Let the excellence of your work be your protest. – William Lane
I think my good friend, John Collier, has taken this advice to heart. How I wish there were more good (as in well done, professional), conservative Christian radio stations! Thankfully, there seem to be some folks willing to lead the charge on this–and Harvest Family Radio(KHMG) is definitely a leader of the pack. John (Station Manager) has run this station since its inception and it just continues to get better with each passing year. There is one tiny obstacle (for most of us) as far as listening to the station–it’s on a tiny island in the middle of the Pacific (Guam)! Fortunately, with the ubiquitous broadband access most of us now enjoy, you can listen to KHMG anytime via the streaming capabilities available from their website.
In an effort to promote a greater awareness and burden for good, conservative Christian radio, and to encourage and inform those who might have an interest in conservative Christian radio as a vocation, what follows is an e-mail interview with John Collier of Harvest Family Radio.
(For the record, the picture to the left is of a new radio station that was recently started on Yap…NOT of KHMG! :-)…I just thought the picture was a good representation of the need for more people to “pioneer” in the field of radio)
Interview
Q. John, let me first say that I still miss you–even after being gone from Guam for almost 7 years now! Thanks for being willing to share a little bit of your heart with my readers. By the way, have they quit feeding you? The latest pictures I’ve seen have you looking awfully thin. But back to the interview–could you give us a little background on yourself?
A. Thanks Dave! You are too kind. Hard to believe it’s been nearly seven years since we worked together. Those were good and profitable times. Let’s see, where to begin. I’m from the Midwest (grew up in the Buckeye state), received my college education in the South, married a beautiful girl from St. Louis, and all my children were born in the Pacific (well, not actually in the ocean, but in that part of the world). My parents were first-generation Christians and we attended the same church all through my childhood. I prayed to ask the Lord into my heart at the age of 5. I had the privilege of attending a small Christian school from 6th grade until graduation. Life today finds me serving at Harvest, going on my 13th year in the ministry here, and if my math is correct, my 20th in Christian radio. Tamah and I have four wonderful children and our house is rarely quiet or boring. Bryce is going on 11 and entering the 6th grade. Bryn is 8 going into 3rd. Brandon will be in K-5 this year. And our baby, Brenna turned 2 on the last day of May.
Q. When did you first take an interest in radio?
A. My first interest in radio was listening to Bob Devine each and every morning as I drove the 30 minutes or so to school. He was real, personal, and creative. The programming was enjoyable and relevant, highlighted by his weekly “man-on-the-street” interviews. These were interspersed throughout Monday’s program (if I remember correctly) and featured excerpts of real interviews with a variety of people at what seemed to be a mall or some other public place. They would attempt to answer his one question for the day. Examples of the questions might be “How do you get to Heaven?” or “What is the definition of Love?” It was powerful to hear the various and searching answers from the many individuals. The feature was challenging and convicting. “How would I answer that?” “Do I know the answer?” And it also showed the need for a witness and clear Biblical teaching. Mr. Devine would usually give a Biblical answer that he would air at the end of the morning’s interviews as he encouraged each participant to search a passage of Scripture for the answer. On top of that, he also produced a weekly children’s program. He was a busy, creative, and motivated man. I later had the privilege of meeting him during a school field trip. That was my first real influence from Christian radio.but it wasn’t until later that I actually was led to pursue radio as a vocation.
Q. What steps did you take to prepare yourself for a career in radio?
A. I was very fortunate to attend a college that was just starting out with a degree in Broadcasting.Pensacola Christian College, and that had a working Christian radio ministry (WPCS, now known as Rejoice Radio). While a student, I began working at WPCS before my Junior year and eventually had on-air responsibilities, etc. My instructor (and also my supervisor at WPCS) John McIntosh was instrumental in the development of honing my on-air vocal skills and announcing. It was during the live “Share-a-thon” times that I was forced to learn how to work behind a microphone in a live environment. I would say that my actual learning experience was more on-the-job at WPCS than anything else. After graduating from PCC, I worked on staff at WPCS for five years and also taught in the Broadcasting department and helped with the launch of the student station, WPCC.
Q. How in the world did you end up in Guam?
A. After a number of years in Christian radio at one ministry, I felt the need to move on. As soon as I made the decision, the door opened wide for my wife and I to serve in Guam.her as a teacher, and I as the Station Manager for a soon-to-be-started radio ministry. We had visited Hawaii the summer before and thought working on a tropical island would be a great experience (who wouldn’t). Even mentioning that sounds shallow, but it was kind of like a “wouldn’t that be awesome”.never thinking it would really work out that way. In less than a year, the door opened up for us to meet a principal from Guam at the same time we were looking for a new ministry. Probably, as I look back, I was a bit naive about it…I should have been much more intimidated about the whole endeavor. But, one door opened after another and we continued to walk through them…and here we are…and still are. Once you live on a tropical island, it is difficult to move back to the cold and snow of the states (especially being from Ohio).I think I would freeze to death! But, I have no doubt that this is where God wanted me and my family. I have had the priviledge of being involved in this ministry, but more than that, it has been an incredible journey. If God has used me in any way over the years, that is great. But, He has surely used this place in my life!
