K-LOVE News Podcast

By Richard Hunt People helping people: Artist-designed fridges are stocked with healthy food. It’s free. Just open the door! People in many geographic areas reside in what are termed food deserts. “Food deserts are areas throughout the country that have less access to a grocery store … or, if they do have a grocery store, supermarket next by, they're not providing fresh vegetation for the community,” explains Fania Celestin, the Director of Development for the Buddy System Community Fridge Initiative in Miami-Dade County, Florida.

By Richard Hunt Principal Brian Lile, Muhlenberg South Middle School in Kentucky, came up with the ‘Challenge’ to help teachers jump-start their day. And their positive attitude can be contagious to students at a time when that unwanted disease contagion has changed life so much. Teachers take part in a wide variety of games like Let’s Make a Deal, Deal or No Deal, and Press Your Luck. But Brian shares, “Not all of our prizes are good prizes…” (uh-oh)

Dogs who sign up with Canines for Christ take car rides with their families to visit sick people in cancer wards, lonely people in nursing homes, stressed people in police stations, forgotten people in prisons and anywhere else tails need to wag. “Our dogs have been able to break through depression to assure people that God really does love them and care for them,” says Chaplain Ron Leonard. “Most of us know, people that pet dogs, the dog provides comfort, they get happy when they do -- and so we wanna make people happy.”

The co-founders of Pittsburgh Aviation Animal Rescue Team (PAART) didn’t set out to use their 1974 Piper Warrior to relocate dogs from overcrowded shelters, but one phonecall back in 2009 changed the game. Plesset and Childs eventually adopted the motto, “No Dog Left Behind,” and combining their love of flying with their love of animals they created a non-profit network of shelters and pilots.

K-LOVE's Monika Kelly has a lively chat with Texas' Gateway Church's Prison Campuses Pastor, Stephen Wilson about all the ways that God is impact prison inmates with the Gospel through multiple in-house (prison) church campuses across the state of Texas. Pastor Stephen explains the exciting way that men are working as church ushers and sound engineers inside prison walls during services. When they come out, they already have a church home.

By Richard Hunt Operation Sing Again specializes in getting hymn-filled DVDs to nursing homes and care facilities free-of-charge, and the results can be wonderful! “I’ve talked to several people who are in the senior care line of work and they tell me that the part of the brain that houses music and rhyme is the last part of the brain to deteriorate from Alzheimer’s or dementia. So even when people can’t have a conversation with you, they will respond to music or singing,” shares Gerald Wolfe, who saw his own dad trying to sing. “And that’s the last memory I have of being with him, trying to sing, ‘Amazing Grace.’”

By Richard Hunt 9,000 professionally planned church-cooked meals (so far!) have blessed townspeople, schools, and frontline workers in the Olathe, Kansas area. Realizing Journey Bible Church possessed a commercial grade kitchen, professional Chef Greg Reynolds teamed with church staff to launch what would become "The Kindness Kitchen.” To date, thousands of healthy free meals have been provided to single moms, those in need, and frontline workers, but also those who just needed some encouragement. In one case, they were able to bless a single mom and her 12 children! There’s a constant stream of reliable volunteers to keep the food blessing rolling. “Even people who are maybe a little more skeptical towards religion, towards a church, when they see the light shining, they want to get in on it. We have people daily, calling us or just showing up to serve, and they say ‘I saw something about this’ or ‘My neighbor got a meal from you. I just want to see what’s going on here’ - and you know what, they’re doing dishes before long (chuckle),” shares Pastor Brandon Champagne.

​The Loves Park Rotary has a strong interest in youth programs and local business. K-LOVE's Becky Hansen talks with Ciara Stahley, the President of The Loves Park Rotary Club WILV Loves Park, IL WQFL Rockford, IL (All Rights Reserved – Educational Media Foundation 2021)

By Richard Hunt It’s not unusual to use props to illustrate a lesson from Scripture. But a horse? At his horse stable business near rural Grove, Oklahoma, former Pastor Steven Dyer is very active on YouTube. Video topics include “Wild Mustang Challenge” and “Teaching a Pony to Not be Afraid.” With deep experience and plenty of patience, Steve demonstrates various ways to befriend and train a horse. But as he works with horses, he is constantly reminded of God. “The more I’m around horses, I see the beauty of how they are created and how we interact with them.” There’s a definite backstory to that video teaching. “I guess I got the idea for that from when I was a teenager and people would say, ‘God says don’t do this…and God says don’t do that.’ And I remember thinking, ‘God must not want me to have any fun’ (he laughs)…"

By Richard Hunt 2020 was a hard year. And it’s encouraging that many found hope and comfort in the Bible. Pastor Bobby Gruenewald, with Life.Church, founded the YouVersion Bible App, which has been downloaded by 450-million people worldwide and remains free-of-charge. Learn why people picked this particular verse, Isaiah 41:10.

Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-centered, 12 step recovery program for anyone struggling with hurt, pain or addiction of any kind. K-LOVE's Frank Hammond talks to Mike Figgins with Celebrate Recovery Jacksonville, North Carolina. WKGV Swansboro, NC WHAR Havelock, NC (All Rights Reserved – Educational Media Foundation 2020)

Community Blood Center of the Ozarks serves a wide area of southwest Missouri and northwest Arkansas. K-LOVE's Joel Reagan spoke with Anthony Roberts, Executive Director of Community Blood Center of the Ozarks KOBC Joplin, MO KBMV Birch Tree, MO KRQA Bentonville, AR (All Rights Reserved – Educational Media Foundation 2020)

By Richard Hunt Pastor Luke Barnett was on an 800-mile hike along the Arizona Trail with his daughter, Annalee. They were on the long trek to raise awareness and funding for a Dream Center project in Colorado City, once home to an infamous polygamous leader. Just past 500 miles into the hike, Luke and Annalee climbed down at a tricky point on the trail and saw a boulder start to move! Luke immediately went into dad mode and pushed his daughter out of the way, “thinking I could get out of the way as well, but it caught me.” There’s a very happy ending and an incredible sign of God’s provision that links directly to a Bible verse promise.

K-LOVE's Jeanice Lee talks with Jacob's House Volunteer Services Coordinator Stacey Krause. KKLM Temecula, CA KKLP Perris, CA KLRD Yucaipa, CA (All Rights Reserved – Educational Media Foundation 2020)

CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates. These volunteers help give children a voice in the foster care system. K-LOVE's Joel Reagan spoke with Kendra Kelso, Outreach Coordinator with Tri-County CASA. KTLI Wichita, KS (All Rights Reserved – Educational Media Foundation 2020)