Introduction to Share A Thon and Christian Foundation
Jeff Chamblee: First Corinthians, chapter 16, verses 13 and 14. Say, be on your guard, Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous, be strong, do everything in love. Christ is my firm, foundation. The rock on which I stand is faithful through generations. So why would he fail now? He won't.
Jeff Chamblee: It's Share A Thon on American Family Radio. Call now and partner with us at 877-616-2396. That's 877-616-2396. Or give [email protected] and thank you for your support of AFR during Shareathon.
Jenna Ellis Welcomes Tim Wildman to Share A Thon, Discussing AFR's Listener-Funded Model
Jenna Ellis: Good morning and welcome to the first day of Share a Thon. I'm Jenna Ellis. Usually this spot spot is Jenna Ellis in the Morning where I get to go through, the news of the day from a biblical worldview perspective. I get to hear from listeners all across the country, part of our AFR family that, tell me what a blessing AFR is that we can, hear the news, we can think about what's going on in our culture from a biblical worldview perspective. And, and I love it. And so I so appreciate your support because, we do have, we are listener funded and we don't, you know, take any, any money from advertisements and, you know, other things like that. And we are not cancelable, which is also amazing. And so we rely on your donations. And that's why, ah, twice annually we have three days of Share a Thon. And you can partner with us now and give your best gift at 877-616-2396. We'll be repeating that number, across the hour or if you prefer, you can give [email protected] and this morning I'm so grateful to be joined by Tim Wildmon, who I join regularly on today's issues that, he hosts as well. Tim, good morning.
Tim Wildmon: Good morning. Good morning, Jenna. How are you?
Conversations on Florida Weather and the Importance of Share A Thon for AFR's Ministry
Jenna Ellis: I'm great. I'm in the free state of Florida and so, you know, things, things are good over here. We're finally getting into the nice weather in Florida.
Tim Wildmon: Yeah, absolutely. fall is here for a lot of folks and right around the corner for the rest of us. I don't know. Do you ever get fall in central Florida? I guess you do in January, right?
Jenna Ellis: Kind of fall in Florida. The meme is like, a dead palm tree leaf and saying, look how beautiful. That's about it.
Tim Wildmon: Yeah. Well, listen, as you say, we want to thank everybody for listening across the country to American Family Radio. And it is our Share a Thon. It's our fall share a thon. we only do this twice a year in terms of, taking three days out and, bringing our financial needs to our listeners. And they always respond. We do this in the spring and in the fall, and here we are. It's hard to believe we're headed toward the end of the year where we got three more in the last quarter. Right, Jenna?
Thematic Verse: Be on Your Guard, Stand Firm in the Faith, Be Courageous, Be Strong, and Do Everything in Love
Jenna Ellis: Yeah. Isn't it amazing? We have, just a few more months in 2026. This year went, by so fast. And, you know, there are so many things, that are going on in our world and in our culture. But our verse, for this Sharathon is so timely. Tim. it's First Corinthians, 6, 16, 13. It says, Be on your guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous, be strong. This is near the very end of the letter where the, Apostle Paul gives final commands to. To the church in Corinth. So he's talking to the collection of the saints. He's talking to us and telling us, how to stand firm in the last days. And that's exactly what, AFA and AFR are doing.
Tim Wildmon: Amen. But repeat this. First Corinthians, what, 16, 13.
Jenna Ellis: It says, Be on your guard, Stand firm in the faith. Be strong, be courageous.
Tim Wildmon: And do everything in love is what he says.
Jenna Ellis: And do everything in love.
Tim Wildmon: I think that's 14. But anyway, 13 and 14. Be on your guard. Stand firm in the faith. so our theme, folks, this share a thon is stand firm. And that's what we want to encourage you to do in your Christian faith today and every day, is to stand firm, Stand up for what the Bible says. Live out your life so that you will, be a witness to others.
The Need for Listener Support to Sustain and Expand AFR's Ministry Efforts
That's what Jesus said we're to do. Be a witness to others so that they may come to know the Lord as well. So that's what we're doing here. We're standing firm every day, 24, 7, 365, right here on American Family Radio. And guess what, folks? We can't do it without you. We can't do it without you. So we have to pass the virtual offering plate every once in a while and, take up a collection so that we can keep this radio network going. We can, expand our horizons, if you will. We can expand our territory. So here's what we're asking you to do. Make a gift. Be as generous as you possibly can. Every dollar you give to American Family Radio goes to sustain our ministry and to help US plan for the future and to help us budget. Everybody needs a budget. You need to know what you're dealing with in terms of what you can commit to and what you can do. So that's what we're doing here at American Family Radio. If you believe in our mission, if, you believe like we just expressed there from the Bible, First Corinthians 16, verse 13. Stand firm. Stand firm.
Call to Action: Partner with AFR by Making a Generous Donation During Share A Thon
If you want to stand firm with us, let us know. you know, radio is oftentimes in our one way street, it's like, you know, we broadcast and you and I are talking here, but we don't hear back from our listeners necessarily. But this is your opportunity, folks, to say, hey, I want to write you a check. I want to make a contribution. I want to say I'm standing with you as you stand firm. So here's the phone number and be as generous as you possibly can. Here's the phone number to, make your pledge. And we have folks here to take your calls. they're down the hall here from where I'm sitting in the studio. They're here to take your calls here at American Family Radio. And M M, some of them are staff, and then some folks, drove in from around the country to help us answer the telephones during our share a thon. Here's the phone number. 877-616-2396. Call and say Jenna and Tim said call and make a donation.
Jenna Ellis: Absolutely. And why should you donate right now? Well, let's listen to what, speaking of feedback, what, one listener at least has said. I think we have a listener testimony. Adam.
Listener Testimony: How AFR Helps Manage Road Rage Through Faith and Biblical Worldview
Alex: My name is Alex and I'm from Fulton, Mississippi. And I just want to say God help me with three AFR because I have road rage. And if I don't listen to afr, I have road rage bad. So that's the way God helps me.
Jenna Ellis: Well, Tim, I think, a lot of us can relate to that and what a great listener testimony for the morning drive time program.
Tim Wildmon: I hope a lot of us can't relate to that, but, well, well, you
Jenna Ellis: know, you're better, I think, than a lot of us, Tim. But you know, what a great thing to say, you know, focusing on the things of the Lord does give us peace, right? And whether it's road rage or it's all kinds of different circumstances, one of the goals, that I have for the program, that I get to host every day in the morning is to give people things to think about, to grow their relationship in Christ, to understand the times and to put this in practice.
The Importance of Understanding Culture and Biblical Truth to Be on Guard
You know, our verse, being on our guard and standing firm. If we can't identify, what's going on in the culture and point out the biblical truth of that, then how can we be on guard? We'll be defenseless. And so we give a listener so many, opportunities to think through what's going on in, in our culture, how we can share the truth of Christ, how we can be involved, in our Christian life day to day.
Tim Wildmon: I gotta tell you, that's probably the most unique, testimony, I've heard there in a while. Appreciate that, brother, being straight up honest there.
Jenna Ellis: Pastor Jeff Sharif just texted me. If I don't get to hear Tim and Jenna in the morning, I run over pedestrians. So, you know, I appreciate your candor, Pastor Jeff.
Tim Wildmon: Jeff may be looking for another job, especially if he's driving in the church parking lot on Sunday after church there.
How to Donate to AFR: Phone Number and Online Options Explained
All right, here's the phone number. And I know there are a lot of listeners in the south, so we're going to give it slow here. Ready? 877-616-2396 is the phone number to reach us. You call that number, and there's going to be a AFR phone volunteer. Answer that. Right down the hall from where I'm sitting here, you. You will reach this. So we're not asking you to call, you know, some foreign call center in some land somewhere. This is 877-616-2396. You're dialing right here in the good old U.S. of A. If you want to go online, as Jenna said, afr.net is the place to go. You can make a contribution online. Very simply, afr.net, afr.net afr.net I want to thank some folks who've called in. And then Jenna. And then Jenna. You can, If you want to bring up some of the headlines for this morning, we want to thank Rebecca in Winfield. These are people who called in the last hour. Rebecca in Winfield, Kansas.
Acknowledging Donors from Across the Country and the Reach of American Family Radio
Lynette in Fort Scott, Kansas. Brenda in Vanliere Wirt. Let's, see, Vanliere Wirt, Ohio. Brandon in South Tillam, Mississippi. Theresa in, let's see, Theresa is calling in from, Brandon, Mississippi. James in Little Rock, Arkansas. Somebody wrote this down. They wrote Little Flock, Arkansas. I don't think there's a Little Flock. I never heard Little Flock, Arkansas. But there's Little Rock, Arkansas. Little Rock, Arkansas. James in Halton City, Texas, and Charles in Raton, NewSong Mexico. So we truly are, Jenna, American Family Radio, because our folks who support us are from all over the country.
Jenna Ellis: They are.
The Urgency of Giving Now: Ministry Beyond Radio and AFA Action's Role
Yeah. It's truly incredible. And, you know, you may, have listened to Share a Thon in the past. This may be your first Share a thon where you come, to us, in the time, since our last Share a Thon, you know, back earlier, I think this was in April of this past year. so we do this twice, you know, one in the spring, one in the fall. And so you're wondering, well, why give now? what's. What's the urgency? Well, consider the times that we are in, and consider that we, have a ministry that isn't just isolated to radio. This is one of our critical, important, missions, is to bring you the news headlines every day, bring you good pastoral teaching, encourage you to grow in your Christian life. we also do a lot more at American Family association with, AFA Action Speaking. the headlines, Tim. The midterms are coming up just around the corner about one month from now. And, I was just talking to my own pastor yesterday about, an event that we have coming up that, will be to engage, our. Our congregation to make sure we get out and vote our values. And so, we encourage that. We also, encourage good legislation to be passed by those who are elected to the legislature. Good executive orders. So much that we do. you know, so give us maybe a little bit of the background, Tim, of, you know, where AFA started, because I've been here. coming up, it'll be the. The fifth year, which is crazy already, of my broadcast, but I've learned so much about even all of the details that we do at afa.
Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
Jenna Ellis: So since being here, and it's truly amazing.
Tim Wildmon: Well, of course, it started 50 years ago, almost, 50 years ago next year.
The Founding of American Family Association and Radio by Don Wildmon
My dad, was a Methodist minister in South Haven, Mississippi, which is just a, suburb of Memphis. And, God just spoke to him one night and, told him, you know, that he was going to be leaving the pulpit because he was a pastor and starting a new movement, starting a new organization. And, dad didn't know exactly what that was, but he said, yes, Lord, and I will do it. And, then he did leave the pulpit. A lot of people, a lot of friends and family thought, what. What are you doing? you know, you studied to be a pastor. Here you are, you've got a very successful church, and you're just leaving, and you got a family of four Children. Are you nuts? That's what a lot. They may not have said it to him, but that's what they were thinking. but my dad was hearing from Almighty God. And, that's. And, he did leave and he did start what was in the National Federation for Decency, which became the American Family association, which founded the American Family Radio Network, which folks are listening to today. So my dad's calling at the time from God was to help, give Christians a voice in culture and in politics and in government and. And to be. Stand, up for righteousness. You know, Matthew, chapter five. Jesus says we're to stand up for. Sometimes we're persecuted for righteousness sake.
