Family Life Communications

Description

Family Life Communications is a Biblical, Christ-centered communications ministry dedicated to igniting transformation by affirming faith, inspiring hope and equipping each person into healthy relationships and growth in Christ.

Their vision is to see individuals, families, churches and nations of the world transformed – as evidenced by individuals living an intentional life in Christ.

History

In 1961, Warren Bolthouse began producing “Teen Time,” a half-hour program produced in the basement studio of Warren and Char’s home on Jericho Road. The program aired Sunday mornings on WIBM. Later, he started the “Happy Day Express” program for pre-teens and began producing 20 hours of weekly programming for broadcast on WIBM.

In April 1966, Warren launched the Family Radio Evangelistic Corporation which would ultimately become Family Life Radio. Broadcast time on WIBM expanded to 12 hours each day from Warren’s basement studio.

In December of that year, a lightning storm torched the station transmitter knocking Christian radio off the air for eight months. During that time, Warren and Char almost lost their home. Warren considered returning to pastoral work, but Char encouraged him to persevere. Ultimately, the transmitter was repaired and they went back on the air in August 1967.

Warren then formed a Board of Directors for oversight and protection of the Family Radio Evangelistic Corporation. And in December 1968, he held a fundraiser to gain $24,000 to purchase WUNN in Mason, Michigan. January 12, 1969, marked the first day of broadcasting on the ministry’s first owned and operated station.

After changing its name to the Family Life Broadcasting System, two more Michigan stations were purchased in 1971 and 1973.

“Sometimes I wonder, ‘What if we’d just stopped with three stations and said we’ve got enough work’,” Warren said. “But we didn’t stop there because the Lord continued to expand the vision. Once we had a station or two going, we knew how to do it, so why stop?”

Family Life Radio expanded west with stations in Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona, in the late 1970s. A few years later, Family Life Radio’s ministry headquarters was moved to Tucson, followed by more station purchases in Albuquerque, Detroit and West Texas.

Today, the network boasts 21 full power stations and 18 translators covering 11 states with a broadcast reach of more than 15 million listeners.