ON THE AIR

In my younger years growing up, I remember my dad working for BIG 6 – a radio station located in the mountains of North Carolina. During my time in elementary school, our class would occasionally go on field trips to my dad’s workplace at the radio station. I loved going to the radio station because it had so many neat gadgets, switches, microphones and speakers. I remember the huge wheel they would spin during some radio shows, where people won prizes when it stopped on their number.

Oftentimes, my dad’s work would take him outside the studio, and into exciting arenas like sports casting college basketball games, covering the state fairs such as the Georgia Mountain Fair, as well as interviewing many big time celebrities, song artists and politicians.

My dad had a natural talent for speaking, announcing, and singing. It was only until recently, that I found out that he and his best friend Ray Jackson were considering owning a radio station when they retired.

A few weeks after my dad passed away, it came to be that I would be a guest on Victory In Living Ministries radio show. Ray and Pam Jackson have been doing radio ministry for over 10 years.

In an earlier blog, <found here>, I shared my written testimony of reconciliation which I read at my dad’s ‘celebration’. It would be this testimony that would become the topic for my first radio show. Praise Abba, because there have been so many people that have been touched, changed, and ministered to by it. It is so humbling that just by my sharing the depths of what took place in my own life and my relationship with my father, that many others could relate and find hope.

Today, 5/13/2016, I found out how big my dad’s shoes were to fill. As I sat in the recording studio in Dallas, I realized that for the first time in my life, I was actually going to be on radio. The realization of this whole event never really hit me until I got back home.

My dad, who had a career in radio broadcasting, would have been so proud of me. So I thought, for a few moments, (and even got excited), that I would be able to share this with my dad–sharing with him that I had recorded my first broadcast ever. But then…I remembered…

As I sat there, quite nervous, yet at peace…the show began. Ray Jackson had begun the intro. About 2 minutes into it, the recording software stopped recording. The sound man could not understand why. He started the recording over, and once again…the audio recording stopped. Technical difficulties? The enemy?

I sat there and prayed. I sent Rivkah a quick text message to pray as well. After several more attempts, there were still problems. I noticed that the software he was using was the same software I used. So, I made a suggestion to the sound man and we talked over some things. The next time he started the recording…it worked. I am thankful to Abba that He helped us get the recording off the ground.

The time came for me to read ‘A Journey of Reconciliation’.

After it was over and the broadcast recording was finished, I knew that Abba was in this. In fact, just this morning, as I was preparing to go to the station, I was a bit rushed and distraught. It was right before I left the house that I checked email. I received the most wonderful and precious email regarding just what I was planning on sharing on the radio. Someone had written in, and commented on how they were able to relate so much to what I had shared in my testimony of reconciliation. They emphasized that the message must go out to many, as forgiveness is the key to restoration. There were other things mentioned in the email which brought me such comfort and peace, that I knew Abba was saying—“see, you ARE on the right path!”

To my surprise, as Ray began to record a second broadcast show, he asked me to share a little in that one as well. So, for about 20 minutes, Ray and I went back and forth and shared the word of Elohim together—on the air. I was so humbled to be asked to be apart of this.

Another surprise came when the sound man agreed to burn me CD’s of the two broadcasts. For those of you who will not be able to listen to the radio show “live”, I now have the CD’s which I will post at a later date on our website.

For those of you who are able to (who live in and around the Dallas/Fort Worth area), you may tune in and listen live on KKGM 1630AM on Saturday, May 14, 2016 at 9:00am CST (for the first show), as well as on May 21, 2016, same time (for the second show). The program is called Victory In Living and lasts for 30 minutes.

For those who cannot listen to the broadcast on a regular radio, you may listen live ONLINE by visiting this link: http://www.kkgmam.com/listen-live/

I want to personally thank Ray and Pam Jackson for allowing me to share my heart and testimony on their radio program. Our only desire is for Abba to use us, in whatever fashion, to extend His light, love and His message into the uttermost parts of the earth.

It was only after the time of my split-second lapse in memory, a split-second sadness, in which I had thought my dad still lived down the road, and that I would be able to share this great event with him, that it came to me that he was, in fact, involved in what I did today.

Until today, even as the son of a radio broadcaster, I never had the opportunity to be on radio before. Not because my dad wouldn’t let me, but because the opportunity never presented itself. He retired from radio many years ago–while I was still a young man.

It wasn’t until dad’s passing, that I would find myself doing something which he had such a passion for. Oh, how I long for him to hear his son on the radio. It’s hard to grasp the fact that he will never hear his son on the radio. However, is this really the focus I asked myself?

What is the true focus here? Upon asking this question, it came to me…

The true focus is this: It was because of my dad’s passing, that I was able to really open up to the public, my testimony of our reconciliation. It was only after his passing, that I sat down and wrote out how my faithful Abba restored my relationship with my dad. And if I had not written it, nor spoke what I did at the funeral, I would perhaps not have had a first opportunity to share it with others via radio media.

With that, I say thank you to my heavenly Father for opening up the door to share a piece of my life that was once broken, but is now restored and healed.

Dad, through your passing, you opened the door for me to speak to a greater audience via radio—and for that, I take joy in expressing how our Heavenly Father brought us back together again! And I believe, if you were here today, you would shed tears of thanksgiving right along with me.

I want to dedicate my first radio show to my Heavenly Father and His Son, my Savior and Master, without Whom I would have no hope. But I also want to dedicate it to my dad, who like my Heavenly Father, saw me yet far off—but patiently waited for me to return home. Thanks dad for waiting on me—it was well worth it all to come home to you and be reconciled again. You opened the door for me to come home then, and you opened the door again today—opening the door for me to speak of the great love of our Savior to the masses via radio broadcasts. I always knew you were a success—I am so glad you finally started believing it yourself.

I have never been so proud of you dad, as I was today at the radio station. I wish you were here for me to tell you that. Truly, our Abba turns what the enemy meant for destruction, into something of beauty–for His own good plans and purposes.

Humbled by His Mercy and Favor,

I write to you today,

Derek

‘For I know the plans I am planning for you,’ declares Yahuweh, plans of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and an expectancy. –Jeremiah 29:11