BACK IN 1987, THE VISION GOD gave the American Family Association Founder, Don Wildmon, was to use satellite and the latest technology to build hundreds of American Family Radio stations across America. Dr. Wildmon wanted to use these radio stations to inform Christians about what is happening in America. God had an additional reason for the stations — encouragement and inspiration to and for the body of Christ.

While reading Broadcasting magazine in 1987, Wildmon found an article stating that the Federal Communications Commission would allow non-commercial FM stations to deliver their signal to local communities via satellite. Realizing the vast potential and relative economic costs of such a system, AFA filed for a station in their hometown of Tupelo, Mississippi. It was necessary to first have a station before a signal could be transmitted to satellite. It took four years to get permission from the FCC to construct the station.

But there were already roadblocks in the way: the Mississippi Authority for Educational Television — the group which is responsible for state-funded radio stations — tried to block AFA from getting the station. MATA did not want to build a station themselves, they simply didn't want AFA to be able to build the station for which AFA had applied.

But four years later, in February 1991, AFA received permission to build their station - WAFR. The station went on the air in August of that year. In February 1993, the first "satellator" station went on the air in Jackson, Tennessee. Gradually the number of stations began to grow. By June of 1997 AFR had 156 stations on the air serving people in twenty-seven states. Remarkably, with God's help, AFR has built more stations in a shorter period of time than any other broadcaster in the history of broadcasting.

IN 1995, AFA DECIDED IT WAS TIME to begin our own news department so listeners could get accurate and unbiased information on issues of interest to them. Today, the AFR News Department is serving AFR listeners well. In fact, the news AFR listeners get is so refreshingly different from the usual liberal news sources that other stations are beginning to change to AFR News.

AFR began with a commitment to have a balanced, quality schedule. Our programming schedule still contains about 70% music and 30% talk. And AFR carries some of the finest teaching, preaching programs available. The music on AFR is light contemporary with a good mixture of old favorites, designed to serve the largest possible audience.

And here is some great news! By using the latest technology AFA has accomplished all of this at an amazingly low cost. Typically, a single commercial FM station in a large city will cost more than it cost AFR to construct those hundreds of stations across America. Here is another important point: AFR is bringing Christian radio to communities where none existed before.

Today AFR has approximately forty professional broadcasters, news, engineering and support personnel who combine their knowledge and skills to provide the very finest in Christian radio.

WHAT BEGAN AS A GOD-GIVEN vision in one person's heart is now a reality. AFR has had to clear many obstacles to get where it is today and there are still many more to clear in the future. But God is behind this movement — and with His help and that of His people — AFR can reach the purpose for which God brought it into being.

Listeners can help in three ways: with their prayers, their financial support and by telling others about AFR and where to find it on their dial. AFR is a grass roots ministry, supported by individuals who see what this ministry can do for their own family, their own community, and for the entire country.