September 2017: FAITHFUL 500
FAITHFUL 500
by Bill Powell
Let me start by saying that this has been a tough year! Here is a little run-down. Not since 2004 have we had so many equipment failures. I am not talking about old junk breaking down; things that shouldn’t break have given up the ghost. Transmitters rarely fail, yet we have had six failures over the last several months. We even bought a spare for our translators, something we never had in the past, yet in a six month period, all four of our translator transmitters failed- the Deltona one 3 times. We have had several lightning strikes take out other pieces of equipment as well. Let’s not forget the damage from Hurricane Matthew not even twelve months ago.
I won’t bore you with the myriad of other problems like computers, routers, software etc. Thank God we have an engineer with over 50 years of experience and connections! He has saved our bacon on several occasions with spares to use while we had our equipment fixed.
I wrote this article up to this point on a Friday, and this is what happened the next day: Lightning hit the telephone pole next to WMFJ. It fried the transformer, the line to our building, and the meter can along with the meter. The generator would not start, so we were off the air for several hours. All the electric from the pole to the building had to be replaced, and I still have to get the generator repaired. The costs collectively have far exceeded our budget. We have been good stewards for the last 20 years. Otherwise, we would be in big trouble! But we do need your help.
Jas 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 1Jn_3:22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
1Jn_5:14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
We are asking and are not asking wrongly. It is critical that we bolster up our defenses. Our Fall Fundraiser is September 13, 14, and 15. We are calling on 500 people to each give $100 so that we will have the funds to dig out of this hole and be able to handle any future breakdowns. Many times, we have not made our fundraising goal but have managed our resources well through careful spending, despite donations not pledged. This is different. So, during this Fall Fundraiser, we will interrupt programming for only 3 days but will continue asking for pledges until we hear from a Faithful 500. Can we count you in? We have faith that the body of Christ will see the need and provide the necessary funds to keep this light shining.
A Faithful 500 will keep us going, but ideally, we need to invest in more backup equipment that this fundraiser and our budget will not cover. If you are in a position to give a more significant donation and maybe need a tax deduction, please consider us. I would be happy to meet with anyone to show our worthiness and to see your funds put to good use in the Lord’s work.
THE PLAY
By Chris Johnson
“Pro-Right, 90 Slant, On 3”- With those words Coach Bars looked into my eyes, slapped me on the left shoulder pad and sent me running into the game. I relayed the play to my buddy Eddie who promptly turned to our huddled junior varsity football team and conveyed the plan for our next play. The air was crisp as we broke the huddle, and I hustled to the line of scrimmage as fast as I could. My heart was pounding as I knew the ball was coming my way! Time seemed to stand still as my adrenaline surged to heights I’d never known before. (In fact my heart’s pounding even as I relive this story). We were on the 3 yard line as Eddie brought the team to attention; barking out orders and calling for the ball. “Down, set, Hike, hike, hike” and with that it was game on. The crash of offensive and defensive linemen sounded as I took three steps, stutter stepped to the right, and banked hard to the left. Eddie stood tall in the pocket and released a bullet in my direction. The football whirled through the air as if in slow motion, and all of a sudden, in the blink of an eye, I caught the ball and dove forward as three or four guys crashed into me. I’ll never forget the next moment as I looked down to the ground toward my left leg. There, shining like the sun, was the bright white stripe of the end zone! I picked my head up to see the referee’s hands extended above his head signaling a touchdown! The crowd burst into cheers as the man in the press box called out “Touchdown #83, Chris Johnson!” Mayhem ensued as I celebrated with my team never to forget my very first touchdown. What a feeling and it all started with a plan called “Pro-Right 90 Slant on 3.” Coach could have called any play he wanted, yet he called my name and the play that was meant for me.
