The translator networks: Are they gaining souls?

[Chad-Stevens]

Regarding Calvary Chapel, Family Radio, AFR, EWTN, etc.:

I'm not questioning their theology, their programming, their motivation, or even the ethics of operating a network of translator drones.

I'm wondering if there is there any evidence that the presence of translators has spawned new conversions or adherents to the faith in the towns where they are located, particularly in rural and isolated areas where a change effect could be more easily measured? As their operators likely have little contact with these drones unless something breaks down, do they even know?

 

[kenglish]

I know that TBN's TV "Translator" here can be off the air for days before anyone calls about it. I wonder if anybody watches or listens to these stations.

It doesn't seem like a very efficient use of spectrum, if their listenership/viewership, in a given area, is so small.

A better measure might be in the number of donors and number of phone calls and letters they get from an area.

 

[rbrucecarter5]

Regarding Calvary Chapel, Family Radio, AFR, EWTN, etc.:

These are typical of the "preaching to the already saved" mentality. They enrich believers in remote locations - but reaching the lost? I seriously doubt it. Those frequencies quickly become black holes to secular listeners.

 

[Chad-Stevens]

I'll tell you what made me ask this question. My wife's minister's sermon this past Sunday was chock full of grim sounding statistics from a Barna Research study on the growth of Christianity in the US vs. the Third World. Why is it that a small local church can send a missionary to a remote part of the world and still get, nay, demand feedback from him as to the endeavor, but there's no way to ascertain if a translator in a small town has any audience or is even operating? Is the strategy of fill a place on the FM dial and they will come even relevant in an era of push-button tuning between your favorite 10 FM stations?

 

[rbrucecarter5]

I'll tell you what made me ask this question. My wife's minister's sermon this past Sunday was chock full of grim sounding statistics from a Barna Research study on the growth of Christianity in the US vs. the Third World. Why is it that a small local church can send a missionary to a remote part of the world and still get, nay, demand feedback from him as to the endeavor, but there's no way to ascertain if a translator in a small town has any audience or is even operating? Is the strategy of fill a place on the FM dial and they will come even relevant in an era of push-button tuning between your favorite 10 FM stations?

I will go one step further. I am wondering if the motivation is to increase donations from more people to cover operating costs of the parent station. Or worse - to jam the dial, sitting on a frequency so NPR or non-Christian, or worst of all - a dreaded Christian rock station won't start up?

 

[richllewis]

I know that preaching and teaching programming has its place on some Christian radio outlets. And I imagine that a lot of translator stations carry this type of programming. But does these programs save people? I know this they are giving it a try. But as a born again christian there are other dividend like hearing a different take on the sermon you heard last Sunday by a well known preacher, or something you have not studied that well or at all and have them explain why this has to do with anything, or what leads him to consider in the Bible or study guides that go with this interpretation. And there is a reason that you listen to telling you something about current affairs and how they relate or not relate to scripture.

As to whether they convert new souls to the Gospel, only God knows.

 

[anotherguyTN]

K-LOVE occasionally brings up the number of commitments to Christ that are made in any given month, and they have a staff of pastors who counsel callers. I'd assume this happens with Air 1 as well. WAY-FM will read testimonies of people who have become Christians as a result of their stations as well. But then these are both CCM stations and are more likely to attract listeners who are non-Christians than the stations that are mostly or all talk that are basically preaching to the choir. Granted, a lot of that happens with the music stations too, but they are at least more likely to attract non-Christian listeners.

As far as the number of translators, and also full power stations in some cases, I think that there is a lot of unnecesary repetition in some areas, even with CCM stations. Although I like K-LOVE and am glad they're in my area, I do think they have more translators than are necessary in West TN. Unfortunately a side effect of this may be that WAY-FM is leaving West TN, probably because of K-LOVE and Air 1 getting more support. They have sold their translator in Union City, TN, and the one in Dyersburg, TN has been off the air for several months.

 

[quadraphonic]

There are too many translators out there, loose on the ranges.

