89.5 KTSY Manager's Memo

Solomon obviously understood the bittersweet when he wrote the book of Ecclesiastes. “There is an appointed time for everything. There is a time for every event under heaven.” Then he explains there is nothing better “than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime.”

April 1st, which always seemed appropriate to me by the way, I will celebrate the 20th anniversary of my arrival in Idaho and the beginning of my work for the KTSY Family. Twenty years of ups and downs, weeping and laughing, mourning and dancing, searching and losing, living our lives together on the great adventure that is KTSY.

But as Solomon reminds us, season’s come and go. Those of you old enough to have experienced it can already sense the bittersweet.

The 20th anniversary will be my last at KTSY.

Those are hard words for me to write. But Wanda and I feel God has new things for me to do. One of my lifelong dreams is to be a teacher. The Texas college I graduated from has invited me to manage their radio station and teach in the Communication Department; to be a professor and share my experience with the next generation of communicators; to do both of the things I love at the same time. And I have accepted.

But it is bittersweet. We love Idaho. We love KTSY. But we believe God has KTSY’s future in mind, as well. The adventure will continue. Thank you for allowing me to come this far with you.

The KTSY Family has an opportunity.

More than thirteen years ago, I prepared paperwork to begin the process of putting another station on the air in the Treasure Valley. Those beginnings, so many years ago, have finally come to pass and we an opportunity to bless others. An opportunity to share the Good News with someone else.  An opportunity to provide the foundation of a new broadcast ministry in the Treasure Valley.

Our new broadcast signal, located at 88.7, will be called The Oasis and will be all about having a place we can focus on God; a place we can set aside the rush and frenzy of our every day lives and find strength and refresh our spirit for the journey ahead. A place we can lift our voices in praise to Him.

This past week, we sent a letter to many in the KTSY Family asking them to help provide the funding to purchase the final pieces of equipment we need to finish the project and make The Oasis a reality. I also wanted you to have an opportunity to contribute as well. You can find out more about The Oasis Project on our website at www.895ktsy.org. Thank you in advance for your prayers and gifts to make The Oasis a reality.

And as always, if you have questions or want to talk about it, my email address is magee@ktsy.org.

I think it’s the noise I miss after Sharathon is over. The station is full of energy and volunteers and food and fun and praise to God that is a joy to experience. Not that I will let it interfere with my nap this weekend, of course. But it sure was a lot of fun.

Thanks to all of our volunteers who came and shared their time and treats with us and to our volunteer coordinator Heather Carlson for organizing the phone center. Thanks to my most totally awesome staff for all of their hard work to make Sharathon a success and to their husbands, wives and kids for sharing with us.

Thanks to all of you who prayed for us during Sharathon. Your prayers lifted us up and gave us strength to keep moving forward.

And to everyone who pledged their support during Sharathon, thank you for your involvement, your trust and your sacrifice for the ministry of KTSY. I am humbled and honored by your contribution. Please continue to pray for us as we move into the holiday season and the New Year.  2010 is just a few weeks away.

For KTSY, I’m a tired but contented General Manager Mike Agee.

We need you.

You probably don’t find that surprising, but it’s not what you might think. It’s more than just money. In fact, cash is probably the least important factor.

Tuesday, we’ll begin our 20th Fall Sharathon, three days of celebration, filled with stories of God’s work in our lives and the difference the KTSY Family makes every day in the Treasure Valley. Our goal is $550,000. With ongoing support from our One Step donors and supporters who have renewed in advance of Sharathon through the mail, we are more than half way to our goal before we start. We can only praise God for His blessing and provision. But, we still need you, because He has always chosen to bless us through our listeners.

Will you join us in prayer for the Sharathon? Without your prayers, none of what we do is possible. Do you have some extra time next week? We could still use a few folks to help answer phones and provide snacks and refreshments for the event. Call us at 459-5879 to volunteer.

And, of course, if you haven’t already, will you join us with a financial gift? You can visit our website at www.895ktsy.org to make a gift with your debit or credit card.

Thanks in advance for your involvement in KTSY.

Twenty years.

Twenty years.

It’s hard for me to believe, but it really is twenty years.

Wednesday, October 14^th KTSY begins its twentieth year of ministry in the Treasure Valley. When my family and I left Michigan almost twenty years ago, I was fairly certain this little experiment in Idaho wasn’t going to succeed. But at the prompting of God and my wife, I decided to give it a half-hearted attempt, just to prove I was right, again.

