April 23, 2010

Source: HCJB Global-UK

"The Full Breakfast," one of the longest-running shows on British commercial radio, came to an end on Easter Sunday, April 4, after 13 years of weekly broadcasts.

"These days commercial stations are trying to take as few risks as possible to keep their audience," said HCJB Global-UK Director Colin Lowther, producer and co-presenter of the popular radio program. "They feel, I believe mistakenly, that the listeners aren't interested in God."

The music-based show first started on West Yorkshire radio station Pulse 2 on Easter Sunday in 1997 and included the popular "Toaster Challenge" in which listeners had 60 seconds to say why they believed in God, and "Thoughts in Shorts," funny commercial-type reflections on Christian themes.

The program, produced by Whistling Frog Productions (a division of the HCJB Global-UK's radio ministry), picked up no less than 28 radio awards throughout the years.

"More than anything we'll miss the listeners. They really are like family to us," said Lowther, who co-hosted the show with Yvonne Oliver, who had become "Our Yvonne," to listeners.

"Most of the listeners didn't go to church, but they still tuned in every week," Lowther said. "We've got a long list of people to keep praying for!"

"One listener, Jackie, called after we played a 'Thoughts in Shorts' to say that what she'd heard had affected her, but she felt it was too late. God wouldn't be interested in her as she'd ignored Him for so long," recounted Lowther. "I shared my testimony and put her in touch with a local church that sent a lady to spend some time with Jackie the following week. Jackie gave her life to the Lord at that meeting."

"Many people would never even consider tuning-in to a Christian radio station, so it's essential that we keep the rumor of God alive on the stations that they love."

Despite this apparent setback, Lowther is still positive about the future. "There are still plenty of opportunities out there to tell listeners about Jesus on mainstream commercial stations," he said.

Whistling Frog Productions continues to produce creative Christian material for mainstream stations, including the "Back to Church Sunday" radio ad which has been nominated for a Sandford St. Martin Radio Award at Lambeth Palace in London next month.

Lowther said the ministry is planning a bigger radio campaign for this year's Back to Church Sunday which is set for Sept. 26. The campaign encourages those who don't go to church to "try it" or "try it again" and find a church to visit on that day.