Q. Give us some history on Harvest Family Radio (KHMG).
A. Harvest Baptist Church has been on the island of Guam for over 30 years. For some time, there was a desire for a consistent Christian radio ministry that could be endorsed whole-heartedly. Eventually, a church member and local engineer discussed with the pastor that it could actually be done by Harvest itself. The ball started rolling on all the legal paperwork with the FCC to get a construction permit. The Lord blessed the ministry with the financial ability to completely furbish a studio (a remodeled storage room on the 3rd floor of the school building) and after all the legal documents were approved, construction began in the fall of 1995. That was about the time I came on board to work on the actual programming of the station…compiling music and programs that would fill the day. On March 26, 1996, the station signed on the air officially for the first time. We’ve also been broadcasting around the world for a few years now on the internet. For more information on the history of KHMG, I encourage your readers to visit http://www.hbcguam.net and click on the KHMG menu which has a link to the history page of the radio ministry plus information on recent changes.
Q. Tell us a little about what Harvest Family Radio is like today.
A. Harvest Family Radio is the full-time Christian radio outreach of Harvest Baptist Church on the island of Guam. We currently provide a wide variety of conservative Christian music (music for the heart) as well as a number of Bible-based programs covering everything from finances to kids, education to health and more. We also feature a number of Bible teaching and preaching programs…a few of which we actually produce ourselves: Heart of Harvest with Pastor Marty Herron and Living Redemtively with Dr. Doug McLachlan (part of our ministry is providing these programs to a couple of missionary stations in Micronesia and we are even reaching out to a couple of stations in the states). We also air a weekly interview program that gives information about Harvest Baptist Church and features a special in-studio guest or visiting guest. We also air a daily short program geared towards the students and parents of Harvest Christian Academy. On top of that, we also air the morning worship service of the church live each Sunday. We offer local weather and state-side news as well as updates on any threatening weather situations (the occasional tropical disturbance or typhoon). Surprisingly, we do all that with an extremely small staff. I am currently the only full-time staff member of KHMG. I have one young man (Zach Thompson) who started out by volunteering at KHMG many years ago who now teaches in the high school of Harvest Christian Academy part-time, produces a couple of programs part-time, produces a variety of promotional and special videos for the ministry part-time, and handles any and all other A/V issues that rise up…all of which leads to a very full-time position. All this work with minimal staff is due in part to the reliance on our network-based digital audio automation system, Dalet 5.1e. We switched over from 4.25j in November of 2005. Dalet gives us maximum ability with minimum staffing. The audio workstations run on Windows XP and the on-air workstation has two Digigram PCX9242v2 sound cards, one for on-air and one for production. The production workstation has one Digigram VX222v2 sound card and is also used for production as well as a back-up in case the on-air workstation goes down. The switch to Dalet 5.1e in 2005 enabled me to finally move into the 21st century of digital audio and interfacing, including the ability to log-in and work on clocks and more from off-site (home). Some of our programs are produced in-house on a Mac Pro Dual Core 3 Ghz system running Mac OS X and using Pro Tools LE 7.3.1 We recently completely remodeled and expanded the radio facilities to improve the area for the entire ministry’s (church, school, etc.) network, internet, and voice-mail systems, added a bathroom (including a shower), a remodeled reception area, an audio-visual control room, which looks into a new multipurpose room (used for music recording, ministry small-group meetings, a break room, and audio-video storage). We also added windows and have one of the best views of the island from right here in the studios of KHMG. We are very excited about the new and improved facilities and automation system. We are excited about the opportunity to broadcast around the world through the internet. We are also thankful for the opportunity to provide programming both locally and state-side that we produce at Harvest. I also recently had the opportunity to visit Yap and see the beginning of a new Christian radio station run by Paul Zimmer and Bob Whitmore and built by Dave Arthurs. It will be amazing to see what a consistent Christian radio voice can do on an island like Yap. When I do have the opportunity to travel like that, Zach steps in and covers all of the day-to-day responsibilities of the station. We are thankful for all the wonderful resources, tools, and personnel God has blessed us with. For all of the facilities and for the outreach of this ministry, we thank God. He gave us the resources and tools and it is our job, and our priviledge to use them to further His ministry both locally, regionally, and around the world.
