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Could Family Radio (Harold Camping's Stations) Be For Sale?

C

collegeDJ86

This question has been circling my mind for some time, and came to the forefront after reading discussion on the NYC radio board about 2011 changes... could (or should) we see the large network of Harold Camping's Family Radio stations go up for sale in the near future. Camping has been loudly and repeatedly proclaiming the end of the world is coming on May 21, 2011 - so why would he need a large radio network after that date? His network is rather large, and includes some big signals in large and major markets (KEAR 610 AM San Francisco and WFME 94.7 Newark/NYC the largest that come to mind). These seem to carry high selling value even in a down economy (especially the NYC FM).

If I had potential to buy, I would offer to buy the stations and LMA back to him up to "judgment day", then take them over on May 22.

(On the side, I think it would be a great way to test how much he really believes in his judgment day prediction, but that discussion would be for another board).

What do you think? Who would be possible buyer(s)?
 
In some ways I'd love to see Camping sell off his stations thinking the rapture is coming, but then when it doesn't happen he's left with no platform to broadcast his message from, which would be a good thing to get him off the air. But then the other side of that coin is that if he does sell after he finds out he was wrong he'll have scammed millions off of whoever buys the stations.

Then if he tries to sell and doesn't he'll still have his stations, he'll reset the date for "the end" and still be on the air. The real answer is for his listeners to stop their donations and force him out. Unfortunately that probably won't happen and he'll still find some way to be an embarassment to Christianity.
 
We have a guy in Cleveland named Ernie Sanders who, back in the 1990s, was supporting some idiot who supposedly researched a specific date for the end of the world. He gave the date, and of course, nothing happened. It was funny to listen to his silly show on the run up to and on the "big day", which turned out to be a pretty nice day, overall. Days before, he talked about what they would do on-air "if we're still here". Then on the day of... he already gave up on it happening even before 5:00pm. I thought, he still had over 7 hours to go, but his show only lasted until 5pm or so. Then he took calls from some listeners who obviously were friends of the guy who made the prediction. They were saying things like, "Even though he got the date wrong, he still should be commended for all the hard work he did in coming up with the date". How ridiculous.
What he should have gotten was pie in the face thrown by Moe of the 3 Stooges, who was well known on the Columbia pictures lot as being an accurate shot, and consequently saved Columbia money on film stock and pies to throw.
 
Been there, done that. Camping didn't sell his stations in advance of the end of the world in 1994, and when the world obstinately persisted in existing in spite of ol' Harold, he kept right on broadcasting more or less as though nothing had happened.

(One can argue that the 1994 non-apocalypse helped to drain off some of Camping's support, leading him to sell off FM signals in Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco and Sacramento again much later on, but I'm not sure how direct a connection one can draw.)

There is a very long history in America of millennialists and apocalyptic preachers, going well back into the early 19th century. The part of upstate New York where I live was once widely known as the "Burnt-Over District," so named for the hellfire and brimstone preaching that prevailed here in that era.

Camping's schtick follows a direct line from those preachers two centuries ago; the only difference is that instead of a revival tent, he has a network of radio stations.

History suggests he'll lose some, but far from all, of his followers when the "end times" fail to materialize in a couple of years. Given that he appears to be running his network of stations on very little debt, perhaps none at all, and that the ongoing operating expenses are relatively small, it seems likely that he'll be able to keep going long after the world once again ceases to end.
 
It's unfortunate that Mr. Camping insists on defying the Bible and trying to tell us when the world will end. Camping only makes the Lord's church look foolish and puts a stumbling block to non-believers to come to Christ as they think he's some sort of a "kook". The rapture of the church or the end could happen right now as I'm typing this, or one thousand years from now with a twinkling of an eye. God will rapture up his church when God is ready to do it and not a moment before. We aren't to be wasting our time trying to specular on when that day will be. It's enough to know it is coming and obviously, as each day passes we get closer to that date, when ever it may be. So let us, not get caught up in this silly and foolish speculation. Rather, we as the church and followers of the living Christ, should be even more focused on bringing the love and grace of Christ to the hurting world so those who do not know Jesus as Lord and Savior will have the opportunity make that faith commitment to Christ before the real end does happen.
 
This is a discussion that eventually leads to some collisions of theology, not just collisions of radio personalities.

This "adventist" thinking on setting dates for the end of the world is probably a rather North American invention. (It has been evangelized to other parts of the world.)

The whole "left behind when the earth ends" is also probably a rather North american invention. (it, too, has been evangelized over to other parts of the world.)

There is an enduring theological view that rather than the earth destroyed, we will see "a new heaven and a new earth". Is there a refurbished earth in the plans as opposed to a destroyed earth? As your pastor what they really teach on this topic in your church's seminary.

We laugh at Mr. camping. He just doesn't understand.

Others laugh as US. WE just don't understand.

So we are back to the question we always find at the bottom of the bucket when we start sorting out where radio fits into the world of church and faith. Do we understand our world of church and faith.
 
johnbasalla said:
We have a guy in Cleveland named Ernie Sanders who, back in the 1990s, was supporting some idiot who supposedly researched a specific date for the end of the world. He gave the date, and of course, nothing happened. It was funny to listen to his silly show on the run up to and on the "big day", which turned out to be a pretty nice day, overall. Days before, he talked about what they would do on-air "if we're still here". Then on the day of... he already gave up on it happening even before 5:00pm. I thought, he still had over 7 hours to go, but his show only lasted until 5pm or so. Then he took calls from some listeners who obviously were friends of the guy who made the prediction. They were saying things like, "Even though he got the date wrong, he still should be commended for all the hard work he did in coming up with the date". How ridiculous.
What he should have gotten was pie in the face thrown by Moe of the 3 Stooges, who was well known on the Columbia pictures lot as being an accurate shot, and consequently saved Columbia money on film stock and pies to throw.
Click to expand...

