Attention all Sound of Life listeners! Get ready for the most intense game of golf of your lifetime…

June 1st will be the 5th annual Sound of Life Mini Golf Outing and Listener Appreciation Day!

The day  kicks off at 10 a.m. and will be broadcast LIVE by Cup ‘A Joe Morning Show’s Joe Hunter.

As an appreciation gift to you,  the first 100 listeners  to arrive at The Castle in Chester, NY will be admitted at no cost. In addition to free admission, the first 100 listeners will receive a Sound of Life T-shirt.

The gifts don’t stop there! Kids who hit a hole in 1 will win a matchbox car.

Listener Appreciation Day will be a fun family day for all! Come out and meet your Sound of Life family; we are looking forward to meeting you!

 Ok, ok. So maybe “intense” was a bit of an exaggeration.

 FOOOOOOOOORE!

The Sound of Life exists to connect people with the positive message of Jesus Christ… so this spring,  we’re excited to be supporting Bible League International, in a campaign called “Bibles Behind the Lines.”

During this campaign, you can reach out to your brothers and sisters in Christ in places like North Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. Everyday, they face darkness.

Some Christians around the world have to meet secretly in underground, house or indigenous culture churches, and the production of Bibles is forbidden in their countries. Some, living in poverty,cannot afford Bibles. Many are slain for their faith.

Often times, we, American Christians, take for granted our religious freedoms, and our access to the Word of God. Every Sunday, we have an opportunity to gather in church buildings. Throughout the week, we gather for Bible study. We attend conferences, revivals, and concerts. National movements exist such as the annual National Day of Prayer.  In this nation, we have the opportunity to live a bold Christian life. It is not constricted by the government. Yes, we’re sometimes persecuted for our beliefs, but not brought to trial or murdered.

“Christians around the world are under attack. There have been more Christians killed for their faith in the last hundred years than in the previous 19 centuries since the beginning of the           Church… We are living in the time when it is most dangerous to be a Christian.”                        ~~ Bible League International

You have the opportunity to make a difference.  For every $5 donated to Bible League International, one Bible can be provided to someone living in poverty, persecution, or the Muslim world.  By donating, you can provide them with their own easy-to-read Bible in their native language.

Bible League International began in 1938, when a man named William Chapman was inspired after being healed from a serious illness. Healed, Chapman decided that he would use his restored health for God’s service.

This ministry started with 1,000 Bibles in Walkerton, Indiana, and now, 75 years later, they provide millions of Bibles to over 700 different language groups.

They don’t just mail Bibles overseas, Bible League International trains Bible planters who are hands-on in various places. The Bible planters make disciples by way of Bible studies and through Bible based literacy programs that help impoverished people learn to read using Scriptures.

To donate, click HERE or call 1-800-YES-WORD (1-800-937-9673).

Hosted by Grace Community Church of Washingtonville, NY, at Anthony’s Pier 9 on Route 9W in Newburgh from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

We’ve picked our three winners and notified them.  Thanks to all who participated!  Winners’ names posted on our Facebook page.

If you’d like to purchase tickets for the event, click HERE.

Autism Awareness Month is the entire month of April, and the Sound of Life is committed to Autism awareness and relating to parents and families of those with Autism.

Autism can bring parents through almost every emotion including fear, doubt, confusion, and even happiness. And this same diagnosis that brings parents through emotional rollercoasters is bringing together a national community, including people from all walks of life, to raise funds for research and educate others about Autism.

Locally, many families have been touched by Autism. Community leaders and business owners are speaking up about their experiences. They are also reaching out to provide counseling, special programs, and fundraisers for Autism research and to support other local families.

