On this day in 1947, our first Gospel radio program went out live on the air.
Henry Brucks and Henry Poetker were roommates at Mennonite Brethren Bible College in Winnipeg in 1947. They wanted to start an English language radio program to share the hope of the Gospel with local people. It was a radical idea for the time. Some of the faculty and students at the college shared their excitement. Others thought it was too costly, too worldly, or too risky. But the Henrys believed God was leading them to do it. After praying about it some more, they decided to go ahead.
Henry Brucks exclaimed, “If this call to radio broadcasting is not from the Lord, then neither is my salvation!”
CKRC in Winnipeg offered them airtime and an annual contract for $54.00 per week. It was a lot of money for two poor students. But they stepped out in faith and signed the contract. And God provided: each week, people donated just enough to pay for that week’s program.
Because the students who began the ministry were willing to step out in faith and follow God's leading in 1947, people all over the world have been giving their lives to Christ ever since!
Like our founders, we still operate on faith today. We still share the gospel of hope through media. And we still trust God to provide for our financial needs through the support of many people like you.
Join us. Help us keep telling people all around the world about Jesus Christ.
In 1947, there were those among the College leadership who thought that the idea Henry Poetcker and Henry Brucks had for a Christian radio program was just too radical. A teacher, Rev. A.H. Unruh, approached the two Henrys with a $10 donation. “I couldn’t sleep last night, and I’m sorry I discouraged you. My wife and I want to be one of the first to support this radio project.”
Shown here: Henry Poetker and Henry Brucks, studying in their dorm room in 1947.
In 2017, Mary (Martens) Wiebe explained why she supports the ministry. In the early years of Gospel Light, her brothers sang in the quartets and choirs. Later, she became a longtime mailroom volunteer. She said, “I like that it’s so far-reaching, with many languages. Especially Russian, because that’s where my husband was from.”
Shown here: John Klassen, Willie Martens, James Regier, and Pete Martens in the 1950s.
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