Key Figures in the Religious Right Movement and its Influence on Politics
Right? That's what it says. And that's what, Jesus. That's what my dad helped organize. I got some names for folks that I, know. Some of the. Some of our listeners are going to recognize these names because these were names of contemporaries of my dad in the 70s and 80s who, were called for the same. Basically a lot of the same things. Tim and Beverly LaHaye, you remember those that. Phyllis Schlafly. D. James Kennedy. Jerry Falwell, you remember Jerry Falwell. Adrian Rogers. Marlon Maddox was a broadcaster. Larry Burkett, you remember that name. these are all, some. Dr. James Dobson was a very good friend of, Our ministry helped my dad a lot. So all these. And there are others. I can't recall right now at the top of my head, but all these people were called up to give birth to what the, media called the religious right. They called. That was a pejorative, you know, the religious right. Nutcases across America. And there were millions. They found out there were millions of nutcases, across the country who loved the Lord Jesus Christ and wanted to stand for his values and stand up for the Bible. So that movement really got Ronald Reagan elected, quite frankly, That's the movement that got Ronald Reagan elected. So anyway, that's a little bit of the history of American Family Association, American Family Radio.
AFR's Inclusive Approach to Supporters and the Mission of Spreading the Gospel
My dad's name was Don Wildmon, and he, as I say, he was a Methodist, minister. But our supporters come from all kinds of denominations. We don't, make you check a denominational box before you make a gift to us. If we did that, we'd be broke, right? So, we don't do that. We just ask that people who share our values, share our statement of faith and, want to join with us in spreading the gospel. In fact, we call our, Supporters. Great Commission Partners, Jenna, we call them Great Commission partners. So we believe in spreading, the message of Christ and standing up in the culture for biblical truth, as you say, and you do every day on your show. Let me give the phone number again, and then we'll hear from another listener, and then Jana will come back and maybe hit some of the headlines in the news, because that's what you listen to, Janet, for each and every morning on American Family Radio.
Call for Support and Preferred Donation Methods for Ministry Sustainability
And later on, we'll let Jenna tell us, how she got, you know, the Lord brought her to us. Here. Here's the phone number. 8. This is this phone number right here I'm about to give. You dial this and you make a pledge to American Family Radio. And, we would very much appreciate it and please be as generous as you possibly can. By the way, what we prefer is that you make a gift that comes in monthly. so that's a, you know, a bank draft or a credit card or checking, account, however you want to do it. We can set it up for you. But that's a draf. We are able to know consistently how much revenue we have coming into the ministry so we can know how much we can spend to buy new radio stations, to keep, our radio stations on the air, that kind of thing. So that's what we would prefer. And, you can, for $30 or more a month. A $30 commitment.
Incentives for Donors and the Philosophy of Receiving Donations
More a month, you know, like a third of a tank of gas. So we're talking about here that you can, get a, you will receive a gift from us, a book by my dad. And, also a, what do we. What's a lunch cooler looks like to me here on American Family Radio. We'll send you some free stuff is what I'm talking about. If you make a donation of $30 or more a month or $150 one time gift. But we really appreciate those reoccurring, donations. Here's the phone number to reach us and you'll get a, phone volunteer and they can answer all your questions. We can take your donation or receive your donation. As Marvin Sanders used to tell me, Tim, we don't take people's money.
Final Call to Action: Phone and Online Donation Information
We receive their donations.
Jenna Ellis: The blessings.
Tim Wildmon: That's right. We receive. We don't take an offering. We receive an offering. It's what he used to tell me. Here's, the phone number to call us, 877-616-239-687-76162396. Or simply go online at afr.net if you don't want to talk to anybody. Afr.net afr.net, we're going to take a short time out. We'll be back with Jenna Ellis in the morning. American Family Radio. It's our Stand Firm Fall Sherithon. I'm, Tim Wildmon. We'll be back momentarily.
The Significance of Memorials and the Mission of the American Family Association
Jeff Chamblee: After crossing the Jordan river into the Promised Land, God instructed the children of Israel to take stones from the river and make a memorial. When their future children would say, what do these stones mean? The parents would recount the Lord's deliverance of Israel from slavery and Israel's arrival in the Promised Land. In each of our lives, there are events that ought to be remembered. Events where the Lord moved and delivered us. Whether we use stones, photos, or special celebrations, it matters only that we take time to remember what the Lord has done and pass that testimony on to future generations. Since 1977, the American family association has been informing, equipping and activating individuals to strengthen the moral foundations of America. The Lord has given us many victories over the years that laid the foundation for our work today and into the future. Learn [email protected] hi, I'm Cheri from Long Beach, Mississippi.
Cheri: last November I called requesting prayer for my 6 year old grandson Kai.
Listener Testimony: Gratitude for Prayer and Healing Through AFR
He was in and out of Children's Hospital in Pensacola with an undiagnosed illness. Brother Bert, Dr. Alex and the AFR family of saints prayed Kai was diagnosed and healed and returned to school in January. I can't express gratitude to everyone, afr. God bless you all.
Jeff Chamblee: Sharathon continues on American Family Radio Faithful through generations.
Concluding Encouragement to Stand Firm in Faith and Love Through Donations
So why would he fail now? He won't.
Jeff Chamblee: Let's stand firm in the faith. Do everything in love. Call now at 877-616-2396 or give [email protected] and thank you for partnering with AFR during Share A Thon.
Welcome to Fall Share A Thon: Supporting the Ministry of American Family Radio
Jenna Ellis: Welcome to the, fall Share a Thon. This is our twice annual time where for three days we, take a break from regular broadcast and ask you to join with us and help support the ministry that we have here at American Family Radio. I'm Jenna Ellis here with Tim Wildmon, the Family the hour. Yes, for Jenna Ellis.
Tim Wildmon: Sorry to interrupt. sure. Which is rare for me.
Clarification on 'Little Flock, Arkansas' and Listener Engagement
People tell me I interrupt, interrupt them and tell them. No, I don't. anyway, my colleagues here on today's issues. so I mentioned about 10 minutes ago that we got a call. I was looking at my call screen here where folks are calling from to make donations. And one popped up from I forgot the caller's name but anyway it was okay. Here we go. James called in and it says on my screen Little Flock, Arkansas. Right? Mm.
Tim Wildmon: And I said I think that's a misprint. I think that's a print. Somebody typed it in wrong. It's supposed to be Little Rock, Arkansas. I've. And then I said quote, I've never heard of Little Flock Arkansas. Well my lovely and talented wife Allison text me and said sent me a picture of map and evidently there is a Little Flock Arkansas. So I think that the caller got it right when they typed it in. And James is from Little Flock, Arkansas. So my apologies of thinking Little Flock didn't exist.
Partnering with AFR: The Importance of Financial Support for Radio Ministry
Jenna Ellis: Well, there you go. And you see you learn so many things listening to afr, including getting maps and maybe Little Flock Arkansas will be a vacation destination for some of our listeners now. And more, more interest and the city of Little Flock will be going. Why are all of these Christians descending upon our sweet town?
Tim Wildmon: It's a. Little Flock is a small, predominantly rural city in Benton County, Arkansas according to this. So there you go. Yeah, I learned something and my apologies there, there is Little Rock and there's Little Flock. Go ahead.
Jenna Ellis: That is great. And you know, see you do learn a lot here at American Family Radio and if you would to partner with us. We are in our the fall. So the second time a second annual fall share a thon where you get to call in or go online and partner with us. Give your best donation whether that be a monthly gift or a one time donation so that you can help keep us on the radio. Keep doing all of the the ministry that we do at the American Family association through AFA Action.
Theological Issues and Christian Engagement in Midterm Elections
And you know one of the headlines Tim, that that I talked about actually yesterday on was about the Southern Baptist Convention president is calling on pastors to step up ahead of the midterm election. So Willie Rice says that abortion, marriage, gender identity and immigration are all theological issues demanding Christian action. And he's right. And I think this is one of the most important headlines in our, in our world right now because elections matter, they have consequences. And we need to as Christians engage. And this is what our verse FOR SHERIFF ON First Corinthians 6, 16, 13 and 14 says. Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong, and let all that you do be in love. we have an opportunity here in America to engage in our civil society and to Actually select and prefer those who rule over us, our leaders. And for so many, years in world history, if you look back at civilizations, they didn't have that opportunity. And so it may not be the best candidate that, that you may be supporting in, in your town on your ballot. I'm not sure who's running, you know, for mayor of Little Flock, Arkansas.
Tim Wildmon: Yeah, we don't know.
Jenna Ellis: but you should know that if you live in Little Flock, if you live, you know, here, where I do in central Florida, I need to know who's on my ballot and I need to make the best decisions possible for my, my, ballot and vote my values. So, Tim, you know, for pastors who may be listening, we have a lot of pastors that support us. what would your encouragement be to engage in, politics, engage in civil government.
Pastoral Encouragement: Educating Congregations on Issues Without Endorsing Parties
Tim Wildmon: I know a lot of pastors are hesitant to get involved, you know, to speak about politics from the pulpit. But listen, you don't have to talk about, quote, politics per se. All you've got to do really is teach your congregation the moral values, Right, that come from the Bible that are applicable to the voting, of today or to who you elect today. In other words, where do the candidates stand on the issues? You know, you can just educate your congregation however you want to about where the various candidates stand on the issues that most matter to Christians. so you don't have to pick an R or a D that will be self explanatory once people come to know, people say, well, I don't want to get into Republican, Democrat politics from the pulpit. Well, you don't have to necessarily. All you have to do is tell folks where these candidates stand on the issues. And people are smart enough to figure out which party, you know, which party basically stands for righteousness, in these parties. Political parties are not perfect. They are secular, quite frankly. So they are made up of all kinds of different people. But the influence of the Christian community in politics can lead to better candidates, Jenna. That's what I'm saying. And you mentioned earlier.
The Importance of American Freedoms and Comparing Life in the U.S. to Other Countries
Absolutely. About our, you know, what's at stake, and I'm not being overly dramatic, Jenna talks about this every morning. What's at stake, ultimately is our freedom and our liberty to worship God here and our way of life. there are, you know, the freedoms that we enjoy in America, we take for granted because we just live them out every day. You travel the world, the majority of the world lives in, totalitarianism or Islamic, rule, you know, Sharia law, or, you know, even in places like Russia, where you have basically the state watches everything you do. That's the case in the majority of the world. Freedom and liberty and, even the freedom to move around and to worship our way of life is not the norm. You go to China, for example. I know, I talked to my son Wesley. Many people have folks who've traveled back and forth in China or they know people in China, people who are missionaries in China. I put that in quotations because you can't really sign up as a Christian missionary in China. You've got to go under another occupation. But, they were surveilled. Wesley and Ray Pritchard, they went to China on a trip and they were surveilled the whole time they were over there. And the people that met with them, were Christians in China who had to do so in secret. that sounds bizarre to us in America. But they had to meet with them in secret because the government doesn't allow you to. Unless they control the church itself. The government, I'm talking about the Chinese Communist government. They don't allow you to have any freedom to do anything on your own. So I'm just saying, when we say, what are we standing up for here in America? We're standing up for our freedoms and our liberty and our way of life and, and our religious, our religious, heritage, all those things. So there you go.
