etc - isn't it great how God works!!!

At this Easter time I have been reminded once again of those rich verses in Ecclesiastes….everything has a season.  This season has been traumatic, stressful, financially challenging but through it all we are now seeing the signs of renewal. The beautiful shades of green as the new growth bursts through the seemingly dead black earth.

Remember - God could have made everything beige - the colours are for us to enjoy! People are starting to re-build - again very stressful - but some are seeing it as an opportunity to change things…perhaps downsizing a little or changing the style and layout of their home. Some may move on - but that’s what seasons are all about aren’t they?

Through it all - the one constant, never changing reality is that Jesus Christ is with us. He was put into the tomb - dead. But as we see the new growth around us - imagine what it was like as He rose on that wonderful Sunday morning! We KNOW He lives!

Prayer and Praise

Praise God for His continued blessings
We came a step closer to linking the Traralgon studio with Sale last month. Praise God for Ralph who has been so faithful in his promise to help us. This link will enable broadcasting from Traralgon and hopefully more folk can be involved in broadcasts.

Pray for New Sponsors
Please continue to pray that Gippsland businesses will see the value of advertising on Life FM and take advantage of our Recession Buster Bonus!

Pray for New Members
Our membership is still low and circumstances have seen a decline in regular donations. Please pray for those who have not re-newed their memberships to be prompted to do so and we ask for the provision of more new members and or donors.

Prayer for Ears to Hear
Please continue to pray for those listening to Life FM to be touched by the Spirit of God though the music and the messages.

Another Celebration!

Congratulations to Life FM’s Sarah Possart (in the funny hat) on her graduation last month with a BA (Journalism). Sarah’s family were at Monash Uni for the ceremony and the following Monday...you guessed it! we had cake!!

Sarah came to Life FM for work experience in late 2007 and stayed on as a volunteer. She started working in production, preparing our programs for broadcast and 12 months later she started broadcasting community notices. We noticed over those months that a lot of Veggie Tales music and laughter seemed to be constantly coming from the production area….it seemed Sarah had found her niche. In December 08 Sarah presented a Very Veggie Christmas and this year she has been presenting Sarah’s Mixed Veggie Adventures - have a listen Sat 8am and 4pm on Life FM.

Life FM's Easter - Come and Join Us for Easter@Victory09! 

Victory Park in Traralgon will be buzzing again Easter Sunday 12th April from 3pm till 6pm as the real meaning of Easter is celebrated. The photos displayed here are from last year’s event.

This community celebration with a family focus - Easter@Victory 09 - sponsored by the Traralgon Ministers Association is set to become an annual event.

There will be FREE activities in the park and music and entertainment from the Sound Shell. Special guests this year include comedian Beau Stegmann and vocalist Paul Sykes. Christian FMX team "Crossing the Gap" will be displaying their bikes and there’ll be face painting and other activities for all the family. Food and refreshments will be available for purchase.

Children are being encouraged to pick up an Easter Passport before participating in the crafts stalls. Fully stamped passports will mean a free sizzled sausage when the crafts are complete.

Randell Green and Deb Bye will keep things running smoothly and they will be giving away CDs throughout the afternoon.

But wait there’s more!.....Life FM’s Mixed Veggie Adventure presenter, Sarah Possart will be judging the Mixed Veggie Competition around 4pm. Children are invited to bring along their best decorated Veggie Tales veggie and they’ll be in the running to win a Veggie Tales DVD. Be there early to register your veggie!

It's going to be a fun-filled day - don't miss it!

The Shack

A reading of William P. Young's best-selling novel starts Easter Monday in our Radio Drama time slot.

In a world where religion seems to grow increasingly irrelevant "The Shack" wrestles with the timeless question, "Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?". 

The answers God gives to a grieving father, after his youngest daughter is murdered, will astound you, and perhaps transform you as much as it did him.  You'll want everyone you know to read this book!

Sow Seeds of Hope

In the aftermath of the fires, many years of drought and financial stresses, now more than ever people need to hear about the hope that is only found in Jesus.

How will they hear?

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!

You may not be able to spread the word yourself, but you can assist Life FM to do just that! Your prayers are VITAL for us to continue this ministry to Gippsland. Unfortunately, like so many things we also need to pay our bills to stay on air. There is no such thing as a small donation - every dollar is precious and appreciated.

