Dec 19-24 Christmas music 24 hours a day!
by Lisa Ann Cockrel
Sleigh bells ring . . . are you listening'? Chances are slim that sleighs go swishing by your front door, but this is the time of year when our anticipation of Christmas gives even the most ordinary days a festive feeling. We decorate houses, light tress, consume holiday treats, and perk up our ears at the sound of favorite Christmas carols.
Ten years ago the appeal of Christmas music
gave the people at Moody Broadcasting Network (MBN) an idea. “We knew there
was a lot of radio ‘surfing’ happening at Christmastime with people looking
for Christmas music,” division manager John Maddex said. Recognizing an
opportunity for outreach, MBN began playing Christmas music for 24 hours a
day the week leading up to Christmas. In between this wall-to-wall Christmas
music geared to attract new listeners, they also air creative reminders of
the “reason for the season.”
“Dramatic vignettes and mini messages ranging from 30 seconds to three
minutes are inserted into the music three to four times per hour. They each
include an invitation to call a toll-free number for information about how
to make a commitment to Christ,” Maddex explained. “Other stations may be
playing ‘Jingle Bell Rock,’ but MBN stations bring our audience the
incarnational message of Christmas with a blend of familiar and newer songs
that many listeners connect to. If they stay for the music, they will also
hear the gospel.”
Moody’s Christmas programming has been so popular that it’s now broadcast
around the world via radio and the Internet. Many people appreciate how the
broadcast helps them keep Christ at the center of their holiday. Listeners
from as far away as Germany have written to thank Moody for this ministry
during the holidays.
Equally exciting are letters like this one from people who started listening
to their local MBN station year-round as a result of their introduction
through the Christmas music: “I wanted to thank you for the beautiful music
you have played throughout the last week. It has really been most enjoyable.
I started listening to WMBI two years ago [at Christmas] and now I listen
all the time. . . . Merry Christmas to one and all!”
MBN also encourages regular listeners to take an active role in spreading
the word about Moody Radio and, ultimately, the gospel. “We mobilize our
listeners by equipping them with invitation cards that advertise the special
Christmas programming. They can pass them along to friends or distribute to
people in their churches,” Maddex said. “We’ve heard many stories of
listeners using the programming to introduce the station to their
friends–many of whom were not following Christ at the time.”
And when people are introduced to MBN you can be sure that they will soon be
steeped in the living, breathing Word of God. Whether it’s through special
Christmas programming, the biblically informed commentary on current events
heard on Prime Time America, Bible Q & A with Pastor Donald Cole on Open
Line, or the daily Bible teaching from Dr. Joseph Stowell heard on
Proclaim!, MBN is reaching hearts with the message of Christ all through the
year.
Only one question remains . . .
are you listenin’?
Reprinted from the December 2003 issue of TODAY IN THE WORD
Moody Bible Institute, Stewardship Department,
820 N. LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60610
All material is copyrighted by Moody Bible Institute
and its contributors.
Published by Moody Bible
Institute.