Jenna Ellis: And even doing what we're doing right now as well, broadcasting, you can't do that in China. Absolutely.
Exercising Fundamental Freedoms Through Broadcasting and Supporting AFR's Ministry
And so this is part of the really strong reason that, you can support American Family Radio Network is because we are exercising our fundamental freedoms right now. our first freedoms that are enshrined in our U.S. consequences. our Constitution doesn't give us our rights. They come from God, our creator. but the sole purpose of government is to preserve and protect those rights. Our founders here in America understood that. And so when we can speak together about truth, we're exercising our first freedoms and the First Amendment. Freedom of association, freedom of the press, and free exercise of religion. And so we get to talk about these things from a Christian worldview every day.
Tim Wildmon: Amen.
Call to Action: Support AFR's Ministry by Donating and Listener Testimony
Jenna Ellis: And stand up for those things. But we have to be engaged. And so you can help and you can support our ministry continuing to promote these values, to speak biblical truth. You can call right now 877-616-2396. That's 877-616-2396. Or you can go online to afr.net you can give your Best gift there. And, do we have another listener testimony?
Tim Wildmon: We do. In fact, let's play that and then come back.
Beverly: This is Beverly Anderson from Wiggins, Mississippi.
Listener Testimony: Appreciation for AFR's Music and Programming
And I just wanted to say how much I absolutely love today's issues. The Christian aspect on the news is great. I also love when I'm having a bad day. I can turn on afr ah in the morning. And it always seems like there's a song just for me that's talking to me where God is just saying, this is for you. It's amazing. I'm so glad you guys are out there. I love y' all and have a wonderful day. Bye.
Jenna Ellis: Well, now, Tim Wiggins I'm sure exists. Let's just.
Tim Wildmon: Oh, yeah, I know where Wiggins is. Wiggins, Mississippi. Yeah.
Jenna Ellis: I don't want Allison to have to text you another message.
Tim Wildmon: Oh, yeah, I know my own home state. Yeah, pretty well. It's, Stone county, down on the Gulf. Near the Gulf coast is where it is. In fact, when I went to school at Mississippi State University, one of my roommates was from there. So that's how I remember that. that was many, many, many moons ago. Like in the 80s. 1980s. There was a decade known as the 80s.
Challenge to Listeners: Become a First-Time Donor to Support AFR's Mission
Jenna, have you heard of this? I have.
Jenna Ellis: I was born in the 80s. So, I mean, I'm getting up there too, Tim.
Tim Wildmon: Okay, you're moving on down the road. Let me give the phone number here. folks, we need your help. if you. Let me just challenge you. If you've listened to American family radio and you appreciate what did we do, and you've never made a gift, you've ever made a donation, please, won't you join us? if you can do $30 a month, that would be wonderful. Or more.
Tim Wildmon: Hey, we're not going to turn down more, but $30 or more a month or a one time gift of $150, we'll send you a couple of nice gifts, just as a show of our appreciation. But more importantly, it'll help us, you know, continue American family Radio. We have to pay for towers, we have to pay for electricity. We have to pay for our engineers to travel to keep our radio stations on the air. We have to pay for satellite time, we have to deliver our, you know, our signal goes up. we broadcast it up from here in Tupelo, and it goes all across the country. 160 plus stations across the country get it. And that takes the, you know, that costs money. They send us a bill every month for that so you don't think about these things when you just turn on the radio. So I'm going to give you the phone number and please call, and especially those who've never called before, would you please join us? We're, not going to harangue you all the time. We're not going to harass you. We're not going to, you know, call you. We're not going to call you. We don't do telemarketing here. We will send you a piece of mail, you know, to remind you, send her out. You send you our magazine. But we're not going to harass anybody.
How Your Donation Supports AFR's Operations and Staff
So here's the phone number to call in and make a gift. And when you call this number I'm about to give, you're going to ringing our home offices here at AFA and afr. So our staff's down the hall answering the phone. So, that's. That's who's going to answer the phone, Our volunteer, who is a listener just like you, who I met a gentleman yesterday, Wayne, came in from Montana to help us answer the phones during Charathon at his own expense.
Pledge Update and Recognition of Early Donors
God, bless that brother. Here's the phone number to call us. 8776-1623-9687-7616, 2396. That calls us here at American Family Radio, 877-616-2396. Or if you want to go online, simply afr.netafr.netafr.net and we are. So far this morning, we've received 447 pledges. 447 pledges. Let's give everybody a, hand clap there, Jenna, for those who've already called. We don't want to forget you. Thank you.
Acknowledging Donors from Various States and the Diversity of AFR Listeners
And that's, Betty in Gordo, Gordo, Alabama. Paula in Asher, Oklahoma. these are folks who've called in the last hour. Ricky in Durant, Oklahoma. Renee in Watford City, North Dakota. Rick, I think it's Rick in, I guess it's Geismar, Louisiana. Mary Ana in Waverly, Iowa. Mary, in Locust Grove, Virginia. Ken in Derby, Kansas. Rose in Denham Springs, Louisiana. And Charlie in Westlake, Louisiana. Have you ever been to, Iowa, Jenna?
Jenna Ellis: Yes, actually, I've been to Almost all the 50 states other than Alaska and North Dakota. I need to find a reason to go to North Dakota. But, you know, but I love traversing our beautiful United States.
The Importance of Living Locally and Appreciating Regional Accents and Culture
It's. It's just incredible. And hearing from listeners who come you know, from all across the country, what's going on, you know, in their local towns, and how they are living locally, which is, you know, what our colleague and friend Abraham Hamilton III always says on his program, you know, live locally. It's, wonderful.
Tim Wildmon: Yeah. Well, I was the reason I asked. I went to Iowa. I've been to Iowa a couple, three times. But I was in Iowa recently, and our plane landed and I got out and I, looked around to the north. I didn't know what direction I was looking at. I just got out on the. You know, got out of the airplane, and there was a cornfield, and I looked to the east, and there was a cornfield, and I looked to the south. There was a corn.
Jenna Ellis: It has a D on the end. I'm sorry, A corn field. Oh, yeah.
Tim Wildmon: You're trying to be helpful, right? You're not.
Jenna Ellis: I am. Well, I'm trying to interpret the Southern for our listeners because not everybody comes from.
Tim Wildmon: I, have an accent. I didn't.
Jenna Ellis: I speak the truth here.
Tim Wildmon: I thought I was playing vanilla. I'll give you an accent, Jen, if you want one, because I've been around these people a long time, and I can tell you what to how they talk.
Humor and Community on AFR: Celebrating Diverse Voices and Shared Love for the Lord
Jenna Ellis: I love it when I go to Tupelo. I. I love hearing all of this. It's amazing. Anyway, continue.
Tim Wildmon: Anyway, the fail. Yeah, the fail. Anyway, point is, if you go to Iowa and you land in an airport, you're going to get the cotton.
Tim Wildmon: Excuse me. The, cornfields, with an s. Cornfields. plural, with S all around you. But anyway, I don't know how we got off on that, you know, talking about cornfields and mocking Tim's accent.
Jenna Ellis: But, you know, we always somehow give Tim a hard time when I'm on the air, and somehow he still invites me on to today's issues.
Tim Wildmon: That's okay. However we talk, we have listeners all over the country, and we all talk differently, and we all, you know, we all have our different churches that we go to, but we all love the Lord and we all love our country.
Encouragement to Donate and Support AFR's Ministry of Truth and Gospel
That's what we're standing. That's why we're here at American Family Radio. Amen. Absolutely.
Jenna Ellis: And, you know, if you are one of the early birds that has given, and has donated to American Family Radio, thank you so much. And now you can sit back and relax and encourage, your friends, your family and other listeners to, donate as well. And so that we can stay on the air and we can Continue to talk about the things of the Lord. We've got to take another break here, Tim, but, Tim Wildmon and I will be back in just a moment to talk about Sharathon and how, you can engage. This is your moment and opportunity to support the, great ministry that we have here at American Family Radio. Keep us on the air. Keep American Family association promoting the truth of the Gospel of Christ. Call 877-616-2396. That's 877-616-2396 or go to afr.net that's afr.net we'll be right back.
AFR's Dedication to Sharing Hope and Jesus Christ Through All Programs
Tim Wildmon: Hi, I'm Bert Harper, co host of Exploring the Word. During times of difficulty, we need hope. Real hope comes through a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. AFR is dedicated to sharing Jesus on every program, whether it is exploring the Word, today's issues, the Hamilton Corner or any other program. We make much of Jesus during this Share a Thon. You can make much of Jesus by, making your contribution. Together we shall share the hope that is in Jesus Christ.
Listener Testimony: AFR's Positive Impact on Daily Life and Faith
Raymond: Hi, this is Raymond all the way out here in California and I listen to AFR every day. From, today's issues to exploring the Word to the Hamilton Corner, all three have been a blessing in my life. I also enjoy listening to Tony Evans and Pastor Allen Jackson in the evening and I just want to thank AFR for being a huge thing in my life.
Fall Share A Thon: Supporting AFR's Mission and Ministry Impact
Tim Wildmon: Christ is my firm, foundation.
Jeff Chamblee: It's Share A Thon on American Family Radio and we're standing firm in the faith and doing everything in love. Call now at 877-616-2396 or give [email protected] and thank you for your support of AFR during Share a Thon.
Jenna Ellis: Welcome to the first day of our fall Share A Thon. If you were just tuning in, I'm Jenna Ellis here with my co host this morning and for Share a Thon over the next three days at ah, Tim Wildmon. And we do this once in the spring, once in the fall to have shareathon to pass the virtual authoring plate as Tim ah says, so that you can help partner with us to keep our ministry, doing everything that we do, keep American Family Radio Network on the air and to keep us promoting the truth of the gospel of Christ, giving the biblical worldview on news of the day, which I get to do each and every morning, Monday through Friday. I've loved it. I'm heading into, my fifth year in January with AFR and it's just been such a blessing in my life. And you know, Tim, it's actually, it's so funny how ministry, if you engage as a Christian, the ministry that you do to bless others ends up blessing you as well. And that has been so true in my life, being part of the American Family association and hearing from our listeners.
Partnering with AFR: Listener Support and Donation Incentives
some of you write in almost daily when, you're listening contemporaneously. And it's so great to hear from you, hear how this, radio ministry has blessed you, what you learned, how you're growing in Christ. And, it's just been truly incredible. And so we're asking you to partner with us and to give your best gift, to help support us, to keep us on air, because we are listener funded. we are a nonprofit ministry. So you can call 8776-1623-9687-7616, 2396 or go to afr.net so, Tim, you know, we were talking a, little earlier in this hour about, AFA and its foundings and, your dad, Don Wildmon. And there's now a book as well that, if listeners give a gift, I think it's of, over $150 or more. if I have that right, yeah,
Tim Wildmon: a one time gift of 100. This is our premium $151 time or more or a $30 a month.
