Number of years ago in Jersey City, a little Adventist boy was visiting us at our apartment. It was toward evening, and suddenly he said, "I must go home to hear my radio program." Curious, I asked him what the program was. He said, "Hi Ho, Silver," and away he went. The world is feeding children on crime and mystery programs and unreal stories, such as "Super Man," "Terry and the Pirates," "Jack Armstrong," and similar programs. During children's most impressionable years, they are developed into little gangsters—so much so that in some communities the churches and law-abiding citizens are circulating petitions to get this type of program off the air.
From J. Edgar Hoover we know the story of the army of young criminals and juvenile delinquents, but what are we doing about it? Do we have any responsibility here? Jesus said, "Feed My Lambs." John 21:15. These lambs are listening to the radio. Are we doing as much as we should to evangelize the children? The greatest feeding period in life is from one to twelve years of age. These are the years that shape the future of the boy or girl. In thinking of evangelism, we too often think only of getting people to turn to Christ before it is too late, perhaps just before death comes. But one child who becomes a Christian at the age of twelve or onward is worth far more than the tottering adult who will soon enter the grave. The child has a whole lifetime before him to become a blessing to others. I ask, Which is the greater work—turning a whole life to Christ, or only a few years, at best, at the end of a life?
I have been burdened for a number of years to do something through the medium of radio to help the children. I asked myself, "How can interest the children? I don't mind talking to adults, but the children are different." At that time I had not heard of any of our workers doing radio work for children. But one day I read an article in THE MINISTRY by Paul Eldridge, and saw how successful his program for the children proved to be. I kept thinking, "I must do something for the children."
The radio station on which I had a- weekly half hour called and asked me if I would be interested in taking another half hour, making my program a full hour in length. I thought, "That is too long for a program." Then the thought came to me more forceful than ever, "Here is your chance to put on a children's program"; so I said, "I will take it."
Many of our pastors have a corner in their sermons for the children in the church service. So the idea came to me of having a children's corner on my radio program. I decided to dedicate the first part of the program to the interest of children and the latter part to adults, thus taking in the whole family.
Our radio program is from 9:30 to 10:30 on Sunday mornings. The opening continuity is the same, then we lead into the "Children's Corner," with organ background of "Jesus Loves Me, This I Know," and a short poem about children. Then I repeat: "Then were brought unto Him little children, that He should put His hands on them, and pray. Jesus said, 'Suffer little children, and forbid them not to come unto Me; for of such is the kingdom of Heaven.' So come now, children, gather about your radio. This is your corner. Join with the children as they sing, 'Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.' "
The general outline of the program is as follows:
Theme: Group of children in studio sing one stanza of "Jesus Loves Me." Then a child recites a poem or gives a musical reading.
Music: A child sings a solo, or children sing duet, trio or quartet.
Story: By evangelist.
Theme: "Jesus Loves Me," by group.
Announcements are then made for the children, with the theme background. Then we have more music to introduce the adult program, and go on into the regular program.
After a few weeks I made a free offer to the children. The response was most encouraging, coming from forty-one different towns and cities in northern and southern Ohio, from three towns in West Virginia, and nine in Pennsylvania in a single week'. It was five times greater than any response I had previously received from adults. The next week the response was about the same. With the third and final offer, the response was about double that of the first week. From these names I am starting a "book-for-the-month" plan for children, starting with Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories.
In this combined program for children and adults, the children encourage the adults to listen, and the adults help the children. All enjoy "The Children's Corner." Interest the children, and you have the parents also. Here is a letter from one of the adults.
"Dear Sir:
"I listen to your program on Sabbath morning [Sunday] and enjoy it so much. On no other program have I heard the little children singing and speaking. How I love to hear them. Tears came to my eyes the first time I happened onto your program and heard their little voices singing 'Jesus Loves Me.' May God bless them and keep them. They sang right into my heart: They brought back memories of when I had my own two little ones with me. They are grown up now, and as much as I tried, I'm afraid have taken the wrong path. Oh, how it breaks my heart. Please pray for us.
"May I have the booklet The Bible Made Plain,' Are there other books you have told about? I am also a lover of poems.
"May I have a copy of the poem about the 'Vine covered Stone Church' and the people going there? You have an effective way of speaking that poem. It almost seems as though you were walking up those stone steps and hearing the bell tolling. Another one I'd like to find, as I used to have it, is 'The House by the Side of the Road.' May the Lord bless all of you."
As to the percent of responses that came from Adventist homes, I would say not more than five per cent. We have received a number of compliments from the various engineers that have worked with us on our program. They say it is the best religious program they have on the station, that it is out of the ordinary, and interesting. I believe they carry all Mutual's network religious programs except the Voice of Prophecy. If a religious program interests the engineer, one can feel encouraged.
I believe that religious programs for children comprise a field we have scarcely touched. Cannot we do more?
