Christian Radio:

There you are, driving down the road, listening to the Christian music station on your way to work, when all of a sudden the hosts are on, interrupting the music:

“We need your help! This radio station is a listener-supported, not-for-profit ministry, dedicated to bringing glory to God and the love of Jesus to millions of people around the world, every day. People come to know Jesus because of this channel, guys. It’s really changing lives. And we need some everyday heroes to step up and help us keep doing this important work. Listen to this testimonial…”

And then we hear someone talk about how their life has changed, usually because of listening to this radio station, or sometimes even just a story about how coming to faith has impacted them. When the testimonial is over, it’s back to the hosts:

“We need 30 more heroes, guys, just 30 more pledges of $50 a month or more. Can you be one of those 30 people? We need your help to keep on the air and keep spreading hope and life on the airways, day in and day out. Just 30 more people.”

Depending on the radio station, they’ll wait to play more music until they get those 30 monthly supporters. Later, there will be another 50 monthly supporters. Then another 25 monthly supporters. Either someone keeps miscounting, or these numbers of “needed” new monthly supporters are random. During one of the year’s multiple fundraising seasons, it can feel like you’re not supporting Christian music, but radio station fundraising.

And that’s the concern some Christians increasingly have with the business model. Are the high-pressure sales tactics and frequent fundraising drives all a necessary part of providing positive, life-giving music to the world? Or is it something more cynical, or at least profit-motivated?

The line between “non-profit” and “for-profit” seems increasingly blurred these days.

Recently, some large, Christian media conglomerates have come under fire for raking in exorbitant sums of money while giving the impression that they are struggling to get by. That money, in many cases, is then used not simply to pay the bills, but to buy up smaller, independent radio stations and T.V. channels, and to pay a lot of money to the executives.

For example, you may read this job description of a recent career posting by EMF, and be left a little cynical.

The defenders of this business model, however, will say that radio is a medium in slow, steady decline, and consolidation is inevitable at this stage of an industry’s life cycle. Maybe it’s better that stations are being purchased with Christian dollars instead of a PE firm that might use those stations for something less family-friendly?

Regardless of which interpretation appeals to you, we’ll have to start with the numbers and specific players…

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Check them out here or email [email protected] to connect directly with the CEO.

China’s economic woes are, at this point, well-known: massive debt, real estate falling through the floor, low consumer confidence, deflation, and a bad demographic trajectory, just to name a few. To try and jumpstart the economy, China has gone all-in on flooding the world with cheap consumer goods and materials, driving key businesses out in many nations around the world. In response, many western countries are fighting back with tariffs and import bans. China then responds more aggressively via loopholes and increased production, and tariffs are raised around the world…

The Dow Jones Industrial Average has hit a record high this week, amid renewed expectations of Fed rate cuts. The inflation report from July had some good news and some not so good news. Rent is up 5%, auto insurance is up 18%, and though the rate of increase has slowed, groceries and energy are still increasing year over year. If you need to buy a car, however, that is getting easier. New cars are down 2%, and used cars have dropped 10%. The price of gold continues to set records, as it is now well over $2,500/oz, and a single gold bar is now worth well over $1 million…

In many Christian circles, the phrase “Evangelicals for Harris” contains an oxymoron, as many in the typically conservative-leaning Christian sect consider it impossible for a faithful Christian to support the Democrat agenda in 2024, which contains unbiblical advocacy for abortion, radical gender theory, etc. At the same time, a growing number of voices on the center-right and left are saying that Christians cannot support Donald Trump, especially as he appears to have moved left on abortion. This new group, “Evangelicals for Harris” may end up playing a decisive role in the election, however, as the nearly 200,000 person alliance makes waves in the news cycle…

Your weekly chance to test your Bible knowledge! The answer to today’s question may surprise you:

Q: Who are the Zadokim, Zadokites, or the sons of Zadok?

Answer at the bottom

TIPS & TRICKS

Meet Chandler Hallow – Mr. Beast’s Soft-Spoken, Boldly Christian Friend

Influence in media has shifted drastically over the past several years. A top-rated show on Fox or CNN is happy to garner 2-3 million viewers during primetime, while a typical Mr. Beast video on YouTube gets 150 – 250 million views.

New media is media, and there is a lot of money being made, influence being gained, and fame being chased. But one celebrity in new media is swimming in the opposite direction, and is seems to be because of a spiritual awakening. That someone is Chandler Hallow.

“When I went away to college,” Chandler says, in a recent video where he shares his testimony, “I started to stray away from God. You know – doing things I had never done before, like getting into drugs, smoking, drinking, partying…” This went on for some time until he was living on his own after school, still into drugs, feeling very lonely and lost, and yet praying every night to thank God and ask Him to do something in his life. Then one day, smoking in his kitchen and feeling like there was a “cloud of depression” in his house, he says God spoke to him.

“It was one million percent God’s voice,” he says. “He goes, ‘What are you doing?’ and I froze… At that moment, I like snapped out of some trance I was in, and it’s like God just peeled the scales off my eyes.”

Chandler immediately went through his things, and threw away two garbage bags of “stuff,” that he now knew was an impediment to living for God…

• BCA Research says a U.S. recession is coming.

• Christianity Today offers suggestions on how Christians can support their local public school.

• City of Dreams, an Angel Studios movie showing how children are trafficked across the US border, hits theaters on Friday, August 30th. 

• Who’s the newest competitor in the streaming space? Chick-fil-A. (Really.)

• Faith-based tech solutions company “Gloo” raised $110 million in capital.

• Inspiring or insulting? Christians split on Intel CEO’s decision to post a Bible verse alongside a layoffs announcement.