Donation Benefits: Receiving Don Wildmon's Book 'It's My Turn' Commentary
And we love those monthly pledges because it helps US budget here. $30 a month or more. We'll send you, as you're saying, Jenna, we'll send you my dad's book. he wrote many books. But what this is, it's, if people listen to today's issues, then they hear the it's my turn commentary by my dad, Don Wildmon. And that's what, we put all those stories in written form. Those are just timeless stories. My dad recorded those a few years ago, when he was in good health. And of course, my dad passed a couple years ago. But those things will be here forever. And, we get a lot of response. People love those it's my turn, commentaries. You remember Paul Harvey? I don't know if you remember that name.
Jenna Ellis: Oh, I do. My family listened to Paul Harvey, Rush Limbaugh, Jon, MacArthur, who we host here, back in the day. Yeah, I listened to all those.
Tim Wildmon: Well, Paul Harvey had this commentary, the, rest of the story. Remember that? And so my dad's books, my dad's stories are kind of in that same genre, if you will, sort of, you tell the story and then there's a, you know, a catch at the end that you go, wow, I didn't see that coming or didn't know that was going to happen.
The Enduring Impact of Don Wildmon's Stories and a Call for New Donors
A lot of my dad's stories that he wrote and they're basically on a lot of them on true life events. he, he captured in those inspired turn commentaries. So you can you. We will send you. What I'm saying is we'll send you the book. It's my turn, with the, donation that you make to American Family Radio. Yeah. So please, folks, if you, especially if you've never given to afr, we, we would love to hear from you because we, you know, we need new, like churches, you know, you need folks who've been here for a long time and then we need new blood too. So if you've never made a donation, but you've been listening to American Family Radio, but you believe in our mission, please call and make a gift and be as generous as you can. Here's the phone number.
How to Donate: Phone Number and Online Options
877. This calls us here at American Family Radio. This number I'm about to give you. and the folks who are answering the phone are right down the hall from me. 877-616-239-687-76162396. Or if you want to go on, the Internet, afr.net, afr.net let's hear from another listener to AFR and then we'll come back in just a moment.
Listener Testimony: AFR Provides Hope and Wholeness Amidst Worldly Troubles
Barb: Hi, my name is Barb and I live in Delaware, Ohio. And, since I found 89.1, and the ability for me to listen to AFR through this station, I choose no other radio station. And I just really appreciate the focus of, health and wholeness in our world that has a lot of trouble in it. Even if the news of the day seems to be all bad, I always hear hope spoken through the voices on afr. Not only hope in our God, but hope in the good things that people are doing, even in the midst of things that seem to have no hope. I'll keep listening to AFR and I'm very thankful for it.
Jenna Ellis: What an amazing listener testimony to you from Delaware, Iowa.
Tim Wildmon: Excuse me, from Ohio. Delaware, Ohio. yeah.
The Sin of Despair: Maintaining Hope and Faith in Christ Despite Challenges
And you know what, Jenna? I was talking to a friend of mine a couple of years ago and we were talking about things happening in the world and in our country which are discouraging, quite frankly, a lot of times. And he said, you know what he said? Despair is a sin. I said what? I never heard that one before. I know I'm not supposed to steal, you know, or lie or cheat. but despair of sin, he said, yeah, now I don't, it's not a ten commandment sin, but to, in other words, to give up hope in the Lord is what he was talking about is sinful. I mean it's the opposite of faith. Right? So I think that's what that caller was talking about. Right there is. Yes. You, Jenna, you come to the microphone every morning here on AFR and you have to tell folks, you know, you're a current events driven show, so you have to tell folks what's happening in our country, what's happening in the world, but you do so with the backdrop of hope in Christ, right?
Jenna Ellis: Mm And that makes all the difference as well because if we don't have the hope, which the biblical definition of hope is a patient expectation that the Lord will fulfill his promises, right? And so we know how the story ends. We know that Jesus will return, one day and if, if we pass away before he returns for Christians, we will spend eternity with him. And so as we are navigating this life and we look at the daily news and the head headlines that sometimes are, you know, not the best. And you can get discouraged, despair Christians are called to still have hope, to have joy in all circumstances, to, to have our faith grounded in Christ.
The Bible as a Guide: Gaining Perspective and Hope Through Christ
And we can navigate those headlines with the eternal perspective and also the perspective that God gives us of his grand narrative of history. And so Tim, I started just about a month ago now, a ladies Bible study in my neighborhood. And so, so we have, I have a few ladies, every other Wednesday night over to my home. I love it. And we're going through the fundamentals of the faith and we just talked about, you know, this last time how the Bible is our guide and how understanding the Bible from Genesis to Revelation gives us perspective on our moment in history. And that's what I love doing, each, and every day in the morning. If you're a regular listener of afr, you're not just dropping in, you know, once or twice to hear the headlines for one day. And then, you know, you don't listen to us for a while. If you're a regular listener, you'll get the scope of teaching from our Bible teachers, you'll get the scope of news of the day from you Know a few different, angles, but always a biblical worldview perspective and also an understanding of m, the three institutions that God ordained. The church government, the civil government, the family government, and how we can operate with hope and joy and that patient expectation even in the midst of everything, through a focus on Christ and how to navigate those things. So, you know, it's really important, if you are a first time listener or if you've only listened to us a few times, to stay with it and to get that perspective so that you aren't just hearing about the headlines and despairing, but that you understand how to live as a Christian in the midst of everything that's going on. So to help keep us on air, if you've been a regular listener, but as Tim said, and you haven't donated to us in the past, please consider doing that this morning. it's 877-616-2396. That's 877-616-23 96. Or you can go to afr.net that's
Jesus' Promise of Peace Amidst Worldly Tribulation: John 16:33
Tim Wildmon: afr.net the Bible verse where Jesus says, in this world you will have trouble, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world, Right?
Jenna Ellis: Yes.
Tim Wildmon: Do you know where that is off
Jenna Ellis: the top of your head, or
Tim Wildmon: the bottom of your head? I don't care which part of the head. Look it up.
Jenna Ellis: but anyway, it is Jon 16, ah, 33.
Tim Wildmon: I know that's not our Bible verse for the, sheriff on our theme verse, but read that verse. You have it handy.
Jenna Ellis: I do. And so, Jesus in the midst. And of course when we're talking about Jesus, we can always know. At least it's somewhere in the Gospels. Right? so we know that. But it says, I have told you these things so that you may have peace in this world. You will have trouble. Some translations say tribulation, but take heart, I have overcome the world.
Overcoming Despair: Christ's Victory and the Importance of Hope
Tim Wildmon: Yeah, so there you go. That's what my friend was saying to me basically a couple of years ago when we were talking about the things that were going on and things look bad here and there. And the other, he said, you know what, we can't despair. You know, I know it gets discouraging sometimes when you look around the world and you see so many bad decisions by our politicians and our government and you see the threats against the church and Christianity and people mocking God. But he said, we cannot give up and we cannot despair because despair, is a sin. And so to give up, that's basically saying to give up on God and, to give up on what, like Jesus said right there. Jesus was saying we're going to have trouble in this world that we live in. We all know that. We live it and experience it, and we see it happening all around us. But be of good cheer because Christ has overcome the world.
Finding Peace Amidst Turmoil: The Enduring Message of Christ's Victory
So, you know, he, has overcome the world. He gives us peace in our life in the midst even of turmoil. I know people have heard that sermon many, many times, and you'll hear it many, many more times because it's deserving. That message is deserving of being repeated over and over and over again because we need to hear that, that, Christ has overcome the world. He gives us peace in our heart and can get peace in our lives even when we, ah, you know, otherwise are experiencing maybe a hurricane or a tornado or an earthquake. A lot of people have, you know, I'm using that metaphorically, but in our lives. So anyway, there you go. don't despair. Have hope in Jesus. Our phone number to reach us here in America.
Final Call for Donations: Monetary Gifts to Support American Family Radio
We got about three and a half minutes left on this, during this hour here on Charathon. The phone number is 8, 7. If you want to call us and make a gift, make a donation. I'm not talking about giving us animals or nothing like that. I'm talking about, like, making a cash donation to American Family Radio. That's what I'm talking about. If you want to call and make a gift, eight. Here's a phone number. 877-616-239-687-76162396 afr.net afr.net Although, I guess, Jenna, 100 years ago maybe we'd have been, you know, taking donations and goats and chickens. I don't know.
Jenna Ellis: Well, you know, I do have what I call my, my Pod P A W E D podcast. co hosts with me each other. Morning. Some of you hear from them occasionally when they want to chime in. But, Todd and Copper, sitting here with me right now. So they're the mascots of, Jenna Ellis in the Morning. And, we love them. I know that you have a dog as well, and you know, everyone at afa, we just, love God's creatures and our animals. So. But yes, that we, we need the monetary gift, the financial gift.
Humor and Gratitude: The Importance of Financial Support for AFR
even though I know that your gift this morning as well was a chicken biscuit, that's a form of an animal as well. And you know, animals come in many forms.
Tim Wildmon: So, yeah, it was a biscuit, but it was an animal of a different, type that fill the middle of, my biscuit. but we, won't go into how the sausage is made. so, bad. Boom. You see what I did there?
Jenna Ellis: And you know what? We bring the humor, ladies and gentlemen. I mean, this isn't always just a serious program.
Final Moments for Donations: Call or Go Online to Support AFR
If you know Tim, you know that you'll always get the great southern humor. And that's one of the things I've come to love about him. And, we all do here. But if you want to give, please give in just the last two minutes of this program. It's 8, 7, 7, 6, 1 6, 2,396. That's 8, 7, 7, 6162396. Or go to afr.nettim. close us out.
Tim Wildmon: Amen. Well, close us out here.
Share A Thon Theme Verse: Stand Firm in Faith, Be Courageous, Do Everything in Love
Our Bible verse for this Share a Thon is First Corinthians 16, verses 13 and 14. Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong, and do everything in love. So we encourage you to live that out today. And Jenna, it's been good being with you this hour. Mm,
Jenna Ellis: Great to be with you, Tim, and looking forward to the next two days. So you still have time to give, but, don't wait till we talk about the procrastinators on Thursday. That's right, give now. 877-616-2396. I'll look forward to tomorrow morning, Tim.
Concluding Thoughts and Continued Support for Sharathon
Tim Wildmon: Amen. Me too. All right, folks, stay with us. We're going to take a time out for news and then we'll be back with Sharathon. Share a Thon rolls on here on American Family Radio.
Introduction to Share A Thon and Christian Foundation
Jeff Chamblee: First Corinthians, chapter 16, verses 13 and 14. Say, be on your guard, Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous, be strong, do everything in love. Christ is my firm, foundation. The rock on which I stand is faithful through generations. So why would he fail now? He won't.