Tom Michaels Zahradnik, CEO of the Sound of Life, recently sat down with Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro for a “Heart 2 Heart” about Molinaro’s journey in raising a daughter, Abigail Faith, who has been diagnosed on the highly functional side of the Autism spectrum.  Abigail was diagnosed with Autism at the age of two. Abigail is now 9 years old and Molinaro reveals that it hasn’t been easy. Despite the lack of normalcy, Molinaro also encourages parents to not shelter their Autistic children too much, mentioning that he often takes Abigail to his public events, often involving cameras and crowds of people. Abigail happens to be fascinated with cameras and seeing herself on screen. To hear more about the Molinaro family’s story, listen here: Heart 2 Heart Podcast

Another local family touched by Autism is the Coppola family of Coppola’s Restaurants located  in Hyde Park and Poughkeepsie. One of the family members was diagnosed with Autism around 15 years ago. In response to the diagnosis, the family has turned to activism using what they know and love: Italian cuisine. Their campaign is entitled, “Taste of Italy for Autism.” They are working with Autism Speaks.  By purchasing Coppola’s Italian family sauces, twenty five cents per jar is donated to the research and advocacy organization Autism Speaks. Their goal is $1.2 million. The family sauces can be found in their restaurants, various grocery stores such as Shop Rite, Price Chopper, Stop & Shop, Nature’s Pantry and Mother Earth’s around the Hudson Valley, as well as other locations listed here:  Taste of Italy for Autism

There are local educational resources as well. The Center for Spectrum Services of both Ellenville and Kingston, NY, which began in 1976 in a church basement, serves the area by providing educational programs for children as young as three years old. The center provides small group-style learning so that each student can succeed. Other than education for children, the center provides diagnostic and developmental evaluations, workshops, and counseling services. For more information about The Center for Spectrum Services, visit their website. The center is hosting a Zumba for Autism event, April 20th at MAC Park in Kingston, NY.  You can register here:  Zumba Registration.

There will also be a walk to benefit Autism held at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds… The Autism Society of the Hudson Valley is holding this walk on April 28th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.  You can get more information about this fun, family event here:  Autism Walk

In dealing with Autism, it’s important for families to not feel like outsiders or that they’re in this all alone. Here at the Sound of Life, we want to highlight support systems by bringing awareness to the spectrum and encourage you, our listeners, to reach out to one another and show compassion for each other. There are causes and calls for activism, research, and funding nationally and locally, but sometimes the greatest act one person can make for another is to love by lending a hand or being a listening ear.  Financial actions are great and needed, but without love as the core, those actions mean nothing. During this month of Autism awareness, let’s remember to love first, then do.

By Courtney Moore, Sound of Life Intern

John Betaudier, an over 20 year veteran announcer with the Sound of Life, went home to be with the lord, March 8 2013.

John had worked in Kingston on radio station WGHQ and in later years was the morning voice and program director on WKNY.

John was known in Kingston as the morning Mayor. His distinctive voice in the morning woke up a community with a deep resounding, ‘It’s a Beautiful Day!’

After retirement John briefly owning WLIR in Long Island. He returned to the air as one of the founding members of the Sound of Life and was the first voice that was heard on WFGB where he served here for over 20 years finishing his radio career as the first host of the mid-day café.

The greatest part of John’s life was spent in community service. John was very active in Christian ministry. He served as Deacon at the First Baptist church of Kingston and was a member of Kairos prison ministry and Tres Dias.

The family is welcoming friends to a life celebration memorial at First Baptist Church on Albany Ave., Kingston, Saturday April 6, 2013 at 11a.m.  

All of us at the Sound of Life send our condolences to John’s family.  He will be missed. John was 81.  Click here for John’s complete obituary.

Are there enough mints for the volunteers? Did we run out of paper? Where are all the pens?
Around the station, we are preparing for the most impactful Life-a-thon experience for you. It’s not only to meet our needs, but to celebrate you, the listeners, whose lives have been touched by this ministry.
                                              (Our team getting ready for LIFE-a-thon)

But when it comes down to it, we can only prepare so much. Even when we desire to control the outcome of Life-a-thon, it is ultimately God who brings it all together.

