Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
I have often found that letting God steer my life leads to better outcomes than following my own plans. His timing is what truly matters. I want to share that I love Contemporary Christian Music (CCM), and my family and I listen to K-LOVE radio every day. My wife and I have three kids, and it is such a blessing to be driving in the car and hearing three small voices sing praises to the Lord. Our current favorite is Katy Nicole’s song When I Fall because even the youngest sings along! In early 2023, I began collecting CCM songs from K-LOVE on Apple Music, feeling a need to gather them for something special. I imagined playing guitar and singing these songs on campus to share God’s love, not realizing I was preparing for a future in radio broadcasting.
In the summer of 2023, I discovered a table with an 89.3 WGSU banner in front of Blake Hall at SUNY Geneseo, where I serve as Electronic Resources and Systems Librarian. I stopped to visit and to my surprise, I was invited to come tour the radio station! I had been at SUNY Geneseo for over 15 years, and visiting the radio station had always been a dream of mine. I believed it was off-limits to most people, so when I finally got the chance to tour the station, I was thrilled. The Operations Manager gave me a warm welcome and showed me around, and I couldn’t stop smiling as I explored all the equipment. What I did not anticipate came next when she asked, “Do you want your own radio show?” I enthusiastically said, ‘Yes!’ and asked if they cared what genre of music I played. When she responded no, I replied, “Are you sure?!?”
Following that, my proposal for a Contemporary Christian Music college radio show called Encouragement Hour was accepted, and I began my studio training. Since June 29, 2023, I’ve had the honor of hosting 85 weekly, one-hour Encouragement Hour shows. I’ve even had the joy of giving my wife and children live on-air radio experiences. Through this journey, my family has learned a great deal about producing radio shows, and we’ve all grown in our faith and strengthened our relationship with Jesus Christ.
God had a plan for me in collecting all those songs, and He placed an opportunity in my path that was far better than anything I could have imagined. I always thought that DJs held a celebrity status and that it was impossible for me to ever obtain that role. But we know that with God, nothing is impossible. By connecting my job at the library to an available opportunity in college radio, God used the desire in my heart to share praise music and made a way for Him to use me for His glory and to reach the campus community. This radio hour has allowed me to share my faith more explicitly than I usually can in my job, and it has even led to students recognizing me from the show and connecting with me on a deeper level. Being the host of Encouragement Hour also motivates me to have more conversations with college faculty and staff about Jesus and praise music. Can you recall a time when God used the desires of your heart to draw you or someone you know closer to Him?
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promise of hope and a future. Help us to trust in Your plans, even when we cannot see the way ahead. Guide our steps and fill our hearts with peace, knowing that You have a purpose for our lives. Lord, please show me the path You want for me and open the doors to allow me to follow it. May we lean on Your wisdom and find comfort in Your unfailing love. As Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) reads: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and He will make your paths straight.”
Bill Jones
Bill is the Electronic Resources and Systems Librarian at the SUNY Geneseo Milne Library. He has been an ACL member since 2024 and currently resides in Livonia, NY.