Jeff Chamblee: It's Share A Thon on American Family Radio. Call now and partner with us at 877-616-2396. That's 877-616-2396. Or give [email protected] and thank you for your support of AFR during Shareathon.
Jenna Ellis Welcomes Tim Wildman to Share A Thon, Discussing AFR's Listener-Funded Model
Jenna Ellis: Good morning and welcome to the first day of Share a Thon. I'm Jenna Ellis. Usually this spot spot is Jenna Ellis in the Morning where I get to go through, the news of the day from a biblical worldview perspective. I get to hear from listeners all across the country, part of our AFR family that, tell me what a blessing AFR is that we can, hear the news, we can think about what's going on in our culture from a biblical worldview perspective. And, and I love it. And so I so appreciate your support because, we do have, we are listener funded and we don't, you know, take any, any money from advertisements and, you know, other things like that. And we are not cancelable, which is also amazing. And so we rely on your donations. And that's why, ah, twice annually we have three days of Share a Thon. And you can partner with us now and give your best gift at 877-616-2396. We'll be repeating that number, across the hour or if you prefer, you can give [email protected] and this morning I'm so grateful to be joined by Tim Wildmon, who I join regularly on today's issues that, he hosts as well. Tim, good morning.
Tim Wildmon: Good morning. Good morning, Jenna. How are you?
Conversations on Florida Weather and the Importance of Share A Thon for AFR's Ministry
Jenna Ellis: I'm great. I'm in the free state of Florida and so, you know, things, things are good over here. We're finally getting into the nice weather in Florida.
Tim Wildmon: Yeah, absolutely. fall is here for a lot of folks and right around the corner for the rest of us. I don't know. Do you ever get fall in central Florida? I guess you do in January, right?
Jenna Ellis: Kind of fall in Florida. The meme is like, a dead palm tree leaf and saying, look how beautiful. That's about it.
Tim Wildmon: Yeah. Well, listen, as you say, we want to thank everybody for listening across the country to American Family Radio. And it is our Share a Thon. It's our fall share a thon. we only do this twice a year in terms of, taking three days out and, bringing our financial needs to our listeners. And they always respond. We do this in the spring and in the fall, and here we are. It's hard to believe we're headed toward the end of the year where we got three more in the last quarter. Right, Jenna?
Thematic Verse: Be on Your Guard, Stand Firm in the Faith, Be Courageous, Be Strong, and Do Everything in Love
Jenna Ellis: Yeah. Isn't it amazing? We have, just a few more months in 2026. This year went, by so fast. And, you know, there are so many things, that are going on in our world and in our culture. But our verse, for this Sharathon is so timely. Tim. it's First Corinthians, 6, 16, 13. It says, Be on your guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous, be strong. This is near the very end of the letter where the, Apostle Paul gives final commands to. To the church in Corinth. So he's talking to the collection of the saints. He's talking to us and telling us, how to stand firm in the last days. And that's exactly what, AFA and AFR are doing.
Tim Wildmon: Amen. But repeat this. First Corinthians, what, 16, 13.
Jenna Ellis: It says, Be on your guard, Stand firm in the faith. Be strong, be courageous.
Tim Wildmon: And do everything in love is what he says.
Jenna Ellis: And do everything in love.
Tim Wildmon: I think that's 14. But anyway, 13 and 14. Be on your guard. Stand firm in the faith. so our theme, folks, this share a thon is stand firm. And that's what we want to encourage you to do in your Christian faith today and every day, is to stand firm, Stand up for what the Bible says. Live out your life so that you will, be a witness to others.
The Need for Listener Support to Sustain and Expand AFR's Ministry Efforts
That's what Jesus said we're to do. Be a witness to others so that they may come to know the Lord as well. So that's what we're doing here. We're standing firm every day, 24, 7, 365, right here on American Family Radio. And guess what, folks? We can't do it without you. We can't do it without you. So we have to pass the virtual offering plate every once in a while and, take up a collection so that we can keep this radio network going. We can, expand our horizons, if you will. We can expand our territory. So here's what we're asking you to do. Make a gift. Be as generous as you possibly can. Every dollar you give to American Family Radio goes to sustain our ministry and to help US plan for the future and to help us budget. Everybody needs a budget. You need to know what you're dealing with in terms of what you can commit to and what you can do. So that's what we're doing here at American Family Radio. If you believe in our mission, if, you believe like we just expressed there from the Bible, First Corinthians 16, verse 13. Stand firm. Stand firm.
Call to Action: Partner with AFR by Making a Generous Donation During Share A Thon
If you want to stand firm with us, let us know. you know, radio is oftentimes in our one way street, it's like, you know, we broadcast and you and I are talking here, but we don't hear back from our listeners necessarily. But this is your opportunity, folks, to say, hey, I want to write you a check. I want to make a contribution. I want to say I'm standing with you as you stand firm. So here's the phone number and be as generous as you possibly can. Here's the phone number to, make your pledge. And we have folks here to take your calls. they're down the hall here from where I'm sitting in the studio. They're here to take your calls here at American Family Radio. And M M, some of them are staff, and then some folks, drove in from around the country to help us answer the telephones during our share a thon. Here's the phone number. 877-616-2396. Call and say Jenna and Tim said call and make a donation.
Jenna Ellis: Absolutely. And why should you donate right now? Well, let's listen to what, speaking of feedback, what, one listener at least has said. I think we have a listener testimony. Adam.
Listener Testimony: How AFR Helps Manage Road Rage Through Faith and Biblical Worldview
Alex: My name is Alex and I'm from Fulton, Mississippi. And I just want to say God help me with three AFR because I have road rage. And if I don't listen to afr, I have road rage bad. So that's the way God helps me.
Jenna Ellis: Well, Tim, I think, a lot of us can relate to that and what a great listener testimony for the morning drive time program.
Tim Wildmon: I hope a lot of us can't relate to that, but, well, well, you
Jenna Ellis: know, you're better, I think, than a lot of us, Tim. But you know, what a great thing to say, you know, focusing on the things of the Lord does give us peace, right? And whether it's road rage or it's all kinds of different circumstances, one of the goals, that I have for the program, that I get to host every day in the morning is to give people things to think about, to grow their relationship in Christ, to understand the times and to put this in practice.
The Importance of Understanding Culture and Biblical Truth to Be on Guard
You know, our verse, being on our guard and standing firm. If we can't identify, what's going on in the culture and point out the biblical truth of that, then how can we be on guard? We'll be defenseless. And so we give a listener so many, opportunities to think through what's going on in, in our culture, how we can share the truth of Christ, how we can be involved, in our Christian life day to day.
Tim Wildmon: I gotta tell you, that's probably the most unique, testimony, I've heard there in a while. Appreciate that, brother, being straight up honest there.
Jenna Ellis: Pastor Jeff Sharif just texted me. If I don't get to hear Tim and Jenna in the morning, I run over pedestrians. So, you know, I appreciate your candor, Pastor Jeff.
Tim Wildmon: Jeff may be looking for another job, especially if he's driving in the church parking lot on Sunday after church there.
How to Donate to AFR: Phone Number and Online Options Explained
All right, here's the phone number. And I know there are a lot of listeners in the south, so we're going to give it slow here. Ready? 877-616-2396 is the phone number to reach us. You call that number, and there's going to be a AFR phone volunteer. Answer that. Right down the hall from where I'm sitting here, you. You will reach this. So we're not asking you to call, you know, some foreign call center in some land somewhere. This is 877-616-2396. You're dialing right here in the good old U.S. of A. If you want to go online, as Jenna said, afr.net is the place to go. You can make a contribution online. Very simply, afr.net, afr.net afr.net I want to thank some folks who've called in. And then Jenna. And then Jenna. You can, If you want to bring up some of the headlines for this morning, we want to thank Rebecca in Winfield. These are people who called in the last hour. Rebecca in Winfield, Kansas.
Acknowledging Donors from Across the Country and the Reach of American Family Radio
Lynette in Fort Scott, Kansas. Brenda in Vanliere Wirt. Let's, see, Vanliere Wirt, Ohio. Brandon in South Tillam, Mississippi. Theresa in, let's see, Theresa is calling in from, Brandon, Mississippi. James in Little Rock, Arkansas. Somebody wrote this down. They wrote Little Flock, Arkansas. I don't think there's a Little Flock. I never heard Little Flock, Arkansas. But there's Little Rock, Arkansas. Little Rock, Arkansas. James in Halton City, Texas, and Charles in Raton, NewSong Mexico. So we truly are, Jenna, American Family Radio, because our folks who support us are from all over the country.
Jenna Ellis: They are.
The Urgency of Giving Now: Ministry Beyond Radio and AFA Action's Role
Yeah. It's truly incredible. And, you know, you may, have listened to Share a Thon in the past. This may be your first Share a thon where you come, to us, in the time, since our last Share a Thon, you know, back earlier, I think this was in April of this past year. so we do this twice, you know, one in the spring, one in the fall. And so you're wondering, well, why give now? what's. What's the urgency? Well, consider the times that we are in, and consider that we, have a ministry that isn't just isolated to radio. This is one of our critical, important, missions, is to bring you the news headlines every day, bring you good pastoral teaching, encourage you to grow in your Christian life. we also do a lot more at American Family association with, AFA Action Speaking. the headlines, Tim. The midterms are coming up just around the corner about one month from now. And, I was just talking to my own pastor yesterday about, an event that we have coming up that, will be to engage, our. Our congregation to make sure we get out and vote our values. And so, we encourage that. We also, encourage good legislation to be passed by those who are elected to the legislature. Good executive orders. So much that we do. you know, so give us maybe a little bit of the background, Tim, of, you know, where AFA started, because I've been here. coming up, it'll be the. The fifth year, which is crazy already, of my broadcast, but I've learned so much about even all of the details that we do at afa.
Tim Wildmon: Yeah.
Jenna Ellis: So since being here, and it's truly amazing.
Tim Wildmon: Well, of course, it started 50 years ago, almost, 50 years ago next year.
The Founding of American Family Association and Radio by Don Wildmon
My dad, was a Methodist minister in South Haven, Mississippi, which is just a, suburb of Memphis. And, God just spoke to him one night and, told him, you know, that he was going to be leaving the pulpit because he was a pastor and starting a new movement, starting a new organization. And, dad didn't know exactly what that was, but he said, yes, Lord, and I will do it. And, then he did leave the pulpit. A lot of people, a lot of friends and family thought, what. What are you doing? you know, you studied to be a pastor. Here you are, you've got a very successful church, and you're just leaving, and you got a family of four Children. Are you nuts? That's what a lot. They may not have said it to him, but that's what they were thinking. but my dad was hearing from Almighty God. And, that's. And, he did leave and he did start what was in the National Federation for Decency, which became the American Family association, which founded the American Family Radio Network, which folks are listening to today. So my dad's calling at the time from God was to help, give Christians a voice in culture and in politics and in government and. And to be. Stand, up for righteousness. You know, Matthew, chapter five. Jesus says we're to stand up for. Sometimes we're persecuted for righteousness sake.
