by Chet Jordan
An orchard of pecan trees stretched out before Raul Ortiz as he shook his head in disbelief. For years, he carried a burden in his heart for a full-power radio station to preach the gospel. Raul and a group of laymen obtained a license, received the call letters and frequency WGTT 91.5 FM, and were assigned a broadcast area. Next, they needed to find a location, central to the broadcast area, where they could establish their radio station. As Raul stood at the ideal location on Emeralda Island Road in Leesburg, Florida, his dream was fading fast as he viewed nothing but countryside and a pecan orchard. There was no building to rent and he had no money to build.
After some time elapsed, Raul revisited the area and was surprised to find a church built on the site of the pecan orchard. Amazingly, it was home to an Adventist congregation! He was elated and decided to present the possibility of a radio station to North Lake Church members.
Members expressed an interest, but they had no available money for the project and no experience operating a radio station or preparing programming. Shawn Lathrom, pastor at the time, then remembered someone he met years before. He contacted Linda De Romanett, owner of the Family First Radio Network in Keene, Texas. She was interested in purchasing the station if the church would provide a place for operation.
Engineers determined that the new station could be permanently located at the church with a radiated power of l,600 watts. In the church attic, a room was constructed with adequate electricity and an air conditioner. The station began broadcasting in May 2011 with a 24/7 schedule covering a radius of 24 miles.
Family First Radio Network provides the programing and allows for locally produced programs and advertising. Speakers are largely well-known Adventist evangelists, while a number of time slots feature health presenters.
People are listening and are attending Adventist Churches in the area. Several listeners have been baptized, including Sandra and David Yandoh who joined North Lake Church in December 2012.
Beginning January 1, North Lake Church hired a Bible instructor to follow up with the growing number of interests and contacts generated through the radio station.
Bonus video:Â Sandra and David Yandoh share their testimony from listening to North Lake Church’s radio station.