Now, hear I sit, chuckling to myself at my hubris, seeing my boys grown and calling Idaho home, being introduced to children who’s parents were listeners when they were children and marveling at the work of God in my life and how it has played out. If ever someone was unworthy of the grace bestowed on him by God and man, it is I.

And yet, here we are together, scarred and humbled from the years of striving together, enjoying the ups and downs that only a family can know. I am blessed beyond measure and can hardly wait to see what the KTSY Family can do together, with God’s plan and provision, in the next twenty years.

With all of my heart, thank you for being part of the KTSY Family.

Just a simple thank you to share today for all you do for KTSY and its ministry to the Treasure Valley and beyond.

Michelle, our office manager and morning show co-host gave me a report for receipts through the end of July compared to last year. As of the end of July, total receipts are down 2.3% compared to last year. Most of that income decrease is in our Impact Partner program, which has declined by more than 20% compared to last year.

And on the personal donations side, those are down only .75%, less than one percent compared to last year. God is good and so are His people.

The challenge, of course, is our expenses have continued to rise, just like at your house. We’ve done our best to keep those expenses low, including not filling Jerry’s position when he departed late last year. Makes for some interesting times around here, but hey, these are interesting times. We’ll hang in and trust God for what we need, just like at your house.

Thanks for standing with us as we do our very best to stand with you and your family.

“My husband and I have been laid off work since October. Just last week, he started back and hopefully it will now be full time again. On Friday, he came home and said the Lord told him to send $500 to KTSY. So, please find enclosed a check in that amount. This is a gift from God, to you, through us. May God bless you richly as you keep His word, through music, flowing into the hearts and minds of your listening audience. Thank you for being there and uplifting us in our temporary season of lack.”

Some days, opening the mail at KTSY can be a test of our faith, as the bills and demands pile up. And then, on days like today, we’re reminded we are never alone on this faith journey that is the KTSY Family. Thank you for standing with us, whether you’ve been able to contribute or not. Your prayers, kind letters and emails, attendance at KTSY activities, and sharing your time and resources with us, all testify to the Kingdom work we’re doing, together. To God be all of the glory and praise.

Just another moment to say thank you for your prayers and support during Friend Raiser. Yes, we came twenty some thousand dollars short of our goal. Yes, I’m thinking about where we can make that up. But still a huge victory for the KTSY Family, because I still believe what I said last week before Friend Raiser; God always chooses to bless us through you.

Last spring, 639 families chose to partner with us during Friend Raiser. This year, 792 called to join us, almost twenty five percent more than last year. More families standing with KTSY, doing what they can with what they have to give. Feels like victory to me.

Thanks for standing with us and sharing your God-given resources with us. We appreciate the sacrifice you make to keep KTSY strong. And if you weren’t able to help, we’re still glad you’re part of the Family and we understand. We’ll trust God along with you.

And never forget, it’s still true. God is still whispering, “Peace, be still. I have you in the palm of my hand and I love you.”

I’ll have to admit, I’m thinking about Friend Raiser next week. Not worrying, but surely thinking about it.

A couple of times a year, we ask our audience to join us as supporters of the ministry of KTSY. We try not to make it about the money ever, but for some reason, KTSY employees like to make their mortgage payments and companies seem to think they should be paid for things like electricity and phone service. Shocking, I know.

Yet, here I am, looking to the future, wondering what God has in store for us in the months and years to come. After nearly twenty years, though, I’ve learned one thing is certain: God always chooses to bless us through you.

Please join me in praying for KTSY and the KTSY Family in the days ahead. The Devil has been shouting bad news and gloom into our ears for months now. God is whispering “Peace, be still. I have you in the palm of my hand and I love you.”

Can you think of any place else you would rather be?

Today, even more good news about the KTSY Family.

We just received our report from our audience survey company for the Fall, 2008 survey. The survey runs from the middle of September to the middle of December and measures how many people listen, when they listen and for how long. It’s a valuable audience snapshot for us that helps us make good programming decisions.

In short, thanks for being part of the KTSY and for telling your friends and family about us as well. According to the Abritron Ratings Service, the KTSY audience now numbers at 63,700 a week. That’s almost ten thousand more than Fall 2007 and fifteen thousand more than fall 2006.  Those numbers put us in the top ten listened to stations in the Treasure Valley and in the top twenty nationwide among non-commercial Christian radio stations. From a radio guy’s point of view, that’s just amazing.

But frankly, it makes me just a little nervous as well. Thank you for being part of the Family, for trusting us and allowing us to be part of your lives. My prayer every day is God would find us worthy to be used by Him to provide comfort and love and encouragement for someone in our audience, that all of this work and energy wouldn’t be expended in vain, but for His glory.