September is an important month in The Cornerstone’s calendar. It’s the month we’ve set aside to call the play “Fall Fundraiser.” Bill Powell has set in motion a plan called “The Faithful 500” and that means the ball is coming to you! If you’re reading this newsletter the time has come to answer the call and catch the ball. We know the Lord has many faithful servants who desire to do His work and help take the Gospel to East Central Florida and beyond. Hopefully you are one of those God is calling to partner with us this month and make a difference in our community. My touchdown memory will always be with me, but the impact was short- lived in the big scheme of things. That’s not the case with this ministry and your partnership. When you decide to join the ranks of the Faithful 500 you’re making a decision that will have an eternal impact. Everyday people tune in and are encouraged in their faith, and grow closer to Christ. Some even come to faith in Jesus for the first time. The play’s been called! The ball’s been thrown! Now it’s up to you to receive it and take it in for the score! Call us today or go online and pledge your support!
THE SUN ROAD BUILDERS
by Denisha Stearns
We chugged along the Going-to-the Sun Road of Glacier National Park last month in the old, open-roofed Red Jammer bus. My mother, my son, and I marveled at the peaked crowns of the Rocky Mountains and joined in the chorus of ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’. We soaked in the story the driver told of the perseverance, peril, and sacrifice of the Sun Road builders. During eight years of construction, men climbed 3000 feet up the mountain each morning, hung by ropes, blasted unstable explosives, chiseled, and heaved two-ton boulders with crowbars. Some died. Sun Road construction at times saw twenty-one hour days, high worker turnover rate, and supervisors who changed along with architectural and engineering plans. Oh, and I can’t forget the part about the bears they kept at bay.
Yet, on Inauguration Day in 1932, the builders celebrated the twenty years of plans, labors, challenges, and sacrifices.
The road is both an historical and engineering marvel, crossing the Continental Divide with switchbacks, jutting cliffs, and fearfully narrow passes. It has given opportunity to millions and millions of people to view and appreciate the natural wonders of God- lakes high in the mountains, sheer cliff faces, and glaciers they named Rainbow, Two Ocean, and Red Eagle. The project the builders celebrated was truly magnanimous. Did they imagine the future impact the Sun Road would have, where today the park itself can see half a million visitors in a month?
What is under construction today that is just as magnanimous? Maybe Dubailand (in Dubai), to be three times the size of our Disney World? Or the International Space Station, slated to cost over $1 Trillion dollars and be a habitat for one million people? I believe what is more magnanimous than any earthly construct is the very Kingdom of God, whose size and occupant limit remains unknown to us.
If you have given to the ministry of The Cornerstone, prayed for this ministry, or shared this ministry with someone else, you are part of the team helping to build the Kingdom of God, the best kingdom ever! As The Cornerstone conveys God’s Word through its teaching programs or confesses the truth of Jesus through its music, it is encouraging belief in peoples’ hearts for God to reign- growing His Kingdom- and YOU are supporting this construction project! I imagine God’s Kingdom to have its own Going-to-the-“Son” Road. Truly, though, this Kingdom’s future impact is greater than any road through the mountains, theme park, or even habitat in space. Earth and heaven will “pass away”, but the Kingdom of God will never end. Let’s persevere in God’s service- let’s keep building!
FALL FUNDRAISER
by Christina Hutchinson
I’m excited for my third Fall Fundraiser! I just hit my 2 year anniversary mark of working here at The Cornerstone on August 24th. The first month I started working here, I was thrown in to the fire of Fall Fundraiser. I really didn’t know what to expect. All I knew was that I would be waking up before the birds even think about chirping; something I was not used to. I was so nervous the first day of the fundraiser. But little by little, I started to feel really comfortable, and when I became witness to God’s powerful work in our listeners’ lives, I was overwhelmed.
We have had an interesting year with some set backs. We had the hurricane last October, then a few different pieces of equipment decided to no longer function. On the other hand, some really great things took place. I was able to start working full-time in January, and we now have an internet TV channel on Roku, Amazon and Android TV! It amazes me how God has provided for this ministry each and every year. He works through our listeners and shows them the need for this radio station in our community.
We live in a dark world that is growing ever darker, all the while our light is shining brighter! Things are changing right before our very eyes everywhere we look. Here at The Cornerstone we are dedicated to continuing to promote the truth. We are dedicated to nothing other than the gospel. We ask that you would stand with us and dedicate yourself to supporting this ministry, so that the gospel will continue to go out across the airways, reaching the lost and discipling the saved.
