A radio message changes a father

September 20, 2006

By Gordon M. Johnson

Ever since God called me into the ministry at the age of 8, I had a desire to someday be a radio preacher. I hoped if I ever pastored a church there would be a radio station in the city.

After ministering as an evangelist for several years, I was asked to pastor the Assemblies of God church in Black River Falls, Wis. I hesitated because they told me there was no radio station in the city. But after much prayer, I felt it was God’s will I accept the invitation.

One day my wife and I got the idea to pray God would send a radio station into the city. We prayed for three years. As I was driving near the edge of the city one day, I noticed some workmen setting up a radio tower. I was overjoyed.

I contacted the manager of the new station and arranged for a Saturday morning program at 9. We called it Morning Meditations. Little did we know this program would continue for 33 years.

On a Saturday before Father’s Day, I preached a message on five characteristics of a good father: (1) He is a born-again Christian and lives a good moral life. (2) He leads his family in daily devotions of Bible reading and prayer. (3) He goes to church with his family regularly. (4) He shows love to his family. (5) He provides for his family to the best of his ability.

The next Saturday the announcer came to me and said, “Pastor Johnson, your message last Saturday on the radio really got to me. I realized I was not a Christian and not the kind of husband and father I should be. When I got home from work I asked my wife and our three children to kneel with me and accept Jesus. We went into our living room and knelt and accepted Jesus into our hearts. And we have been so different and happy since.”

After hearing his testimony, I rejoiced. “Lord,” I prayed, “thank You for letting me be a radio preacher.”

Gordon M. Johnson is a retired Assemblies of God minister living in Menomonee, Mich.