RADIO MISSION OF CHURCHES

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26633, 19 January 1952, Page 8

RADIO MISSION OF CHURCHES

SUCCESS OF SCOTTISH ENTERPRISE “Every national broadcasting service has to cater for every type of listener interest. That is why we get race results as well as school sessions and boogie-woogie as well as church services," states “The Outlook.” “But New Zealand’s school broadcasts are not just given radio because children (or teachers) are interested in that sort of thing. They are organised to teach and therefore are carefully integrated into the school system and very carefully planned. Britain’s 8.8. C. regards religious broadcasts in exactly the same way. Instead of putting churches on their air ‘because some listeners like that sort of thing’ (which is our New Zealand situation*, it integrates the whole country’s radio with the churches’ teaching and evangelising campaigns. “The most striking of these has been the Scottish Churches’ Radio Mission, called the Dieppe Raid of Radio Mission. This was conducted last winter over the length and breadth of Scotland in order to jag people out of their arm-chairs into the active life and fellowship of their local church. All denominations co-operated. But It was initiated by the 8.8. C. itself. Its organiser, the Rev. R. Falconer (who is from New Zealand), tells how as 8.8. C. Scottish Religious Director he planned and carried It through. "We took some 24 men—distinguished and mature preachers—together with younger but proven evangelists, and in effect said to them: “Here is the microphone: use it to win men for Christ and His Kingdom.” And, at the same time, by means of special publicity (including a leaflet to every minister in Scotland), we said to the churches: “During five weeks we hope to bring into the homes of every parish in the land some 60 broadcasts of evangelical intent; use them in the ways which seem best in your local situation,”

‘“lt seemed to. us that only the Church in the Field could reap any harvest sown bv the church on the air—and the reapers would have to be the laity. Accordingly we suggested in all our publicity that they could make these radio talks a starting point in their daily conversation with neighbours, workmates and colleagues. We had five weeks of the finest religious broadcasting Scotland has experienced since the war.’

What were the tangible results—if any? It was a new idea and as such did not penetrate far into church people’s minds and church organisation. But in the few parishes where inspired ministerial leadership had already developed the lay members, there were such results as 30 new members (mostly in their thirties) won for a city church, young people and others joining a first communicants’ class m an industrial area, a return td regular church attendance of hitherto nominal’ members in a semi-rural parish. . . . But, where there was no local ‘lay’ action the only result was higher church attendances during the month.”