Key Figures in the Religious Right Movement and its Influence on Politics
Right? That's what it says. And that's what, Jesus. That's what my dad helped organize. I got some names for folks that I, know. Some of the. Some of our listeners are going to recognize these names because these were names of contemporaries of my dad in the 70s and 80s who, were called for the same. Basically a lot of the same things. Tim and Beverly LaHaye, you remember those that. Phyllis Schlafly. D. James Kennedy. Jerry Falwell, you remember Jerry Falwell. Adrian Rogers. Marlon Maddox was a broadcaster. Larry Burkett, you remember that name. these are all, some. Dr. James Dobson was a very good friend of, Our ministry helped my dad a lot. So all these. And there are others. I can't recall right now at the top of my head, but all these people were called up to give birth to what the, media called the religious right. They called. That was a pejorative, you know, the religious right. Nutcases across America. And there were millions. They found out there were millions of nutcases, across the country who loved the Lord Jesus Christ and wanted to stand for his values and stand up for the Bible. So that movement really got Ronald Reagan elected, quite frankly, That's the movement that got Ronald Reagan elected. So anyway, that's a little bit of the history of American Family Association, American Family Radio.
AFR's Inclusive Approach to Supporters and the Mission of Spreading the Gospel
My dad's name was Don Wildmon, and he, as I say, he was a Methodist, minister. But our supporters come from all kinds of denominations. We don't, make you check a denominational box before you make a gift to us. If we did that, we'd be broke, right? So, we don't do that. We just ask that people who share our values, share our statement of faith and, want to join with us in spreading the gospel. In fact, we call our, Supporters. Great Commission Partners, Jenna, we call them Great Commission partners. So we believe in spreading, the message of Christ and standing up in the culture for biblical truth, as you say, and you do every day on your show. Let me give the phone number again, and then we'll hear from another listener, and then Jana will come back and maybe hit some of the headlines in the news, because that's what you listen to, Janet, for each and every morning on American Family Radio.
Call for Support and Preferred Donation Methods for Ministry Sustainability
And later on, we'll let Jenna tell us, how she got, you know, the Lord brought her to us. Here. Here's the phone number. 8. This is this phone number right here I'm about to give. You dial this and you make a pledge to American Family Radio. And, we would very much appreciate it and please be as generous as you possibly can. By the way, what we prefer is that you make a gift that comes in monthly. so that's a, you know, a bank draft or a credit card or checking, account, however you want to do it. We can set it up for you. But that's a draf. We are able to know consistently how much revenue we have coming into the ministry so we can know how much we can spend to buy new radio stations, to keep, our radio stations on the air, that kind of thing. So that's what we would prefer. And, you can, for $30 or more a month. A $30 commitment.
Incentives for Donors and the Philosophy of Receiving Donations
More a month, you know, like a third of a tank of gas. So we're talking about here that you can, get a, you will receive a gift from us, a book by my dad. And, also a, what do we. What's a lunch cooler looks like to me here on American Family Radio. We'll send you some free stuff is what I'm talking about. If you make a donation of $30 or more a month or $150 one time gift. But we really appreciate those reoccurring, donations. Here's the phone number to reach us and you'll get a, phone volunteer and they can answer all your questions. We can take your donation or receive your donation. As Marvin Sanders used to tell me, Tim, we don't take people's money.
Final Call to Action: Phone and Online Donation Information
We receive their donations.
Jenna Ellis: The blessings.
Tim Wildmon: That's right. We receive. We don't take an offering. We receive an offering. It's what he used to tell me. Here's, the phone number to call us, 877-616-239-687-76162396. Or simply go online at afr.net if you don't want to talk to anybody. Afr.net afr.net, we're going to take a short time out. We'll be back with Jenna Ellis in the morning. American Family Radio. It's our Stand Firm Fall Sherithon. I'm, Tim Wildmon. We'll be back momentarily.
The Significance of Memorials and the Mission of the American Family Association
Jeff Chamblee: After crossing the Jordan river into the Promised Land, God instructed the children of Israel to take stones from the river and make a memorial. When their future children would say, what do these stones mean? The parents would recount the Lord's deliverance of Israel from slavery and Israel's arrival in the Promised Land. In each of our lives, there are events that ought to be remembered. Events where the Lord moved and delivered us. Whether we use stones, photos, or special celebrations, it matters only that we take time to remember what the Lord has done and pass that testimony on to future generations. Since 1977, the American family association has been informing, equipping and activating individuals to strengthen the moral foundations of America. The Lord has given us many victories over the years that laid the foundation for our work today and into the future. Learn [email protected] hi, I'm Cheri from Long Beach, Mississippi.
Cheri: last November I called requesting prayer for my 6 year old grandson Kai.
Listener Testimony: Gratitude for Prayer and Healing Through AFR
He was in and out of Children's Hospital in Pensacola with an undiagnosed illness. Brother Bert, Dr. Alex and the AFR family of saints prayed Kai was diagnosed and healed and returned to school in January. I can't express gratitude to everyone, afr. God bless you all.
Jeff Chamblee: Sharathon continues on American Family Radio Faithful through generations.
Concluding Encouragement to Stand Firm in Faith and Love Through Donations
So why would he fail now? He won't.
Jeff Chamblee: Let's stand firm in the faith. Do everything in love. Call now at 877-616-2396 or give [email protected] and thank you for partnering with AFR during Share A Thon.
Welcome to Fall Share A Thon: Supporting the Ministry of American Family Radio
Jenna Ellis: Welcome to the, fall Share a Thon. This is our twice annual time where for three days we, take a break from regular broadcast and ask you to join with us and help support the ministry that we have here at American Family Radio. I'm Jenna Ellis here with Tim Wildmon, the Family the hour. Yes, for Jenna Ellis.
Tim Wildmon: Sorry to interrupt. sure. Which is rare for me.
Clarification on 'Little Flock, Arkansas' and Listener Engagement
People tell me I interrupt, interrupt them and tell them. No, I don't. anyway, my colleagues here on today's issues. so I mentioned about 10 minutes ago that we got a call. I was looking at my call screen here where folks are calling from to make donations. And one popped up from I forgot the caller's name but anyway it was okay. Here we go. James called in and it says on my screen Little Flock, Arkansas. Right? Mm.
Tim Wildmon: And I said I think that's a misprint. I think that's a print. Somebody typed it in wrong. It's supposed to be Little Rock, Arkansas. I've. And then I said quote, I've never heard of Little Flock Arkansas. Well my lovely and talented wife Allison text me and said sent me a picture of map and evidently there is a Little Flock Arkansas. So I think that the caller got it right when they typed it in. And James is from Little Flock, Arkansas. So my apologies of thinking Little Flock didn't exist.
Partnering with AFR: The Importance of Financial Support for Radio Ministry
Jenna Ellis: Well, there you go. And you see you learn so many things listening to afr, including getting maps and maybe Little Flock Arkansas will be a vacation destination for some of our listeners now. And more, more interest and the city of Little Flock will be going. Why are all of these Christians descending upon our sweet town?
Tim Wildmon: It's a. Little Flock is a small, predominantly rural city in Benton County, Arkansas according to this. So there you go. Yeah, I learned something and my apologies there, there is Little Rock and there's Little Flock. Go ahead.
Jenna Ellis: That is great. And you know, see you do learn a lot here at American Family Radio and if you would to partner with us. We are in our the fall. So the second time a second annual fall share a thon where you get to call in or go online and partner with us. Give your best donation whether that be a monthly gift or a one time donation so that you can help keep us on the radio. Keep doing all of the the ministry that we do at the American Family association through AFA Action.
Theological Issues and Christian Engagement in Midterm Elections
And you know one of the headlines Tim, that that I talked about actually yesterday on was about the Southern Baptist Convention president is calling on pastors to step up ahead of the midterm election. So Willie Rice says that abortion, marriage, gender identity and immigration are all theological issues demanding Christian action. And he's right. And I think this is one of the most important headlines in our, in our world right now because elections matter, they have consequences. And we need to as Christians engage. And this is what our verse FOR SHERIFF ON First Corinthians 6, 16, 13 and 14 says. Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong, and let all that you do be in love. we have an opportunity here in America to engage in our civil society and to Actually select and prefer those who rule over us, our leaders. And for so many, years in world history, if you look back at civilizations, they didn't have that opportunity. And so it may not be the best candidate that, that you may be supporting in, in your town on your ballot. I'm not sure who's running, you know, for mayor of Little Flock, Arkansas.
Tim Wildmon: Yeah, we don't know.
Jenna Ellis: but you should know that if you live in Little Flock, if you live, you know, here, where I do in central Florida, I need to know who's on my ballot and I need to make the best decisions possible for my, my, ballot and vote my values. So, Tim, you know, for pastors who may be listening, we have a lot of pastors that support us. what would your encouragement be to engage in, politics, engage in civil government.
Pastoral Encouragement: Educating Congregations on Issues Without Endorsing Parties
Tim Wildmon: I know a lot of pastors are hesitant to get involved, you know, to speak about politics from the pulpit. But listen, you don't have to talk about, quote, politics per se. All you've got to do really is teach your congregation the moral values, Right, that come from the Bible that are applicable to the voting, of today or to who you elect today. In other words, where do the candidates stand on the issues? You know, you can just educate your congregation however you want to about where the various candidates stand on the issues that most matter to Christians. so you don't have to pick an R or a D that will be self explanatory once people come to know, people say, well, I don't want to get into Republican, Democrat politics from the pulpit. Well, you don't have to necessarily. All you have to do is tell folks where these candidates stand on the issues. And people are smart enough to figure out which party, you know, which party basically stands for righteousness, in these parties. Political parties are not perfect. They are secular, quite frankly. So they are made up of all kinds of different people. But the influence of the Christian community in politics can lead to better candidates, Jenna. That's what I'm saying. And you mentioned earlier.
The Importance of American Freedoms and Comparing Life in the U.S. to Other Countries
Absolutely. About our, you know, what's at stake, and I'm not being overly dramatic, Jenna talks about this every morning. What's at stake, ultimately is our freedom and our liberty to worship God here and our way of life. there are, you know, the freedoms that we enjoy in America, we take for granted because we just live them out every day. You travel the world, the majority of the world lives in, totalitarianism or Islamic, rule, you know, Sharia law, or, you know, even in places like Russia, where you have basically the state watches everything you do. That's the case in the majority of the world. Freedom and liberty and, even the freedom to move around and to worship our way of life is not the norm. You go to China, for example. I know, I talked to my son Wesley. Many people have folks who've traveled back and forth in China or they know people in China, people who are missionaries in China. I put that in quotations because you can't really sign up as a Christian missionary in China. You've got to go under another occupation. But, they were surveilled. Wesley and Ray Pritchard, they went to China on a trip and they were surveilled the whole time they were over there. And the people that met with them, were Christians in China who had to do so in secret. that sounds bizarre to us in America. But they had to meet with them in secret because the government doesn't allow you to. Unless they control the church itself. The government, I'm talking about the Chinese Communist government. They don't allow you to have any freedom to do anything on your own. So I'm just saying, when we say, what are we standing up for here in America? We're standing up for our freedoms and our liberty and our way of life and, and our religious, our religious, heritage, all those things. So there you go.
