For 60 years: ‘Get in touch with God. Turn your radio on’

Posted: 6/29/07

For 60 years: ‘Get in touch
with God. Turn your radio on’

By George Henson

Staff Writer

SULPHUR SPRINGS—The radio Bible class from First Baptist Church in Sulphur Springs recently marked 60 years on the air, teaching a weekly Sunday school lesson to listeners throughout Northeast Texas.

The church first broadcasted its worship service on KSST radio in 1947. A group of laymen in the congregation were so excited about the venture that one week later, the “Busy Men’s Class” decided to go on the air, as well.

Shortly thereafter, another men’s class wanted to also broadcast their lessons, but since they both met at the same time, there was a conflict. In short order, they worked out a deal where the classes would alternate Sundays on the air. Each class paid the $12.24 required for the airtime on their Sunday. Every class member donated a quarter—a sum later increased to $1.

The classes later merged into one department, but they each retained their identities.

Charlie Charles, a class president for a time, said the broadcast has not missed a single Sunday in 60 years.

One Sunday decades ago, an ice storm was so severe that the church cancelled worship services. The church had tapes of past Sundays on hand in case of emergencies such as this, but the radio Bible class had not a similar provision. Charles and the teacher for the week met at the church, and the pair made sure that their faithful listeners still got their weekly dose of Bible study.

The class still has many faithful listeners within the bandwidth’s reach. “That class reaches out to so many people,” Charles said. “I visit so many nursing homes on Saturday mornings, and those people look forward to seeing me and talking about the broadcasts.”

John Sharber, one of the three teachers currently rotating for the Sunday morning broadcasts, concurred. “We minister to the people who are sick, those who can’t go to church and sit in a pew for an hour, and those who can’t come for any number of reasons,” he said.

Since 2005, the class also has broadcasted on local cable television. The class bought all the equipment necessary for the broadcast, and at that time the church began paying for the airtime. Until that time, the class had paid all its own expenses.

Charles and Gordon Ford, director of the class more than 20 years, say that while those involved are serious about the broadcasts, it is not a polished production.

“There’s no practice, so mistakes are made,” Gordon admitted.

“But I think that’s why people like to watch and listen—they know nothing is staged,” Charles added.

The class—which once drew up to 100—now numbers about 40, and that includes wives, who were allowed to join about five years ago. Some who used to attend are now listeners, but they retained the desire to keep the ministry going.

“Some are not able to come anymore because of health reasons, but they send money up here to support the ministry,” Gordon said.

The ministry is a reflection of that desire to reach out, he added.

“This church is sort of unusual. It’s 150 years old, and all through that time, it’s been blessed financially, been blessed with leadership and with talent, and it’s been very mission-minded. And I think that mission-mindedness is why it’s been blessed the way it has,” he said.

For as long as anyone can remember, “Every Day with Jesus” has been the class theme song, and it is sung every Sunday.

“We sing old songs, and people still like those,” Sharber said.

“It’s amazing the people you see around town that can’t wait ’til that broadcast comes on on Sunday,” he said.

The television broadcast added a new element to things, he added.

“Some waited for years to see the people they had been listening to for so many years,” Sharber said.

Buel Berry, a teacher in the class for 24 years, concurred that the class gave the class and church a wider scope than they could have imagined. When he helped with the census in 1990 and 2000, he recalled knocking on a door and starting to introduce himself, only to be stopped in mid-sentence with: “I know who you are; I listen to you every Sunday.”

Berry also knew of dairy farmers who had radios tuned to the class each week so that their milkers still heard Bible teaching.

Now many of the dairies have closed, but a trip to a restaurant is often met with “I listened to you on Sunday,” many times from people who attend other churches.

“That’s what makes this class keep on keeping on,” Sharber said. “People need encouragement and hope, and they find it in that radio or TV broadcast.”