I think most networks probably keep letters from listeners who become converted. If someone can go to the trouble of finding their website, finding a place to send the letter/email, and all that. [Hope they don't send it to a local address if it's snailmail though, no one will ever see it.]

But like all ministries, it would be impossible to tell how many of them are really "souls gained" or how many souls are gained outside of the few letters they probably get. It's hard to tell that statistic in actual churches, with people who come in and repent and get baptized and having others watching them and discipling them week by week. It would be impossible to tell if there was never anybody at the church, if the convert was left on their own like they are with translator stations.

Besides, not to make it too simplified, but God is the one who "gains souls," the ministries are just a vehicle for Him (hopefully).

 

[jh]

I will go one step further. I am wondering if the motivation is to increase donations from more people to cover operating costs of the parent station. Or worse - to jam the dial, sitting on a frequency so NPR or non-Christian, or worst of all - a dreaded Christian rock station won't start up?

There's certainly a need to attract donations to stay on the air, but I hope most have an honest desire to provide worthwhile programming.

As far as translators (or full-power stations for that matter) leading souls to Christ... I'm sure He does lead some lost souls to these stations. But I think a more important ministry for these stations is to provide "food" for the saved. I listen a lot to the southern gospel channel on XM (I get it through Direct TV)... and I simply feel better when it's on... but I'm not sure it would have led me to Christ. But all of these stations, regardless of music format or all preaching, can be a big help to many people.

 

[justalurker]

Why is it that a small local church can send a missionary to a remote part of the world and still get, nay, demand feedback from him as to the endeavor, but there's no way to ascertain if a translator in a small town has any audience or is even operating?

Each entity has a different standard to judge their return on investment.

The small local church wants to know that the money is well spent - especially if that money could be better used elsewhere. Part of the feedback is used to raise more money for the ministry ... and since the ministry isn't being paid for by the people the missionary is hopefully ministering to the guys paying want to know.

Distant translators are paid for by those who place them. It is their investment ... if they believe that setting up a satellite or even remote over-the-air translator and walking away and rarely checking back is enough then they are satisfied. Only their managing boards need to be satisfied that their translator is worth the expense.

In some cases (generally not the KLove/etc cases) you do have local people who put up the money for their local translator and they care and listen. Even in the KLove situations they would respond to complaints. It is pretty bad to be off the air and not know it - although there are plenty of monitoring systems available to keep track of distant translators and get someone dispatched.


I find the Barna studies interesting and damning at the same time. I suppose it is apathy to a certain extent mixed with a feeling of superiority that "my town" or on the larger scale "my country" doesn't need missionaries. It is more glamorous to go somewhere else ... leave farm country to do inner city ministry.

"A prophet is without honor only in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own home." Mark 6:4

Perhaps some day we will see missionaries FROM a remote part of the world come to our town and save our neighbors. In a way that is what KLove's and other imported signals have the potential to do. It is a difficult mission ... attracting new believers by being "safe" and non-threatening while actually presenting a gospel that condemns their sin. Doing it all in a way that keeps them listening and not just tuning out because the channel is too preachy. And doing it remotely without any direct interaction and feedback from the person being ministered to. That is hard enough even on a local radio ministry ... imagine that with a nationwide ministry.

Not a simple mission.

 

[quadraphonic]

Perhaps some day we will see missionaries FROM a remote part of the world come to our town and save our neighbors.

Last I heard a year or so ago, Korea sends out more missionaries than any other country, per capita and total. :'(

 

[MikefromDelaware]

Perhaps some day we will see missionaries FROM a remote part of the world come to our town and save our neighbors.

I remember hearing a preacher a few years ago saying that Africa sends numerous missionaries now to the United States. Our church has had a couple visit us.

In regards to translators, the assumption with a radio or TV ministry is to reach people for Christ. Translators are far less expensive than setting a radio station in each city where the translator is located. Sure, as a former radio broadcaster, I'd like to see each city have it's own on fire for Christ radio station, but that would require far more donations.