Jenna Ellis: And even doing what we're doing right now as well, broadcasting, you can't do that in China. Absolutely.
Exercising Fundamental Freedoms Through Broadcasting and Supporting AFR's Ministry
And so this is part of the really strong reason that, you can support American Family Radio Network is because we are exercising our fundamental freedoms right now. our first freedoms that are enshrined in our U.S. consequences. our Constitution doesn't give us our rights. They come from God, our creator. but the sole purpose of government is to preserve and protect those rights. Our founders here in America understood that. And so when we can speak together about truth, we're exercising our first freedoms and the First Amendment. Freedom of association, freedom of the press, and free exercise of religion. And so we get to talk about these things from a Christian worldview every day.
Tim Wildmon: Amen.
Call to Action: Support AFR's Ministry by Donating and Listener Testimony
Jenna Ellis: And stand up for those things. But we have to be engaged. And so you can help and you can support our ministry continuing to promote these values, to speak biblical truth. You can call right now 877-616-2396. That's 877-616-2396. Or you can go online to afr.net you can give your Best gift there. And, do we have another listener testimony?
Tim Wildmon: We do. In fact, let's play that and then come back.
Beverly: This is Beverly Anderson from Wiggins, Mississippi.
Listener Testimony: Appreciation for AFR's Music and Programming
And I just wanted to say how much I absolutely love today's issues. The Christian aspect on the news is great. I also love when I'm having a bad day. I can turn on afr ah in the morning. And it always seems like there's a song just for me that's talking to me where God is just saying, this is for you. It's amazing. I'm so glad you guys are out there. I love y' all and have a wonderful day. Bye.
Jenna Ellis: Well, now, Tim Wiggins I'm sure exists. Let's just.
Tim Wildmon: Oh, yeah, I know where Wiggins is. Wiggins, Mississippi. Yeah.
Jenna Ellis: I don't want Allison to have to text you another message.
Tim Wildmon: Oh, yeah, I know my own home state. Yeah, pretty well. It's, Stone county, down on the Gulf. Near the Gulf coast is where it is. In fact, when I went to school at Mississippi State University, one of my roommates was from there. So that's how I remember that. that was many, many, many moons ago. Like in the 80s. 1980s. There was a decade known as the 80s.
Challenge to Listeners: Become a First-Time Donor to Support AFR's Mission
Jenna, have you heard of this? I have.
Jenna Ellis: I was born in the 80s. So, I mean, I'm getting up there too, Tim.
Tim Wildmon: Okay, you're moving on down the road. Let me give the phone number here. folks, we need your help. if you. Let me just challenge you. If you've listened to American family radio and you appreciate what did we do, and you've never made a gift, you've ever made a donation, please, won't you join us? if you can do $30 a month, that would be wonderful. Or more.
Tim Wildmon: Hey, we're not going to turn down more, but $30 or more a month or a one time gift of $150, we'll send you a couple of nice gifts, just as a show of our appreciation. But more importantly, it'll help us, you know, continue American family Radio. We have to pay for towers, we have to pay for electricity. We have to pay for our engineers to travel to keep our radio stations on the air. We have to pay for satellite time, we have to deliver our, you know, our signal goes up. we broadcast it up from here in Tupelo, and it goes all across the country. 160 plus stations across the country get it. And that takes the, you know, that costs money. They send us a bill every month for that so you don't think about these things when you just turn on the radio. So I'm going to give you the phone number and please call, and especially those who've never called before, would you please join us? We're, not going to harangue you all the time. We're not going to harass you. We're not going to, you know, call you. We're not going to call you. We don't do telemarketing here. We will send you a piece of mail, you know, to remind you, send her out. You send you our magazine. But we're not going to harass anybody.
How Your Donation Supports AFR's Operations and Staff
So here's the phone number to call in and make a gift. And when you call this number I'm about to give, you're going to ringing our home offices here at AFA and afr. So our staff's down the hall answering the phone. So, that's. That's who's going to answer the phone, Our volunteer, who is a listener just like you, who I met a gentleman yesterday, Wayne, came in from Montana to help us answer the phones during Charathon at his own expense.
Pledge Update and Recognition of Early Donors
God, bless that brother. Here's the phone number to call us. 8776-1623-9687-7616, 2396. That calls us here at American Family Radio, 877-616-2396. Or if you want to go online, simply afr.netafr.netafr.net and we are. So far this morning, we've received 447 pledges. 447 pledges. Let's give everybody a, hand clap there, Jenna, for those who've already called. We don't want to forget you. Thank you.
Acknowledging Donors from Various States and the Diversity of AFR Listeners
And that's, Betty in Gordo, Gordo, Alabama. Paula in Asher, Oklahoma. these are folks who've called in the last hour. Ricky in Durant, Oklahoma. Renee in Watford City, North Dakota. Rick, I think it's Rick in, I guess it's Geismar, Louisiana. Mary Ana in Waverly, Iowa. Mary, in Locust Grove, Virginia. Ken in Derby, Kansas. Rose in Denham Springs, Louisiana. And Charlie in Westlake, Louisiana. Have you ever been to, Iowa, Jenna?
Jenna Ellis: Yes, actually, I've been to Almost all the 50 states other than Alaska and North Dakota. I need to find a reason to go to North Dakota. But, you know, but I love traversing our beautiful United States.
The Importance of Living Locally and Appreciating Regional Accents and Culture
It's. It's just incredible. And hearing from listeners who come you know, from all across the country, what's going on, you know, in their local towns, and how they are living locally, which is, you know, what our colleague and friend Abraham Hamilton III always says on his program, you know, live locally. It's, wonderful.
Tim Wildmon: Yeah. Well, I was the reason I asked. I went to Iowa. I've been to Iowa a couple, three times. But I was in Iowa recently, and our plane landed and I got out and I, looked around to the north. I didn't know what direction I was looking at. I just got out on the. You know, got out of the airplane, and there was a cornfield, and I looked to the east, and there was a cornfield, and I looked to the south. There was a corn.
Jenna Ellis: It has a D on the end. I'm sorry, A corn field. Oh, yeah.
Tim Wildmon: You're trying to be helpful, right? You're not.
Jenna Ellis: I am. Well, I'm trying to interpret the Southern for our listeners because not everybody comes from.
Tim Wildmon: I, have an accent. I didn't.
Jenna Ellis: I speak the truth here.
Tim Wildmon: I thought I was playing vanilla. I'll give you an accent, Jen, if you want one, because I've been around these people a long time, and I can tell you what to how they talk.
Humor and Community on AFR: Celebrating Diverse Voices and Shared Love for the Lord
Jenna Ellis: I love it when I go to Tupelo. I. I love hearing all of this. It's amazing. Anyway, continue.
Tim Wildmon: Anyway, the fail. Yeah, the fail. Anyway, point is, if you go to Iowa and you land in an airport, you're going to get the cotton.
Tim Wildmon: Excuse me. The, cornfields, with an s. Cornfields. plural, with S all around you. But anyway, I don't know how we got off on that, you know, talking about cornfields and mocking Tim's accent.
Jenna Ellis: But, you know, we always somehow give Tim a hard time when I'm on the air, and somehow he still invites me on to today's issues.
Tim Wildmon: That's okay. However we talk, we have listeners all over the country, and we all talk differently, and we all, you know, we all have our different churches that we go to, but we all love the Lord and we all love our country.
Encouragement to Donate and Support AFR's Ministry of Truth and Gospel
That's what we're standing. That's why we're here at American Family Radio. Amen. Absolutely.
Jenna Ellis: And, you know, if you are one of the early birds that has given, and has donated to American Family Radio, thank you so much. And now you can sit back and relax and encourage, your friends, your family and other listeners to, donate as well. And so that we can stay on the air and we can Continue to talk about the things of the Lord. We've got to take another break here, Tim, but, Tim Wildmon and I will be back in just a moment to talk about Sharathon and how, you can engage. This is your moment and opportunity to support the, great ministry that we have here at American Family Radio. Keep us on the air. Keep American Family association promoting the truth of the Gospel of Christ. Call 877-616-2396. That's 877-616-2396 or go to afr.net that's afr.net we'll be right back.
AFR's Dedication to Sharing Hope and Jesus Christ Through All Programs
Tim Wildmon: Hi, I'm Bert Harper, co host of Exploring the Word. During times of difficulty, we need hope. Real hope comes through a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. AFR is dedicated to sharing Jesus on every program, whether it is exploring the Word, today's issues, the Hamilton Corner or any other program. We make much of Jesus during this Share a Thon. You can make much of Jesus by, making your contribution. Together we shall share the hope that is in Jesus Christ.
Listener Testimony: AFR's Positive Impact on Daily Life and Faith
Raymond: Hi, this is Raymond all the way out here in California and I listen to AFR every day. From, today's issues to exploring the Word to the Hamilton Corner, all three have been a blessing in my life. I also enjoy listening to Tony Evans and Pastor Allen Jackson in the evening and I just want to thank AFR for being a huge thing in my life.
Fall Share A Thon: Supporting AFR's Mission and Ministry Impact
Tim Wildmon: Christ is my firm, foundation.
Jeff Chamblee: It's Share A Thon on American Family Radio and we're standing firm in the faith and doing everything in love. Call now at 877-616-2396 or give [email protected] and thank you for your support of AFR during Share a Thon.
Jenna Ellis: Welcome to the first day of our fall Share A Thon. If you were just tuning in, I'm Jenna Ellis here with my co host this morning and for Share a Thon over the next three days at ah, Tim Wildmon. And we do this once in the spring, once in the fall to have shareathon to pass the virtual authoring plate as Tim ah says, so that you can help partner with us to keep our ministry, doing everything that we do, keep American Family Radio Network on the air and to keep us promoting the truth of the gospel of Christ, giving the biblical worldview on news of the day, which I get to do each and every morning, Monday through Friday. I've loved it. I'm heading into, my fifth year in January with AFR and it's just been such a blessing in my life. And you know, Tim, it's actually, it's so funny how ministry, if you engage as a Christian, the ministry that you do to bless others ends up blessing you as well. And that has been so true in my life, being part of the American Family association and hearing from our listeners.
Partnering with AFR: Listener Support and Donation Incentives
some of you write in almost daily when, you're listening contemporaneously. And it's so great to hear from you, hear how this, radio ministry has blessed you, what you learned, how you're growing in Christ. And, it's just been truly incredible. And so we're asking you to partner with us and to give your best gift, to help support us, to keep us on air, because we are listener funded. we are a nonprofit ministry. So you can call 8776-1623-9687-7616, 2396 or go to afr.net so, Tim, you know, we were talking a, little earlier in this hour about, AFA and its foundings and, your dad, Don Wildmon. And there's now a book as well that, if listeners give a gift, I think it's of, over $150 or more. if I have that right, yeah,
Tim Wildmon: a one time gift of 100. This is our premium $151 time or more or a $30 a month.
