WHY I AM ON THE RADIO!!!

HELLO LOVE- HOW IN THE WORLD ARE YOU???

When I was a little kid growing up in northern New Jersey, probably around 4 or 5 years old, I would head out daily into our backyard at 89 Summit Avenue in Cedar Knolls- go jump on the swing set and for hours at a time play make believe radio station. I remember that I had actually imagined a whole world of music where I was the disc jockey, all of the performers and even the one who did the commercials. I would swing and sing at the top of my lungs not really caring who was watching or even laughing at me while I was entertaining in my state of the art make believe studio. Who would have ever guessed that what I was doing then would actually prepare me for what I am getting to do now?

I have had the chance to have been on the radio since I began my full time ministry way back in 1982. At that time I had the privilege to work with one of the finest speakers that I have ever had the honor to listen to and to learn from- a wonderful man named Ron Hutchcraft. Ron could say more in five minutes than most preachers could be able to communicate in a whole day of uninterrupted sermons. I loved the way that he would talk to his large audience as if he was talking to one man. He did almost all of the talking- but I did a heck of a lot observing and I loved what I saw!

My chance to fly solo would come later in the early 90’s; I used to host a radio show in Akron, Ohio on WHLO AM called “The Cutting Edge.” On Saturday nights, I would huddle in a studio with some of the finest young people that any one individual ever had the chance to know and work with and we would do a live show that mixed music and message and call-ins dealing with the issues that teenagers truly cared about. It was a blast and a pure adrenaline rush as I both wrote for and facilitated this exercise of genuine love over the 3 years we were on the air. I still have the cassette tapes of those precious broadcasts.

When I moved to Cape May County in 1997 to pastor The Lighthouse Church, I was invited to write a weekly column for the Herald Newspaper which I entitled “Speaking In the Light.” Shortly after that personal work of passion began, I was also given the opportunity to do a daily 5 minute radio spot on WJNN 106.7 FM that we patterned after my article. And those who think that God doesn’t have great sense of humor and the knack for sincere sentimentality- might not have appreciated the fact that my program was scheduled to follow my mentor Ron Hutchcraft’s offering every day.

During the season that WJNN was a Christian radio station, I also hosted several different shows in various formats and presentations. I loved every minute of it. I loved the interaction with the listeners. I loved playing music that mattered and would touch the spirit and nurture just when it needed a boost! But I have to admit, there was always a desire to someday get to do what I do on a radio station that played the music that I grew up singing in my backyard. Many told me that it probably would never happen. “I wasn’t properly trained,” some said. “That’s no place for a Christian Minister to be,” others chided. But still I knew that if God put this dream in my soul- it had to be for a reason.

I discovered the answer to my question in June of 2001. As many of you know, radio is a communication business where stations get bought and sold quite regularly. While I was speaking in Australia on a Mission’s trip to young people down under, I discovered that 106.7 had been sold and the format changed immediately. For a moment I felt like I had lost my best friend. But when I got back to the States, after God shut the door- a window quickly opened and by July 1st- I found myself as the new kid on the block on 94.3 WILW. For a year I hosted a live Sunday morning show called “Sunrise…” As the Station gained confidence in me, I soon was on every Monday night, right after the “Geator with the Heater,” Jerry Blavat- doing my own 3 hour show filled with requests and dedications called “Oldies with a Heart.” There I was, doing what I loved to do. I was weekly mixing music and stories and real life situations and getting acquainted with some wonderful listeners who were as loyal to me as I was to them and doing it all with the soundtrack of the greatest hits of all time. What had begun with swinging on the playground had now evolved to swinging on a star and carrying moonbeams home in a jar! Dreams really do come true.

Last October, I got one more huge surprise. In September- 94.3 WILW had begun a relationship with Don Imus whom I had remembered on 66 WNBC in New York City. He was an icon and had ended many a rival’s career on other stations back in the day. Nobody was more shocked than me when I took over the morning slot and “replaced” Imus who really wasn’t connecting with our audience nor was he really even here- living where we live- doing what we do each and every day in our neck of the woods! So quite miraculously “Rudy In The Morning” was born and now for this season- I get to wake up Cape May County with the vision to simply entertain in a positive family friendly way, and to inform and to do so with a heart that truly cares about the people that I am given the privilege to talk to and be with. I want to be their companion so that my listeners feel a personal connection with me, my show and the radio station itself. And of course I get to do it with the music that I love so much and the songs that have become as much a part of me as the blood that flows within me to keep me alive. I don’t know if you know this or not- but God definitely endorses all of us to add some music to our days!

So there it is! A mini history of how and why I am on the radio. Some preachers play golf- I play oldies. But I do so now Monday through Friday- 7-10 am on 94.3 WILW FM to wake you up and get you going with a heart! I welcome you every day as I share my two cents and intense thoughts on “Rudy’s Morning Rant” at 7:15 am. I get to recognize birthdays, anniversaries and significant events on the “Celebration Spotlight” right after the 7:30 news. In the 8 am hour we dig up records that are “So Nice- Let’s Hear It Twice.” This segment features a hit record done by two different artists. And at 8:35 am, I go up into the attic to become “Detective Rudy- Retriever of Lost Oldies” where we dust off a forgotten tune and play it on the airwaves once again. Finally in the 9 am until Rick Rock at 10- we open up the “Rudy In The Morning Breakfast Buffet” where we have fun with oldies by playing as many tunes as we can that relate to that day’s specific topic. (If you are a local business- it would be great to get you on board to sponsor this daily hour!) All in all, I want to offer ingredients that an ipod can’t offer you. I want to put a smile on your face and give you a reason to get excited about your place. I want to offer you the radio experience that I grew up with and unfortunately is slowly becoming something that you can’t get anywhere else. I want to be a disc jockey who knows that I have been given a gift- and I long to unwrap that gift each and every day that I get to play one of God greatest gifts to all of us: the beautiful, beautiful music.
So- if you get a chance listen in this coming week and let me know what you think. You can write me pastorrudytlc@comcast.net and you can hear my show online at www.943wilw.com and you can check out my blog and my website at www.rudyinthemorning.shutterfly.com and I invite you to jump right in and come for a swim and enjoy the whole daily close encounter! I can tell you one thing- I sure do and I thank God for again- making dreams come true! Bye, Bye Love- Hope to see you again soon!