As far as the 5pm "give-up," maybe it was based on Jerusalem time....by then it would have been midnight there, and a new day/date.

If Jesus Himself said "nobody knows the day," I say, let's listen to Him, shall we? He said the day shall come as a thief in the night....in other words, when we least expect. Hey it could be the day prior to Harold's "day"....could be a day later....could be in 1 minute.

We *are* supposed to watch (beware), however, and treat each day as the Rapture/Lord's day could come at any time.

cd
 
cd637299 said:
As far as the 5pm "give-up," maybe it was based on Jerusalem time....by then it would have been midnight there, and a new day/date.

If Jesus Himself said "nobody knows the day," I say, let's listen to Him, shall we? He said the day shall come as a thief in the night....in other words, when we least expect. Hey it could be the day prior to Harold's "day"....could be a day later....could be in 1 minute.

We *are* supposed to watch (beware), however, and treat each day as the Rapture/Lord's day could come at any time.

cd
Click to expand...
If this were Facebook, I'd "like" your comment. :)
 
His predictions are also being propagated all over the world since Family Radio also owns WYFR and broadcasting all over the world by Short Wave. As for his setting dates, I downloaded a extensive book on his prophecies and I felt it had enough error to be ignored.

As for prophecy, I listen to Hal Lindsey on TV and like his wait and see approach to prophecy. If you are a student of prophecy, this is the best approach since this way you won't be surprised when Christ comes. God is in all the occurrences that happen throughout the world and the rapture will come in God's time and order of events.
 
Lindsey may not set exact dates, but he has set time frames (Jesus will return in the 70's, 80's, 90's, etc.) which to me is just as bad. So I really don't have any confidence in him either.

I have yet to see any so-called "prophecy expert" admit when they're wrong. I believe Jesus will return, but like Yogi Berra said it ain't over till it's over.
 
xmusicmatt said:
I'll gladly program Camping's stations with my Christian CHR/Rock format =) One can dream.
Click to expand...

Just think if any of Camping's stations became Christian rock, some of his followers would probably think that the Rapture HAS happened and they've been left behind. :D

Here's an idea for the first day: Make it nothing but Larry Norman or DC Talk's versions of I wish We'd All Been Ready. ;D
 
There's nothing wrong with preferring hymns over praise or CCM. Each person is unique and what they can relate to musicwise will determine what would be worshipful music that they'd be comfortable with. So there's nothing wrong with a Christian radio station playing music for that audience, especially as those folks are paying (donating) their own money to Family Radio to hear that music.

I do not agree with Harold Camping's teachings at all. I only listen to Family Radio at Christmas time for the excellent sacred Christmas music they play at that time of year. I also tune out anytime Camping comes on. Having said that, I also happen to like Praise and Worship and the older CCM music, and some of the mellower CCM of today, but I can understand how younger folks don't get hymns or even older praise music, but that doesn't make those forms of worship music not valid as there are people today, who get blessed by it.

I was reading recently where in Japan, Bach's church music (most of the 1000 songs J.S. Bach wrote were for the Lutheran Church) is being used today in Japan to bring young Japanese folks to Christ. They like the structure and sound of Bach's music and the words preach the Gospel to them and apparently the churches in Japan have had some success in bringing Japanese youth to Christ via Bach's music. So even music from the 1500-1600's can be used by the Lord to bring people to him in the 21st century. That's quite a legacy, 400-500 years after you went home to be with the Lord, in Bach's case, your music is still being used to honor the Lord and bring people to Christ's throne of Grace. Not intended as a shot at modern CCM, but the question can't help but be asked, will people still be listening and coming to Christ 400-500 years from now by what's being played on CCM radio today?

So maybe some of you might want to listen to some J.S. Bach via CD or your local Classical Music NPR station,etc, to hear what's captured the Japanese youth and is being used to bring them to Christ. There's more than one way to worship and honor our Lord, be it DC Talk, Michael W. Smith, or J.S. Bach.
 
lets not forget 106.9 in camden nj


i know a few years ago radio-one tried to buy it and family radio turned its bid down and from what i heard radio-one was offering some serious money for 106.9 too
 
What I'd like to know is whether Camping will dare to show his face on May 22nd. He'll probably stay on the air and just change the date, and people will still be gullible enough to keep believing and supporting him. ::)
 
Is CBS buying back 610 AM look at Mr Camping's history in San Francisco he used to be on 97.3 FM before it became KCBS, later KRQR and KLLC 97.3 FM and at one time he owned 106.9 fm Before CBS sold 610 AM and bought 106.9 for Free fm then KFRC and now KCBS.
 
anotherguy said:
What I'd like to know is whether Camping will dare to show his face on May 22nd. He'll probably stay on the air and just change the date, and people will still be gullible enough to keep believing and supporting him. ::)
Click to expand...
Didn't he make this prediction once back in the 80s?
So I imagine he'll be back on air sometime after May 22. Just like last time.
 
Yes, quadraphonic, Jesus was supposed to return (& the world end) on September 6, 1994. Camping explained it away by saying that his study of the Bible was not complete that time.

You're also right in that Camping probably will return, saying he miscalculated.

At 89, he may not live through the shock of either: The realization that he was wrong again, or the thought that he may have been "left behind".
 
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