WHY I LOVE SHARATHON

When I think of Sharathon - I think back to where it began for me - in Nashville at WAY-FM in 1997.  It was my introduction to listener supported radio. Before WAY-FM, my radio life was all in secular radio, where we always needed to be first - first in the ratings, playing the new song before our competitor; doing everything first, and best.

Listener supported radio is different. We don’t do it to win ratings; we do it to serve. When our listeners are paying the bill, we naturally need to please them.

Each Spring LIFE 100.3 presents Sharathon - it’s our radio fundraiser. I’ve heard a lot of cheesy radio fundraisers where the DJs are begging for money, - "or we’ll go off the air!"

At LIFE, we approach it all differently. Our staff looks forward to Sharathon! We play back tape of listeners who have stories about God and about Christian music. By sharing their stories, we encourage thousands of people to get God back in their lives. At least, that’s our hope.

Christian radio in general, and LIFE 100.3 specifically, is like a battery charge for the spirit of our listeners. The music is like a trigger to get their lives on track with Christ.

When I think of defining moments, two songs come to mind.

The first one is by Casting Crowns - "Praise You In The Storm". Each time I hear the song it reminds me that life is hard, bad stuff happens but we gotta persevere. And we can do it, with God. Not without God. It’s not a nice, fluffy song - it’s a real reminder about getting through the storm of life.

The other song is "I Can Only Imagine". It makes me think about a real day when I will meet God face to face. "Will I stand in Your presence or to my knees will I fall; Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all."

Last year - Sharathon staff after the final pledge results.

Two great songs with specific messages that drive the thought into your heart.

To me, LIFE 100.3 is like a caretaker of these songs. Through LIFE, we’ve introduced these songs to a million people who otherwise would not have heard them.

I wonder, how would our Christian lives be now, if we had not heard these songs on the radio? What songs would worship leaders in churches be singing had they not heard these songs? How much have these songs touched all of us and made us stronger in our faith?

Sharathon is a time when I’m reminded of all these things and the reason why I personally donate to LIFE 100.3. I work here because I want to be in ministry but it’s more than that. I’m a donor because I believe in what we do.

Sharathon - March 27-28. Two days where we share the vision and share the investment, not just because we like to listen, but so that it’s there for others, too.

One more week to Sharathon!