You can make a donation ANYTIME to help keep Life FM running. Please make sure you put your name as the reference so we can send you a receipt.

Bendigo Bank, Branch : 633-000 Acct : 116708298

Life FM Newsletter February 2009   PDF version

It's Not Easy!

No one ever said being a Christian was easy….but you have to admit...it is interesting!!!

It’s also very challenging - as I write this I’m very mindful of the past few weeks of bushfires and terrible loss of homes, animals and livelihoods.  I’m no theologian but I do know that on Life FM we can hear MUCH encouragement through the music that’s played and the messages from sound Bible teaching.

You never know what someone else is going through until you’ve been there and in every situation the only one who can truly understand is Jesus.

Prayer and Praise

Answered Prayer
Praise God for some major steps forward in with our IT situation. We have had to replace 2 computers in the last month and this has been done with a minimum of fuss!

Praise God for His Continued Blessings
Everyday we see God’s hand in the work that we do - it is such a blessing to be part of this ministry!
Thanks for the wonderful letters of encouragement we have received. Praise God for the children who responded to the Veggie Tales competition….

Pray for New Members
Our membership has dropped off recently - the lowest it’s been since 2007. Please pray for those who have not re-newed their memberships to be prompted to do so and we ask for the provisions of more new members and or donors.

Pray for New Sponsors
We understand that the economy is in a bad way at the moment so please pray that Gippsland businesses will see the value of advertising on Life FM.

Celebration!

Yvonne had a BIG birthday - so we (Deb, Yvonne, Robyn and Sarah) had cake!!!

Sarah's Mixed Veggie Adventures! 

Over the past few weeks I've been sent some really wonderful drawings - I got Madame Blueberries from Bronte, Monique, and Hannah - Bob Tomatoes from Jamieson and Christy - Larry Boy and the Larry Mobile from Andrew and Jerry and Jimmy Gourd from Phoebe. And of course, you can see all those masterpieces on the kids' page.

But this final week has been extra special, my Veggie friends. This last week I've been sent so many absolutely astounding works of Veggie art that I just couldn't pick a winner! This was a bit of a problem, so I went to the Life FM big boss, and I said to her, I said, "Deb, I have too many great drawings this week, and I just can't pick which one is the best." So we had a big think together and in the end she said, "Let's give a prize...to everyone!"

Briar from Inverloch sent me Larry as Sheerluck Holmes, in a very spiffy hat and suit.

Becky Ann from Churchill drew Bob and Larry in a beautiful garden complete with rainbow - I love rainbows.

Joshua, also from Churchill sent in a spectacular portrait of our Larry Boy.

Abi from Newborough sent in her gorgeous Bob and Larry, as well as my favourite French Peas.

Sam from Briagolong sent in his very funky Larry the cucumber. 

And Rowan from Cann River won the final week's story for his wonderful portrait of Junior Asparagus!

Those drawings were all absolutely stellar guys - it was a great effort and I'm so very proud to have copies of these to put on my wall and cherish forever. All our entries received a Veggie Tales DVD donated by station sponsor Christian Bookworld in Traralgon, so CONGRATULATIONS!

Thanks also to the Mums who helped get the drawings in to me this week - your emails were very much appreciated also.

Adventures in Odyssey is so cool the team at Life FM have decided it needs to be on the weekends too!  But because I’m such a big Veggie Tales fan I reckon they should be part of the plan too...

So Life FM’s mission was to create Sarah’s Mixed Veggie Adventures! 

Starting the first Saturday in February join me at 8am and again at 5:30pm for an exciting blend of Veggie Tales and Adventures in Odyssey!!! 

We’ll have more prizes - so stay tuned for lots of fun!  Don’t forget to check the kids' page for more details. 

Tough Times

This is the time of year when donations and memberships really drop off - from November to around March is the “dry” time for many ministries. Everyone is thinking about Christmas and holidays and then before you know it - it’s Easter!

We are also very aware that many are “doing it tough” at the moment - now more than ever we need to reach out with the message of hope that only comes from Jesus!

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!

You can make a donation ANYTIME to help keep Life FM running.

Please make sure you put your name as the reference so we can send you a receipt.

Bendigo Bank, Branch : 633-000 Acct : 116708298