There are many places that would not have a Christian radio station or TV station IF it were not for those translators. I live in market # 75 Wilmington Delaware and sometimes listen to Family Radio (WKDN - Camden NJ which is the nearest affiliate, they also have a translator for WKDN in Dover Del which I can't pick up) for the music (it's a quieter format than a CCM station which is a nice change of pace) and some of their programs. One feature they air is where they interview people who's lives have been touched and they became seekers of Christ and eventually came to know Christ due to stumbling into a Family Radio station (so some people other than radio geeks scan around the dial at least sometimes). My guess is the various stations do get letters and emails, possibly even phone calls from folks who are blessed by the translator being in their area. Some of those new found listeners be they already saved or newly saved probably do donate to help the cause. I don't agree with all of Harold Campings theology, but given the fact that he's got stations/translators all over America and stations around the world in over 30 languages is testimony to how God can use a radio ministry such as Family Radio or any of the other Christian based radio networks. Praise God for these various radio out reaches. If one person is reached for Christ and it would seem that more than one has been reached for Christ then it's worth it.

It isn't only Christian stations that heavily use translators, secular non-comms do as well. An example Temple University's WRTI - Philly, is a Classical daytime and Jazz nighttime station. They have numerous translators in PA, NJ, and Del. If they didn't, then those communities wouldn't have Classical music or Jazz available to them on the radio. The translator is a less expensive way for those specialized radio broadcasters to serve a larger community with programming that generally isn't available on the commerical stations. This does seem to serve the communities both secular and religious.

 

[Limp73]

I believe to a certain extent that they are...if one has backslided from his or her congregation or denomination in which he or she grew up in as a child. K LOVE and Moody seem to be the ones that have the most repeaters and translators. WCDR out of Cedarville,OH has many translators....mostly in southern OH where many of its residents have WV and KY roots and the congregations they grew up in.

Radio Maria USA seems to be the newcomer in recent years now with 6 repeaters...mostly in LA but a couple in OH and one in TX..It seems their mission is to reach out to fallen away Catholics to return after a bad experience in one's youth as an example.....and to address more down to earth issues which include a dying relative in hospice,alcoholism,marriage issues,using one's given talents...no matter how diversive or menial. Preaching the Gospel to the unsaved IS a given....and a must.....but what I find impressive about RM is that it doesn't stop there....wish more of their touching programs would originate from local studios instead of over the telephone...but RM USA is still the rookie at bat and needs some professional imaging. Hope there are some pros out there who can give them a hand.

K LOVE is all about music. I am very impressed with their professionalism on the air. Audio imaging,engineering, caller participation and I can go on all day with how they do it so well.

My only complaint is that there is very little (if any) local origination since repeater networks operate out of one central location instead of a local studio

So what is the name of that device,computer program or whatever they use for local station ID cutaways and where can you purchase one?
As for RM and other smaller networks like CDR Radio continues to grow...they are going to need one too.

 

[xmusicmatt]

So what is the name of that device,computer program or whatever they use for local station ID cutaways and where can you purchase one?
As for RM and other smaller networks like CDR Radio continues to grow...they are going to need one too.

There is not one way to insert local content/ids on satellite fed stations, it all depends on what the network wants to do, EMF sends signals via their satellite receiver to equipment at the transmitter sites.

CDR uses automation systems at their transmitter sites to insert the local ids/liner content I beleive, controlling it via Satellite.

for instance, the Promise Radio Network in southern ohio has local automation systems at their transmitter sites (media touch I beleive) and they are able to insert local content and liners into their FM stations and control it via internet and send commands via the satellite feed.

 

[justalurker]

So what is the name of that device,computer program or whatever they use for local station ID cutaways and where can you purchase one?
As for RM and other smaller networks like CDR Radio continues to grow...they are going to need one too.

EMF has a small device that is about the size of a pack of playing cards that is used for local inserts at translator sites (where they are allowed 30 seconds per hour for local inserts). Being a satellite fed network helps as the start closure can be sent along with the audio out of band and satellite audio can be muted so very little equipment is needed for mixing. The device is simply connected to the audio wires between the satellite receiver and the transmitter.