Donation Benefits: Receiving Don Wildmon's Book 'It's My Turn' Commentary
And we love those monthly pledges because it helps US budget here. $30 a month or more. We'll send you, as you're saying, Jenna, we'll send you my dad's book. he wrote many books. But what this is, it's, if people listen to today's issues, then they hear the it's my turn commentary by my dad, Don Wildmon. And that's what, we put all those stories in written form. Those are just timeless stories. My dad recorded those a few years ago, when he was in good health. And of course, my dad passed a couple years ago. But those things will be here forever. And, we get a lot of response. People love those it's my turn, commentaries. You remember Paul Harvey? I don't know if you remember that name.
Jenna Ellis: Oh, I do. My family listened to Paul Harvey, Rush Limbaugh, Jon, MacArthur, who we host here, back in the day. Yeah, I listened to all those.
Tim Wildmon: Well, Paul Harvey had this commentary, the, rest of the story. Remember that? And so my dad's books, my dad's stories are kind of in that same genre, if you will, sort of, you tell the story and then there's a, you know, a catch at the end that you go, wow, I didn't see that coming or didn't know that was going to happen.
The Enduring Impact of Don Wildmon's Stories and a Call for New Donors
A lot of my dad's stories that he wrote and they're basically on a lot of them on true life events. he, he captured in those inspired turn commentaries. So you can you. We will send you. What I'm saying is we'll send you the book. It's my turn, with the, donation that you make to American Family Radio. Yeah. So please, folks, if you, especially if you've never given to afr, we, we would love to hear from you because we, you know, we need new, like churches, you know, you need folks who've been here for a long time and then we need new blood too. So if you've never made a donation, but you've been listening to American Family Radio, but you believe in our mission, please call and make a gift and be as generous as you can. Here's the phone number.
How to Donate: Phone Number and Online Options
877. This calls us here at American Family Radio. This number I'm about to give you. and the folks who are answering the phone are right down the hall from me. 877-616-239-687-76162396. Or if you want to go on, the Internet, afr.net, afr.net let's hear from another listener to AFR and then we'll come back in just a moment.
Listener Testimony: AFR Provides Hope and Wholeness Amidst Worldly Troubles
Barb: Hi, my name is Barb and I live in Delaware, Ohio. And, since I found 89.1, and the ability for me to listen to AFR through this station, I choose no other radio station. And I just really appreciate the focus of, health and wholeness in our world that has a lot of trouble in it. Even if the news of the day seems to be all bad, I always hear hope spoken through the voices on afr. Not only hope in our God, but hope in the good things that people are doing, even in the midst of things that seem to have no hope. I'll keep listening to AFR and I'm very thankful for it.
Jenna Ellis: What an amazing listener testimony to you from Delaware, Iowa.
Tim Wildmon: Excuse me, from Ohio. Delaware, Ohio. yeah.
The Sin of Despair: Maintaining Hope and Faith in Christ Despite Challenges
And you know what, Jenna? I was talking to a friend of mine a couple of years ago and we were talking about things happening in the world and in our country which are discouraging, quite frankly, a lot of times. And he said, you know what he said? Despair is a sin. I said what? I never heard that one before. I know I'm not supposed to steal, you know, or lie or cheat. but despair of sin, he said, yeah, now I don't, it's not a ten commandment sin, but to, in other words, to give up hope in the Lord is what he was talking about is sinful. I mean it's the opposite of faith. Right? So I think that's what that caller was talking about. Right there is. Yes. You, Jenna, you come to the microphone every morning here on AFR and you have to tell folks, you know, you're a current events driven show, so you have to tell folks what's happening in our country, what's happening in the world, but you do so with the backdrop of hope in Christ, right?
Jenna Ellis: Mm And that makes all the difference as well because if we don't have the hope, which the biblical definition of hope is a patient expectation that the Lord will fulfill his promises, right? And so we know how the story ends. We know that Jesus will return, one day and if, if we pass away before he returns for Christians, we will spend eternity with him. And so as we are navigating this life and we look at the daily news and the head headlines that sometimes are, you know, not the best. And you can get discouraged, despair Christians are called to still have hope, to have joy in all circumstances, to, to have our faith grounded in Christ.
The Bible as a Guide: Gaining Perspective and Hope Through Christ
And we can navigate those headlines with the eternal perspective and also the perspective that God gives us of his grand narrative of history. And so Tim, I started just about a month ago now, a ladies Bible study in my neighborhood. And so, so we have, I have a few ladies, every other Wednesday night over to my home. I love it. And we're going through the fundamentals of the faith and we just talked about, you know, this last time how the Bible is our guide and how understanding the Bible from Genesis to Revelation gives us perspective on our moment in history. And that's what I love doing, each, and every day in the morning. If you're a regular listener of afr, you're not just dropping in, you know, once or twice to hear the headlines for one day. And then, you know, you don't listen to us for a while. If you're a regular listener, you'll get the scope of teaching from our Bible teachers, you'll get the scope of news of the day from you Know a few different, angles, but always a biblical worldview perspective and also an understanding of m, the three institutions that God ordained. The church government, the civil government, the family government, and how we can operate with hope and joy and that patient expectation even in the midst of everything, through a focus on Christ and how to navigate those things. So, you know, it's really important, if you are a first time listener or if you've only listened to us a few times, to stay with it and to get that perspective so that you aren't just hearing about the headlines and despairing, but that you understand how to live as a Christian in the midst of everything that's going on. So to help keep us on air, if you've been a regular listener, but as Tim said, and you haven't donated to us in the past, please consider doing that this morning. it's 877-616-2396. That's 877-616-23 96. Or you can go to afr.net that's
Jesus' Promise of Peace Amidst Worldly Tribulation: John 16:33
Tim Wildmon: afr.net the Bible verse where Jesus says, in this world you will have trouble, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world, Right?
Jenna Ellis: Yes.
Tim Wildmon: Do you know where that is off
Jenna Ellis: the top of your head, or
Tim Wildmon: the bottom of your head? I don't care which part of the head. Look it up.
Jenna Ellis: but anyway, it is Jon 16, ah, 33.
Tim Wildmon: I know that's not our Bible verse for the, sheriff on our theme verse, but read that verse. You have it handy.
Jenna Ellis: I do. And so, Jesus in the midst. And of course when we're talking about Jesus, we can always know. At least it's somewhere in the Gospels. Right? so we know that. But it says, I have told you these things so that you may have peace in this world. You will have trouble. Some translations say tribulation, but take heart, I have overcome the world.
Overcoming Despair: Christ's Victory and the Importance of Hope
Tim Wildmon: Yeah, so there you go. That's what my friend was saying to me basically a couple of years ago when we were talking about the things that were going on and things look bad here and there. And the other, he said, you know what, we can't despair. You know, I know it gets discouraging sometimes when you look around the world and you see so many bad decisions by our politicians and our government and you see the threats against the church and Christianity and people mocking God. But he said, we cannot give up and we cannot despair because despair, is a sin. And so to give up, that's basically saying to give up on God and, to give up on what, like Jesus said right there. Jesus was saying we're going to have trouble in this world that we live in. We all know that. We live it and experience it, and we see it happening all around us. But be of good cheer because Christ has overcome the world.
Finding Peace Amidst Turmoil: The Enduring Message of Christ's Victory
So, you know, he, has overcome the world. He gives us peace in our life in the midst even of turmoil. I know people have heard that sermon many, many times, and you'll hear it many, many more times because it's deserving. That message is deserving of being repeated over and over and over again because we need to hear that, that, Christ has overcome the world. He gives us peace in our heart and can get peace in our lives even when we, ah, you know, otherwise are experiencing maybe a hurricane or a tornado or an earthquake. A lot of people have, you know, I'm using that metaphorically, but in our lives. So anyway, there you go. don't despair. Have hope in Jesus. Our phone number to reach us here in America.
Final Call for Donations: Monetary Gifts to Support American Family Radio
We got about three and a half minutes left on this, during this hour here on Charathon. The phone number is 8, 7. If you want to call us and make a gift, make a donation. I'm not talking about giving us animals or nothing like that. I'm talking about, like, making a cash donation to American Family Radio. That's what I'm talking about. If you want to call and make a gift, eight. Here's a phone number. 877-616-239-687-76162396 afr.net afr.net Although, I guess, Jenna, 100 years ago maybe we'd have been, you know, taking donations and goats and chickens. I don't know.
Jenna Ellis: Well, you know, I do have what I call my, my Pod P A W E D podcast. co hosts with me each other. Morning. Some of you hear from them occasionally when they want to chime in. But, Todd and Copper, sitting here with me right now. So they're the mascots of, Jenna Ellis in the Morning. And, we love them. I know that you have a dog as well, and you know, everyone at afa, we just, love God's creatures and our animals. So. But yes, that we, we need the monetary gift, the financial gift.
Humor and Gratitude: The Importance of Financial Support for AFR
even though I know that your gift this morning as well was a chicken biscuit, that's a form of an animal as well. And you know, animals come in many forms.
Tim Wildmon: So, yeah, it was a biscuit, but it was an animal of a different, type that fill the middle of, my biscuit. but we, won't go into how the sausage is made. so, bad. Boom. You see what I did there?
Jenna Ellis: And you know what? We bring the humor, ladies and gentlemen. I mean, this isn't always just a serious program.
Final Moments for Donations: Call or Go Online to Support AFR
If you know Tim, you know that you'll always get the great southern humor. And that's one of the things I've come to love about him. And, we all do here. But if you want to give, please give in just the last two minutes of this program. It's 8, 7, 7, 6, 1 6, 2,396. That's 8, 7, 7, 6162396. Or go to afr.nettim. close us out.
Tim Wildmon: Amen. Well, close us out here.
Share A Thon Theme Verse: Stand Firm in Faith, Be Courageous, Do Everything in Love
Our Bible verse for this Share a Thon is First Corinthians 16, verses 13 and 14. Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong, and do everything in love. So we encourage you to live that out today. And Jenna, it's been good being with you this hour. Mm,
Jenna Ellis: Great to be with you, Tim, and looking forward to the next two days. So you still have time to give, but, don't wait till we talk about the procrastinators on Thursday. That's right, give now. 877-616-2396. I'll look forward to tomorrow morning, Tim.
Concluding Thoughts and Continued Support for Sharathon
Tim Wildmon: Amen. Me too. All right, folks, stay with us. We're going to take a time out for news and then we'll be back with Sharathon. Share a Thon rolls on here on American Family Radio.
We kick off the Fall Share-a-Thon on American Family Radio with hosts Jenna Ellis and Tim Wildman. They discuss the importance of standing firm in faith, as highlighted in their theme verse from First Corinthians 16:13-14. With heartfelt testimonies from listeners and a call to action for donations, they emphasize the vital role of listener support in maintaining the station's mission of providing a biblical perspective on current events.
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