Difficulties Of Radio Preaching
Near the middle of February the brethren of the Abilene congregation near Statesville, North Carolina, made a very good decision. That decision was to begin a radio program in order that the cause in this section might advance more. The tentative plan was to have a fifteen minute program each Sunday morning with the local evangelist as speaker.
The brethren asked me to check with the station regarding rates and time available. Upon inquiring I was told by the station's manager that they had three Sunday morning spots available, all of them were good, but one of them especially so since it followed a summary of local and world news. When I was informed of these times I told the manager that the brethren would decide upon a definite time and would let him know as soon as was possible. However, before I left his office I was told that he would have to check with the ministerial association and get their endorsement before he could sell us the time. All of the free religious time is turned over to this association to be used to their advantage. When I learned this there arose a doubt in my mind as to receiving an affirmative reply but still there was hope.
In a few days the brethren decided upon a definite time and the station manager was notified. I was told by the station manager that he could not sell us the time, since it was a station policy to abide by the decision of the association. Remember, we were not asking them to endorse the program, only wanting to purchase time to present truth. It seems that the station manager, president of the ministerial association and the radio committee of the association are trying to pass the "buck" from one to the other. They are doing a pretty good job.
Since their original decision I have talked with the president of the association and the chairman of the radio committee. They say the manager is not bound to abide by their decision and the manager agrees to this, but at the same time will not sell us time because the association has gone on record as not approving the program. The congregation in Statesville has a program on this station which is the same type program we planned to present. It is our prayer that this program will continue as it has for the past three years.
Much more could be said but honestly brethren, do you think these denominational preachers, after taking a stand like this, can sincerely preach religious freedom. These people loudly cry for religious tolerance but only to present their views without being molested.
I have always maintained that we could not ally with the ministerial associations for a number of reasons and this is just another to the list. After they try, and seemingly succeed, to dictate in matters like this I do not want anything to do with them. If anyone reading this has had similar experiences with ministerial associations I would appreciate knowing how you dealt with it and if you were able to succeed.