Q. What is a typical day like for you?
A. Well, I sometimes say that radio is actually my “part-time” job due to the many responsibilities associated with being at Harvest Ministries. The “Station Manager” of KHMG position has actually grown to include a vast array of functions, tasks, and responsibilities-some directly related to radio, some related to audio/visual ministries, and some not related to radio at all. Due to the highly computer-automated aspect of the radio ministry, I can be fairly flexible with my “radio work” but usually the early part of my day is involved with obtaining news, recording weather, and then updating and finalizing the clocks for the day. No day is exactly alike, but some days find me recording and editing interviews, setting up and running audio for live programs or chapels, updating and working on web content for the hbcguam.net web page, handling correspondence of various kinds, working with our FCC attorney or local radio engineer, duplicating various audio or video projects for ministry use, taking care of the ministry voice mail system, and more. I’ve been involved in everything from creating radio and TV advertisements for the school ministry (for local media use), climbing on the roof to install a web cam, helping with the HBBI recordings, to setting up office furniture and hanging signs. But to answer your question, a typical starts in the early morning with some brief vocal recording, program recording, log editing, and making sure the radio station itself is completely in order. Then, I can work on a variety of other things (web, correspondence, duplications, etc.) later in the day. But, as I said, no day is alike–especially when school is in session and there are nearly 1,000 students on campus. One thing I have learned (and had to continually re-learn) is that being involved in this specific radio ministry will bring multiple opportunities to serve others…whether it be with the radio ministry itself or through one of the multiple “service-oriented” ministries associated with the audio-visual ministry which flows out of the radio ministry.
Q. What aspect of radio do you like most?
A. I like the LIVE aspect of radio…the interviews and going “live” feel, especially during times when I’m forced to be creative, industrious, and at the “top of my game.” I also really enjoy hearing from people who have been helped, encouraged or blessed by the outreach of the radio ministry.
Q. What aspect of radio is most challenging?
A. Two areas are a big challenge for me: 1) the myriad tasks and “things” that tend to take me away from doing the best “radio” I can do. As I said, I enjoy live radio, but the long list of other things that need accomplished each day tends to take away from the ability to do that type of work with such a small staff or to truly push myself to make KHMG the most impacting radio ministry it can be. It is then that I need to remember that God has appointed my day and each task should be seen as an opportunity to serve Him. 2) It is also easy to get discouraged with the lack of consistent or daily response or feedback. Let me encourage your readers, if you listen to or know of a good, solid Christian radio station that is a help and encouragement to you, be sure to LET THEM KNOW!
Q. Do you have any advice for a ministry or organization who is considering starting a radio station?
A. I would think each situation is different and as I’ve really been involved in helping at the beginning of one station-KHMG, my perspective or advice is probably rather limited. I was also present during the start-up of the station on Yap, but I was more of an observer, watching a real pro, Mr. Dave Arthurs and Paul Zimmer do all the work. I think a source of funding would be important as outfitting and maintaining a radio station is not necessarily cheap. Or, the cheaper it is, the cheaper it sounds. Technology today does make things easier in some respects, but the market is also getting more and more cluttered with technology. An iPod today can store as much as our first automation system at KHMG. Make sure you have a good engineer ready and willing to handle whatever comes your way. Have someone who knows how to make computers do what they are supposed to do. Computers are great when they work normally, but when they malfunction, a higher power is needed. Also, contact with a good attorney to help through all the legal hurdles is necessary. Maybe the best way to put it is this. I can only do what I do at Harvest because I am surrounded by a team of much smarter, talented and capable people. Without them, I would be in real trouble. In any case, if God is prompting a church or indivdual to step out into this type of ministry, He will provide the funding and personnel necessary to make it happen. And I will say this…good local, Christian radio stations are desperately needed.
Q. Lastly, do you have any parting advice for someone who is considering a career in conservative Christian radio?
A. A knowledge of computers is important, but in this day and age…that probably goes without saying. Music knowledge and understanding are valuable. Vocal work is helpful…not necessarily the “big voice” sound, but smooth, conversational, qualities free of overt and annoying characteristics. Record and listen to yourself and critique yourself and then continue to work on improving your vocal ability is helpful. Work on your grammar, language, and writing skills. Finally, volunteer, do whatever you can to get involved NOW…even if it is taking out the trash at the local radio ministry. Be available, be humble, be flexible…help with the sound and A/V at your local church. Three words: available, dependable, and flexible…extremely valuable qualities. I can give you two specific examples of young men who have worked with me on a volunteer basis in the past who are now actively involved or pursuing a career in radio and/or television. Every time you volunteer or help out, you are gaining valuable experience and tools for your professional toolbox. And you never know what tool God is going to have you use for His purpose in the future. In fact, I’m looking for some help even as we speak…. 🙂
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