Larger stations (full power stations that EMF/KLove has main studio waivers to run out of California instead of locally) would have more equipment depending on local needs. Legally they can do more than the 30 seconds per hour. A fuller automation system would be needed if they decided to use the station to it's fullest capabilities.

EMF is huge ... smaller networks would likely use different equipment or home brew a small automation system that would handle the job. There are a lot of good automation systems out there.

 

[skippertthomas]

If I remember right, the FCC allows :60 seconds of local content an hour on translators (originating from the translator, itself)..... You can at least talk up local events with the Christian communty.. I know Way has the advantage of talking 'regionally' through there main station provider that the translators take their feed from..
On the 'gaining souls'.. The ol' comparision comes to mind, in a question form.. 'Are we gaining souls or gaining financial support and calling it gaining souls?'... We do play to the Choir, most of the time.... It's safer! We shun away from "Theocratic" outreach to call ourselves "Christian Radio" instead of Christians reaching out with Radio to challenge the believer and encourge: "Hope, Truth and Life" to the unbeliever that likes the language we use.... Just my two cents...

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

I have been letting this thread pass me by. Today as I try to pry myself away from the computer screen long enough to attack preparation for a Sunday morning Bible class this week, I just had to read through all the messages. What a rich variety of observations and views.

Christian Broadcasting or whatever name we wish to give it (SkipperThomas observed that naming the genre is a challenge to us.) is primarily the venue of the Evangelical branch of 'the church'. Though you can point me to exceptions, our Catholic friends and our Reformed theology friends and our so called "mainline protestants" are mostly missing from the mix.

Having been the "over-see'er" of a preaching-and-teaching style broadcast operation a number of years ago, I long ago became very aware of this 'lopsided demography' of religious programming on the radio dial, and set about to understand why. Today, I understand why. From a theologian's perspective, it's not a pretty picture. But I don't see any probability that it is going change much. Enjoy it for what it is.

 

[gr8oldies]

I think it's part entrepreneurship (I can start my own storefront church!), a large part showmanship and maybe the demographics or psychographics that respond to more evangelical messages...not to mention a helping of guilt and manipulation. The Catholics are very beureaucratic and not particularly showmanistic (the rosary over and over and over probably doesn't draw a big non-Catholic audience) and the mainliners never wanted to buy the time.

 

[justalurker]

If I remember right, the FCC allows :60 seconds of local content an hour on translators (originating from the translator, itself)..... You can at least talk up local events with the Christian communty.. I know Way has the advantage of talking 'regionally' through there main station provider that the translators take their feed from..

The non-emergency limit is 30 seconds per hour and can only be used to acknowledge support or solicit support. It is not intended as a generic local content slot for weather/PSAs/etc. Emergency broadcasts ARE permitted in excess of the 30 seconds.

47 cfr 74.1231 (g) The aural material transmitted as permitted in paragraph (f) of this section shall be limited to emergency warnings of imminent danger and to seeking or acknowledging financial support deemed necessary to the continued operation of the translator. Originations concerning financial support are limited to a total of 30 seconds an hour. Within this limitation the length of any particular announcement will be left to the discretion of the translator station licensee. Solicitations of contributions shall be limited to the defrayal of the costs of installation, operation and maintenance of the translator or acknowledgements of financial support for those purposes. Such acknowledgements may include identification of the contributors, the size or nature of the contributions and advertising messages of contributors. Emergency transmissions shall be no longer or more frequent than necessary to protect life and property.

 

[rbrucecarter5]

I believe to a certain extent that they are...if one has backslided from his or her congregation or denomination in which he or she grew up in as a child. K LOVE and Moody seem to be the ones that have the most repeaters and

If we ran Christian radio like a business, we would insist on some cold, hard numbers to support that assertion. We have the best "product" in the world - salvation by grace through Jesus Christ. Yet we don't have the foggiest notion of how to "sell" that product to the world, even though the price is monetarily free.

I suspect the numbers of salvations, like the ratings numbers of the translators, are very very low. This is a waste of the radio spectrum. Something that the government is too scared to confront us about, but I guarantee the Lord will. Most Christian stations - useless in terms of new converts. The fault - the old fogies who run them.