Divine Word Communications
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Welcome to the home page for Divine Word Communications, a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation. We are a group of Catholics in the Mobile/Pensacola/Pascagoula area who are working together to bring Catholic radio to the Gulf Coast. We invite you to join us!
Introduction There are approximately thirty-five radio stations broadcasting in the Greater Mobile market. One-third of these stations are identified as broadcasting "religious, Christian Contemporary or Gospel" programming. All of these can be objectively classified as conveying "Protestant" themes. Catholic teaching is not being heard over the radio airwaves in the Gulf Coast. We intend to change this, but WE NEED YOUR HELP. Please consider praying for us, volunteering to help us, and contributing to our captital campaign drive. Without your support, we can't suceed. The Organization The Divine Word Radio Project ("Project") is being organized as a non-profit organization that acquires and broadcasts radio programs that teach and explain Catholic truth. Both Catholics and non-Catholics will hear these programs in the Greater Mobile area, potentially reaching 50,000 Catholics and 300,000 non-Catholics. The Project works in communion with Church hierarchy and under Church guidance, but does not speak for the Church in any official capacity. The Project was founded in early 2003, by Jim Thompson, Jr. of Fairhope (St. Lawrence Parish) and Kenny Fann of Mobile (St. Ignatius Parish). At the 2003 meeting of the Catholic Radio Conference, the two met with Gene and Jeaniene Church from Pensacola Beach (St. Ann Parish). The initial Board of Directors are Gene Church, Jim Thompson, Jr., and Kenny Fann. The Project is enlisting like-minded and enthusiastic volunteers to facilitate the Project’s growth and achieve its goals. Outside consultants from the Catholic Radio Association have also been retained to provide expertise and to guide us through its early phases. Services Our initial plan calls for airing programming such as "Catholic Answers Live" or similar programs, on an existing area radio station. The Project will then attempt to raise enough funds to either purchase an existing radio station, or obtain a FCC license and create a new station. Once established, the station would broadcast religious programming that is adheres to the teachings of the Catholic Church, is interesting to the listener, and will nurture the faith of Catholics. As an added bonus, our programming will be an effective evangelization tool for attracting non-Catholics to the Church, allowing them to "eavesdrop" on Catholic truth in a non-threatening way. The Market There are over 16,000 radio stations within the United States, but very few to serve over sixty million Catholics. Fortunately, this is changing - Catholic radio is growing! Approximately 66 stations across the nation now broadcast full or part time Catholic programming. This is up from only a handful five years ago and the frequency with which new stations are being established is not diminishing. In fact, as the Bishops of the United States and North America turn toward the use of Catholic radio more readily, the ministry should experience phenomenal growth in the next five years. The Gulf Coast market is without any such programming at present. Our first stage plans call for us to serve the Greater Mobile area, but we hope, if successful, to broaden our market to serve the Mississippi and Florida coastal areas as well. Estimates from the 2000 Census indicate a population in those counties of almost 1.5 million people. Of that number, it is our estimate that over 100,000 Catholics live in this area. The Co-Chairmen strongly believe that the Gulf Coast market is fertile ground for planting seeds of faith.
Please contact the following:
Gene Church (850) 916-2634
Kenny Fann (251) 342-6357 or Jim Thompson, Jr. (251) 990-0820
Mission Statement
Believing in the value of radio as a medium of evangelization, Divine Word Communications is dedicated to spreading the good news of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. We fulfill our mission by bringing the teachings of the Catholic Church into each and every home along the Mobile Gulf Coast via the radio airwaves. In so doing, we assist the Church in carrying out Christ’s command to "feed my sheep."
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Divine Word Radio is in no way affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church, and does not
speak or act in any official way on behalf of the Church.
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