蜜柚直播

No one knows what happened 鈥� maybe it was the wind, says Ken Kwilosz, the local general manager for tower owner Lotus Communications Corp.

But Family Life Communications Inc. hopes to see the fallen tower restored this summer, says Randy Carlson, president of the ministry.

The nondenominational Christian nonprofit has three frequencies serving the 蜜柚直播 area: 830 AM and 101.7 FM, still on the air, and the downed 88.5 FM.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the national ministry, headquartered near Oracle and Ina roads, has grown to broadcast not just Christian music but programs meant to offer practical and spiritual inspiration.

From a basement studio in Michigan to its 蜜柚直播 headquarters, Family Life Radio now reaches 40 stations nationally and 150 countries online.

In 50 years, this isn鈥檛 the first time the network has suffered damage.

In the first year of broadcasting, lightning struck the station transmitter, taking them off air for months.

But then, as now, the family behind it all had faith.

鈥淎t the end of the day, we trust God,鈥� Carlson says. 鈥淭his is his work.鈥�

So on this Easter Sunday as they celebrate their belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the family waits and prays to see the tower repaired, restored and risen again.

Lightning hits

Donna Carlson, 63, remembers when her father, Warren Bolthouse, started the Christian music station out of the family鈥檚 Michigan basement in 1966.

鈥淚 was 12 when it started, with five kids in a little bedroom upstairs trying to keep quiet for the radio station,鈥� Donna says.

At the time, Christian music was less contemporary and more traditional. Donna describes it as 鈥渉omey.鈥�

Originally, her father was given time on a local radio station, and guests tromped up and down the basement stairs.

During the share-a-thons that still help fund the ministry, Donna鈥檚 mother, Char Bolthouse, cooked meals to keep volunteers going.

After the lightning strike knocked them off air for eight or nine months, supporters returned the favor.

鈥淢y dad had to go out and do construction work to keep food on the table,鈥� Donna says. 鈥淲e had people drop off food. I mean, we were a real charity case for a while.鈥�

蜜柚直播-bound

The ministry started broadcasting out of its first purchased station in Michigan in 1969.

鈥淲e started in Michigan and built up around Michigan and really thought our growth should move into areas of the country that were expanding,鈥� says Donna鈥檚 husband, Randy.

So when Warren took a 1970s trip to 蜜柚直播 in the winter, that did it.

鈥淵ou can imagine, with snow up to your eyeballs in Michigan, he said, 鈥榃ow, this is a beautiful place,鈥欌�� says Evan, the executive vice president of the ministry and one of Randy and Donna鈥檚 three children.

The ministry soon made its headquarters in 蜜柚直播, purchasing a station from cowboy singer Gene Autry and renting space downtown in La Placita Village.

鈥淲e love the natural beauty around here,鈥� says Derek Carlson, 31, the youngest of Randy and Donna鈥檚 children. 鈥淚 have grown up here my whole life, so I love the desert.鈥�

This is their home. On Oct. 12, 2015, Warren died at age 88, following his wife Char鈥檚 death in 2007.

Led by Warren鈥檚 vision, the family 鈥渟aw 蜜柚直播 as a mission field opportunity,鈥� says Evan, 37. 鈥淎t the time, there was no Christian radio (here). 鈥� We saw that as a great mission field opportunity to reach people for Christ.鈥�

An intentional life

Randy Carlson met Donna Bolthouse as a teenager volunteering at her father鈥檚 radio station.

Their parents were friends already. As the Bolthouses launched the radio network, the Carlsons were starting Youth Haven, a Michigan ranch that hosted summer camps and retreats for kids living in tough situations. That ministry now has a second campus around Picacho and is a 鈥渟ister ministry鈥� to Family Life Radio.

In 1996, Randy took over management of the ministry while Donna stayed home with their kids.

Andrea Stroop, 34, remembers spending Saturdays at work with her dad, wandering the office as he put together a show.

In the 蜜柚直播 studio, a second ministry within Family Life Communications Inc. developed.

鈥淭he Intentional Living Center is the brainchild of my dad,鈥� Evan says. 鈥淗e has a real heart and passion for marriages and parenting.鈥�

Every day at 11 a.m., Randy, 64, hosts 鈥淚ntentional Living.鈥� With a doctorate in education, 鈥淒r. Randy Carlson,鈥� as he is known, takes callers from across the country to discuss marriage, family, finances and life. The show encourages listeners to tackle 鈥淥ne Thing鈥� at a time and is carried on many Christian radio stations outside of the Family Life network.

The Intentional Living Center also produces conferences and materials for churches and individuals. Randy has five books 鈥� some co-authored 鈥� to his name.

鈥淭o be intentional every day you have to decide, what are my priorities?鈥� Randy says. 鈥淎nd then you follow through as much as you can, and when you blow it, ask for forgiveness and get back up and keep going. We really feel like we鈥檙e on the same journey as everyone else, and we want to be cheerleaders and encourage people that they can do it if they trust in Christ.鈥�

A family business

Peter Brooks, the general manager at the Midland, Michigan station and one of the morning show hosts, has worked for Family Life for almost 40 years. The Midland and 蜜柚直播 locations are the only stations with hosts. In 2006, the network removed its physical presence at most locations.

鈥淲hen you know someone as well as I know this family, you see the good and the bad, just like you see it in me ...鈥� Brook says. 鈥淭heir faithfulness and commitment has not wavered.鈥�

That has provided consistency for listeners, even as the Christian music industry has changed, Brooks adds.

鈥淲hen you step into this position of being in a family business, your family connections change from just being family to being coworkers and ministry partners,鈥� says Derek, who does video production under the management of his older brother Evan.

No one in the family expected Evan or Derek to join the ministry, but both grew up watching their father manage to make birthday parties while still traveling for conferences and running the network.

鈥淲e are trying to bless other people鈥檚 families, but we don鈥檛 want to neglect our own,鈥� Derek says.

More than music

Stroop, who didn鈥檛 join the family business, is accustomed to hearing her father鈥檚 voice on the radio.

But for her kids, ages 3 and 1, it鈥檚 a thrill.

鈥淭hey recognize his voice and when they hear him, they yell, 鈥楶apa on the radio!鈥欌�� she says, laughing.

They鈥檙e not the only ones. Sometimes at restaurants, fellow diners recognize Randy鈥檚 voice, Donna says.

With a staff of about 70, most of them in 蜜柚直播, Family Life Radio can interact with listeners locally, whether through the station鈥檚 work with nonprofits such as Gospel Rescue Mission or through attendance at local churches.

Across the network, about 85 percent of the ministry鈥檚 $7.8 million annual budget is funded by listeners, Randy says.

The restoration of the 88.5 FM signal is another way to serve some of those listeners. When it returns, the frequency will broadcast more preaching and teaching than music.

鈥淲e see today the opportunity to really fulfill this mission in helping the Christian community to live intentionally with Christ, and we just think that鈥檚 sort of our niche, to present a lot of hope,鈥� Randy says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what we want our mission to be, for people to feel hopeful.鈥