Twenty Years and Growing!
January 2007
The New Year means a milestone for the ministry of WAY-FM. It was back in 1987 when this dream of bringing a youth oriented Christian pop/rock radio station first became a reality. My wife and I first shared this dream of ours in our living room in Fort Myers Florida with a handful of people in the spring of 1985, but it was a two year journey before we actually saw the first WAY-FM sign on the air in this Southwest Florida community. It is amazing to think about these twenty years. The day we flipped the switch in Fort Myers (October 9th 1987 at Noon), we only had enough funds to run the station for 3 weeks. I was completely upfront about our financial situation with the other three D.J.’s we had asked to join the team especially since two of the three were moving a long way from home to join our brand new ministry. The truth didn’t scare them. They wanted to be a part of something totally new and pioneering. God obviously began providing for our needs through the generosity of our early listeners. It’s amazing but some of those individuals and businesses still stand with WAY-FM in Fort Myers prayerfully and financially 20 years later.
During this 20th anniversary year I plan on sharing some of the amazing stories that brought us to where we are today. At the beginning of this year, WAY-FM operates 13 full power radio stations. Presently, the largest WAY-FM city is Denver Colorado. WAY-FM also operates on some 25 repeater stations (or FM translators as they are sometimes called). In addition, there are a number of Christian radio stations owned by other non-profit ministries that air the WAY-FM programming received by satellite. This originates from our Nashville WAY-FM station. When everything is added up, a total of 98 broadcast outlets are being affected. Each of them touching young lives with this Christ-centered, upbeat radio format called WAY-FM. Back in 1987 when I offered up that first prayer over the air at 12 Noon on October 9th, I never dreamed that one day so many people would be listening to WAY-FM throughout the country not to mention around the world via the internet.
I am eternally grateful to the individuals and businesses owners who support their local WAY-FM outreach every month. I am also thankful for the dedicated members of the WAY-FM Board of Directors both past and present. These men and women give a significant amount of their time serving this ministry in so many ways. We are all very excited to see how God will be leading us in the coming years. So many new technologies and opportunities lie ahead. Please pray with us as we seek to have an even greater impact in the lives of today’s youth and young adults.
Bob Augsburg, President