Maybe there have been times in your life when you prepared for something down to every detail and desired full control, and then when you included God, your plans became insignificant.
Perhaps, the other day, during your morning routine. The kids’ lunches were packed, outfits planned, car started, coffee brewing, cell phone charged. It’s second nature. And then you realized, it was God who woke you up. He provided so that you can have clothes, a car, and electricity. Wow.
Our wow moments come from you. We love to hear how God has used us to speak to you as we accompany you in various parts of your life. On your way to work; picking up the kids from school, taking them to ballet or soccer; and even on the weekends. That is out of our control, and we gratefully accept it.
“And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28, NIV).

Your life, just like Life-a-thon, is going to work out. God will provide. He always does!

Every morning between 5 and 10 am, you hear trivia, interesting facts, and inspirational stories on the Cup ‘A Joe Morning Show.  Joe Hunter, the man behind the boisterous radio personality, has been with The Sound of Life for 20 years.  Joe shares his stories with his animated North Carolinian twang, delivered with his kind and welcoming spirit on the Cup ‘A Joe Morning Show at The Sound of Life. According to his colleagues, he’s the same off-air.  He’s kind, interesting, and has a great sense of humor.

Greensboro, North Carolina, Joe’s hometown, is a southern comfort food haven where hickory
smoked barbeque floats in the air and on almost every plate is a mouthwatering
vinegar sauce. You can’t get that around here; Joe assures it.

Before entering into the radio industry, Joe used his Business Administration degree from the University of North Carolina in Charlotte for sales. However, after years of working in sales and strategizing, Joe did some “soul searching” and realized it wasn’t a good fit. He was called to be a radio personality.

Joe was living in the Hudson Valley when he met his wife Debbie and decided to go back to school to  study broadcasting. The two moved back to North Carolina and Joe attended the Carolina School of Broadcasting. Their first child, Kelly, was born while they lived there. To support his family, Joe worked construction during the week and went to classes on Saturdays.

Joe was a part-time weekend announcer when he started at The Sound of Life. Currently he
serves as the program director in addition to being the host of Cup ’A Joe.  Joe says the most rewarding part of his work is talking to people.  His favorite interview was with the now
converted Christian, John Tesh. What’s fascinating about that interview is that Tesh received a lot of negativity towards his change in lifestyle, but persisted, saying, “God led me in a different direction.”  Talking to people and getting to know their testimonies is Joe’s calling, his job, and ultimately a blessing to his listeners.

Joe and Debbie have been married for almost 25 years; their anniversary is in July. They have three children, Kelly, Kevin, and Kyle and an old blind deaf and diabetic dog named Toffey.  At the Northern Dutchess Bible Church in Red Hook under Pastor Clint Eastman, Joe is an Elder. His favorite scripture is Psalm 34:8, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man
who takes refuge in him!” (ESV).

Join us in congratulating Joe Hunter on 20 years of ministry on the Sound of Life!

Real Change has come to our website! We have been prayerfully excited in our anticipation of the launch of this renewed digital media ministry platform. Our desire is to connect you to the positive message of Jesus Christ through the tools God has provided us. That is the mission of Sound of Life, Inc. and we will carry out that mission to you, in part, through this website. We also want to connect with you and connect you with others. That is what drives the mission of our website.

This website is your site and it is here to minister to you and to serve you. You can discover what is going on through God’s ministry and connect with various aspects of the Sound of Life. We believe in a growth model of crawl, walk, run. We don’t have to do it all right now. This renewed site is our first step – crawl. We will continue to massage it, tweak it, and change it so that it will grow and serve you in the best ways it can.

This site is a team effort of love, generosity, creative forward-thinking, and excellence. My thanks to Connie Van Kleeck – Asst. Program Director, Jeremy Carman – our volunteer Webmaster, and the Word of Life design team headed by John Yarosh in Scroon Lake, NY.

If you ever have any questions, thoughts, ideas, or input about this ministry portal, don’t hesitate to let me and our team know. We’re here to serve you!

Now, enjoy our New Year’s gift to you!

Tom Michaels Zahradnik
Chief Executive Officer
Sound of Life, Inc.